Language 1
when people interact, they adjust their speech, vocal patterns, and gestures to accommodate others
Communication Accommodation Theory
a word that becomes less general or inclusive in its meaning
Narrowing
words use to mark boundaries between one conversation topic and another; “well then,...”
Discourse markers
affirmative words that reassure the speaker that the listener is following the conversation
Back-channel
also known as phatic communion, generic statements meant to start a conversation
Opening greetings
powerful social groups use language exclusion to remain in their position
Exclusion with language
how words are pronounced/what words are used depending on the geographical region
Accent/Dialect
words that locate a conversation in space and only make sense to participants in the conversation; part of inclusion and exclusion
Deixis
a strategy by women used to assert their will when the may not have enough authority to do so directly
Use of implication
women are less assertive than men; “Would you mind…”
Super-polite
the act of changing how we speak according to the context
the dialect of a particular class or group
Sociolect
when a speaker is speaking and everyone else involved in the conversation is only listening
Holding the floor
language is only a contributory influence on what we think
Linguistic relativism
when a speaker reiterates a part of a sentence to correct themself; involves no meta language
Repairing
language should have a strict set of rules that must be obeyed in speech and writing
Prescriptivism
language determines the way we think; the words we use directly frame our thoughts
Linguistic determinism
when the speaker realizes they made a mistake and try to correct it, often with the use of meta language
False starts
when the speaker uses words to soften what would have been a blunt statement
Hedges
the omission of parts or wholes of words; often associated with slang
Ellipsis
the evolution of a word where it acquires pleasant connotations
Amelioration
speakers usually mean what they say and listeners use this to discern meaning
Cooperative principle
acts or words that threaten the self-esteem of the speaker
Face-threatening acts
strategies to minimize the threat to the hearer’s self-esteem; “You look great. Do this for me.”
Positive politeness
strategies to avoid giving offense by sowing deference; “I’m terribly sorry, but…”
Negative politeness