Ch.4 West Communicating Verbally Full Test Bank

Test Bank

Chapter 4: Communicating Verbally

Multiple Choice

1. Verbal symbols and grammar compose ______.

a. messages

b. ideas

c. gestures

d. language

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The words or the vocabulary that make up a language are referred to as ______.

a. gestures

b. verbal symbols

c. messages

d. denotation

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. A language’s set of rules that dictate how words should be organized is called ______.

a. grammar

b. semantics

c. messages

d. syntax

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. The arrangement of thoughts into meaningful language with a specific message is referred to as ______.

a. decoding

b. encoding

c. rhetoric

d. semantics

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. When we develop an understanding of someone’s meaning based on hearing language, we are engaging in ______.

a. indexing

b. listening

c. encoding

d. decoding

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. The fact that there is no direct relationship between words and their meanings means that symbols are ______.

a. cultural

b. concrete

c. arbitrary

d. abstract

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Words Are Symbolic

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Over time, new trends and ideas lead to expansion or changes in our ______.

a. vocabulary

b. grammar

c. messages

d. language

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Meaning for Words Evolves Over Time

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Which of these is an example of a portmanteau?

a. person of color

b. YOLO

c. brunch

d. trans-woman

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Meaning for Words Evolves Over Time

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. The word “frenemy” is best described as a(n)______.

a. portmanteau

b. emotional blend

c. arbitrary symbol

d. euphemism

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Meaning for Words Evolves Over Time

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Certain words get their power to affect people dramatically from ______.

a. the rules created by an elite, academic class

b. an intrinsic source dictated by symbolic meaning

c. the agreement of speakers that those words are powerful

d. their etymological origins in ancient, dead languages

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Words Are Powerful

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. A word’s ______ is the type of meaning found in the dictionary.

a. denotative meaning

b. connotative meaning

c. referent

d. lexical gap

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Meanings for Verbal Symbols May Be Denotative or Connotative

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. ______ is/are derived from your personal and subjective experience with a word or phrase, such as if you think of the word “sick” as meaning something good.

a. Semantics

b. Denotative meaning

c. Codability

d. Connotative meaning

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Meanings for Verbal Symbols May Be Denotative or Connotative

Difficulty Level: Hard

13. The thing that a word represents is known as its ______.

a. specific meaning

b. denotative meaning

c. referent

d. code

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Words Vary in Specificity

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. If you are able to detect the referent with one of your senses, that word is considered ______.

a. abstract

b. concrete

c. connotative

d. denotative

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Words Vary in Specificity

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. A referent that cannot be detected by bodily senses, such as love, is considered ______.

a. concrete

b. connotative

c. denotative

d. abstract

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Words Vary in Specificity

Difficulty Level: Hard

16. A type of ambiguity that involves carefully choosing words to give a false impression without actually lying is called ______.

a. equivocation

b. strategic ambiguity

c. euphemism

d. vague communication

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Words Vary in Specificity

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. ______ affects verbal symbols (and vice versa) primarily through language development.

a. Social change

b. Economic change

c. Sex

d. Culture

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. Language usage encodes ______.

a. denotative meaning

b. cultural values

c. strategic ambiguity

d. lexical gaps

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. A group of people that shares norms about speaking and vocabulary is known as a ______.

a. cultural context

b. speech community

c. shared identity

d. message exchange

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. With their rules on speaking, speech communities most closely resemble ______.

a. generational divides

b. political correctness

c. national or ethnic culture

d. the encoding process

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Hard

21. ______ is a word or a phrase whose understood meaning doesn’t come from exact translation.

a. Idiom

b. Colloquialism

c. Jargon

d. Portmanteau

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. The phrase “kicked the bucket” is an example of a(n) ______.

a. colloquialism

b. portmanteau

c. idiom

d. connotation

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Hard

23. Which of the following is an example of phatic communication? Only in interpersonal contact do we use ______ or what is also known as idiomatic communication.

a. “Don’t beat around the bush.”

b. “Hey, what’s up?”

c. “We’re sorry for his passing.”

d. “Thanks for thinking of me!”

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. The fact that listeners are not supposed to think about literal meanings makes phatic communication ______.

a. connotative

b. denotative

c. euphemistic

d. content-free

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. Which of these statements reflects common European American views of African American speech?

a. “African Americans tend to be more conflict avoidant.”

b. “African Americans tend to speak more emotionally.”

c. “African Americans tend to use more phatic communication.”

d. “African Americans tend to choose euphemistic language.”

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: African American Speech

Difficulty Level: Hard

26. Which of these statements reflects common African American views of European American speech?

a. “European Americans tend to be more conflict avoidant.”

b. “European Americans tend to speak more emotionally.”

c. “European Americans tend to use more phatic communication.”

d. “European Americans tend to choose euphemistic language.”

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: African American Speech

Difficulty Level: Hard

27. The theory known as ______, or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, argues that words dictate our ability to perceive and think.

a. communication accommodation

b. linguistic relativity

c. muted group theory

d. linguistic determinism

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Theorizing About Language and Culture

Difficulty Level: Easy

28. Benjamin Whorf’s revised theory, ______, asserted that language affects our thinking but does not dictate it.

a. linguistic determinism

b. linguistic relativity

c. two-culture theory

d. communication accommodation

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Theorizing About Language and Culture

Difficulty Level: Easy

29. Just because a language does not have a word for a concept does not mean its speakers cannot understand it, simply that the concept has low ______ in that language.

a. codability

b. concreteness

c. confirmation

d. indexability

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Theorizing About Language and Culture

Difficulty Level: Medium

30. The ______ theory purports that sex, like culture, establishes different language patterns for men and women.

a. linguistic relativity

b. linguistic determinism

c. two-culture

d. muted group

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Sex

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. Which of these is a process related to the destructive side of verbal symbols?

a. perspective taking

b. phatic communication

c. strategic ambiguity

d. reification

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Destructive and Constructive Sides of Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

32. Which statement is an example of static evaluation?

a. “I don’t care how old you are. I’m your father, and you listen to me.”

b. “Changing the team mascot is a sacrilege to the history of the team.”

c. “Ugh, I ate way too much Halloween candy. I feel so fat today.”

d. “I can’t stand that guy. He’s selfish and never thinks of anyone else.”

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Destructive and Constructive Sides of Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Hard

33. When verbal symbols conceal change they exhibit ______.

a. polarization

b. reification

c. static evaluation

d. lexical gaps

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Static Evaluation

Difficulty Level: Medium

34. Even though Darryl is in his thirties, he still calls his former kindergarten teacher Mrs. Irvin, despite her urging him to call her Elaine. Darryl is exhibiting ______.

a. reification

b. muting

c. negative contagion

d. code switching

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Static Evaluation

Difficulty Level: Hard

35. Words that communicate topics in terms of extremes contribute to ______.

a. static evaluation

b. disconfirmation

c. reification

d. polarization

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Polarization

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. Which statement is an example of polarization?

a. “I don’t care how old you are. I’m your father, and you listen to me.”

b. “Changing the team mascot is a sacrilege to the history of the team.”

c. “Ugh, I ate way too much Halloween candy. I feel so fat today.”

d. “I can’t stand that guy. He’s selfish and never thinks of anyone else.”

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Polarization

Difficulty Level: Hard

37. When someone confuses the symbol for the thing, they engage in ______.

a. negative contagion

b. reification

c. static evaluation

d. polarization

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Reification

Difficulty Level: Easy

38. Which statement is an example of reification?

a. “I don’t care how old you are. I’m your father, and you listen to me.”

b. “Changing the team mascot is a sacrilege to the history of the team.”

c. “Ugh, I ate way too much Halloween candy. I feel so fat today.”

d. “I can’t stand that guy. He’s selfish and never thinks of anyone else.”

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Negative Contagion

Difficulty Level: Hard

39. If someone loses a parent, he or she is an orphan, but there is no word for a parent who loses a child. This represents ______.

a. semantic derogation

b. static evaluation

c. polarization

d. a lexical gap

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Muting

Difficulty Level: Medium

40. The ______ theory suggests that marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ community, suffer from a lot of lexical gaps and therefore may feel as if something is wrong with them due to the lack of adequate vocabulary for their unique experiences.

a. two-culture

b. muted group

c. social learning

d. linguistic determinism

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Muting

Difficulty Level: Medium

41. If Bob calls Gloria a chick or a dame, his language can be construed as ______.

a. muting

b. homophobic

c. sexist

d. racist

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Sexist Language

Difficulty Level: Medium

42. An old English grammar rule requires use of the masculine pronoun when the subject of the sentence is of unknown gender or includes both men and women. This rule is known as ______.

a. the generic he

b. sexist language

c. static evaluation

d. man-linked words

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Sexist Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

43. Which of the following is an example of a man-linked word?

a. shepherd

b. steward

c. pilot

d. handyman

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Sexist Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

44. The word “spokesman” is an example of ______.

a. the generic he

b. a man-linked word

c. a lexical gap

d. semantic derogation

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Sexist Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

45. “He violated an important protocol, so we had to blacklist him,” says Kimberly. Kimberly’s statement subtly reflects ______.

a. polarization

b. negative contagion

c. racist language

d. muting

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Racist Language

Difficulty Level: Hard

46. The phrase “no homo,” used to avoid giving the impression of homosexuality, is an example of ______.

a. homophobic language

b. sexist language

c. man-linked words

d. polarization

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Homophobic Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

47. Acknowledgment, or ______, is validation and support of another person.

a. active listening

b. confirmation

c. indexing

d. perspective taking

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Constructive Side of Verbal Codes

Difficulty Level: Easy

48. Making people feel that you don’t see them or that they are unimportant is called ______.

a. reification

b. polarization

c. disconfirmation

d. muting

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Constructive Side of Verbal Codes

Difficulty Level: Easy

49. When you acknowledge the viewpoints of the people you interact with, you are engaging in ______.

a. perspective taking

b. reification

c. static evaluation

d. negative contagion

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

50. “I should listen when Danica tells me about her experiences. I really have no idea what it’s like to be a woman,” says Jorge. Jorge is demonstrating ______.

a. using I-messages

b. indexing

c. owning

d. perspective taking

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Hard

51. When we take responsibility for our own thoughts and feelings, we engage in ______.

a. code switching

b. perspective taking

c. reification

d. owning

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Medium

52. Which of these statements is an example of using I-messages?

a. “I noticed that the other day, when you were reading, you acted a little rude.”

b. “I have a completely different perspective than an African American.”

c. “I felt ignored when you kept looking at your phone while I was talking.”

d. “I think you are can be selfish sometimes, though usually you’re mature.”

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Hard

53. ______ direct responsibility onto others, often in a blaming fashion.

a. I-messages

b. You-messages

c. Muting

d. Owning

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Medium

54. “Your lectures about anatomy are so boring,” says Dayton. Dayton is using ______.

a. disconfirmation

b. indexing

c. reification

d. you-messages

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Hard

55. “I’m finding it hard to stay focused during lecture,” says Tristan. Tristan is using ______.

a. I-messages

b. reification

c. confirmation

d. perspective taking

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Understanding Levels of Specificity

Difficulty Level: Hard

56. I-messages help avoid making the listener defensive by ______.

a. focusing on the speaker’s feelings

b. providing appropriate specificity

c. acknowledging the time frame

d. probing the middle ground

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Easy

57. “Right when you got home on Monday, you were a little terse with me. It hurt my feelings, but I know it was just an isolated incident,” says Nolan. Nolan is engaging in ______.

a. indexing

b. owning

c. perspective taking

d. probing the middle ground

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Indexing

Difficulty Level: Hard

58. Which of these statements is an example of indexing?

a. “I noticed that the other day, when you were reading, you acted a little rude.”

b. “I have a completely different perspective than an African American.”

c. “I felt ignored when you kept looking at your phone while I was talking.”

d. “I think you are can be selfish sometimes, though you’re usually mature.”

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Indexing

Difficulty Level: Hard

59. “It’s easy to get mad if you reduce a person to one negative trait, but most people do not always behave badly,” says Loretta. Loretta is engaging in ______.

a. indexing

b. probing the middle ground

c. owning

d. perspective taking

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Probing the Middle Ground

Difficulty Level: Hard

60. Which of these statements is an example of probing the middle ground?

a. “I noticed that the other day, when you were reading, you acted a little rude.”

b. “I have a completely different perspective than an African American.”

c. “I felt ignored when you kept looking at your phone while I was talking.”

d. “I think you are can be selfish sometimes, though you’re usually mature.”

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Probing the Middle Ground

Difficulty Level: Hard

True/False

1. Words are symbolic.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. The meanings of verbal symbols remain consistent over time.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Verbal symbols are powerful.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. The meanings of verbal symbols are consistent in specificity.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Words are arbitrary.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Words Are Symbolic

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. The direct translation of an idiom keeps its original meaning.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Phatic communication is only used for interpersonal contact.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Ethnic differences across sub-cultures are represented in language.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is also known as linguistic relativity.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Theorizing About Language and Culture

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. A concept’s codability in a certain language determines the ability of a speaker of that language to understand it.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Hard

11. Polarization is problematic because all people are equally good.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Polarization

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Reification involves responding to words rather than the words’ referents.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Reification

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Fat talk refers to conversations among friends that begin by someone speaking derogatorily about overweight people.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Negative Contagion

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Some researchers say that expressions like “hitting a home run” show that English is shaped more by the experiences of men than women.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Muting

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. The generic he is an example of sexism in the English language.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Sexist Language

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. Cultivating an attitude of respect for others can improve verbal communication skills.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. I-messages acknowledge others’ positions.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. You-messages place responsibility, and sometimes blame, on others.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Owning and Using I-Messages

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. The skillful use of levels of specificity is shown by being specific at all times.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding Levels of Specificity

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Exploring nuances that might be more descriptive of the behavior can help combat extreme labeling.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Probing the Middle Ground

Difficulty Level: Medium

Short Answer

1. The words perro (Spanish), kalb (Arabic), and inu (Japanese) all sound different yet share the meaning of “dog.” Explain this phenomenon in terms of your understanding of verbal symbols.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Words Are Symbolic

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. In recent years, the word “troll” has gained a new meaning: it refers to people who deliberately try to cause disruption, offense, or general trouble in an online community. Explain the factor(s) that led to this new meaning.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Meaning for Words Evolves Over Time

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Your friend Henry gave you his short story to read over the weekend, and unfortunately you hated it. Now Henry is expecting some feedback. Using equivocation, give an example of the kinds of things you would say to preserve Henry’s feelings.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Words Vary in Specificity

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Your friend Makoto is living with you while he learns English. One day he comes home very confused and tells you, “I was watching the news, and they said that everyone has a few skeletons in their closet! Do you really keep your dead in your closets?” Identify and explain the type of language that Makoto has heard.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Explain what it means for phatic communication to be “content-free.” Illustrate this quality using examples.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: African American Speech

Difficulty Level: Hard

6. Americans have no single word for when people gain weight from emotional binge eating, but Germans call it “kummerspeck.” Examine this concept in terms of its codability.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Theorizing About Language and Culture

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. “You know who I ran into the other day? Michael from Mrs. Davidson’s class. He’s running his own small business now,” says Linnea. “He’ll always be ‘the kid who eats glue’ to me,” answers Isabelle. Identify and explain the destructive process of verbal symbol use that Isabelle is using.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Sex

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. “Young people today are so self-involved. They’re always on their phones, posting about their meals on Facebook and the Twitter,” says Rosemary. “They’re all about instant gratification. And you can’t count on them to follow through on anything,” Arthur agrees. Identify and explain the destructive process of verbal symbol use that Rosemary and Arthur are using.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Negative Contagion

Difficulty Level: Hard

9. “I have felt racism. I once went to this party where I was the only white person there, and I felt really uncomfortable,” says Fletcher. Identify and explain the skill that Fletcher needs to work on in order to improve his verbal communication.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Hard

10. Provide an example from your own life when indexing allowed you to enhance your verbal communication.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Constructive Side of Verbal Codes

Difficulty Level: Hard

Essay

1. The rise of computers and the Internet has led to an explosion in completely new words (e.g., website, selfie), but has also given new meanings to old words. Provide some examples of such words and explain how their meanings have changed over time.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Meaning for Words Evolves Over Time

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Explain the movement toward political correctness in terms of the attributes of verbal symbols.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Describe the attributes of verbal symbols and explain their relationship to language and meaning

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Understanding Verbal Symbols

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. In English, we have relatively few words for family members, and many are not distinguished by gender. For example, we have “aunt” and “uncle” but only “cousin,” no specific words for male cousin and female cousin. Other languages, however, have many more words for specific family members. Hindi, for example, has specific words for your father’s younger brother, your father’s elder brother, your father’s sister’s husband, your mother’s brother, and your mother’s sister’s husband--all of which are simply “uncles” in English. Analyze the relationship between culture and language using this example.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Culture and Ethnicity

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Compare and contrast linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity. Explain the process that led from one to the other.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify how factors such as culture, sex, generation, and context affect verbal symbols

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Theorizing About Language and Culture

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Whenever you come home, your parents fuss over you. Your mom is always worried that you’re driving dangerously, while your dad wants to make sure you’re being safe when you’re out late at night. Identify the destructive process of verbal symbols they are engaging in and explain to them why it is not helpful.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Static Evaluation

Difficulty Level: Hard

6. Starting in 2016, a point of political contention in the United States has been the choice of some professional athletes to kneel before the flag during the National Anthem rather than stand with their hands over their hearts. These athletes are kneeling in silent protest against systematic oppression of people of color. Some people, including President Donald Trump, denigrate this practice as disrespectful to the country. Analyze this conflict in terms of the destructive processes of symbols.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Reification

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. English has gendered, third-person singular pronouns (he/him/his and she/her/hers) and an inanimate third-person singular pronoun (it/its), but no gender-neutral, third-person singular pronoun. Such a pronoun would have many uses. It might be used by people who identify as gender-nonconforming or by people who do not know another person’s gender, such as parents talking about an unborn child. Analyze the effects of this lack in terms of muted group theory.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain the ways in which verbal symbols may be used destructively and constructively

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Muting

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. Your text acknowledges that most people attempt to avoid overt racial slurs, but there are more subtle manifestations of racist language. Recently attention has been drawn to the use of the word “thug” to describe African American males. Analyze this word in terms of its denotation, connotation, and power, and examine its function as racist language.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Hard

9. Perspective taking involves acknowledging the viewpoints of others and while not assuming that you already know about their experiences. As an exercise in perspective taking, choose a prominent person or group that you personally disagree with and attempt to take their perspective on a subject. Illustrate how you might do this.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Hard

10. Your roommates Dennis and Abdullah got into a heated argument over a stand-up comedian the other day. Abdullah thought that one of the comedian’s jokes stepped over the line, while Dennis thinks the point of comedy is to push the envelope. They ended the fight with hard feelings. Use your knowledge of the skill set for improving verbal communication to provide Dennis and Abdullah with the tools to reconcile.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Demonstrate skill and sensitivity in using verbal communication

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Skill Set for Improving Verbal Communication

Difficulty Level: Hard