Language Is Symbolic

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The author tells us that language is symbolic. What does this mean? According to the text (Wood 2011 pg.90), the author explains that "words are symbols" which means they are used to describe a thing, but they are not that particular thing in actuality. The author explains that they are "arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract representations of other phenomena". How does your unique perspective influence how you perceive language? How I perceive language has a lot to do with my environment, age and my culture. For instance, in America most people relate the word "beef" to ground cattle meat. When growing up in New York City in the 90's, I knew this word to mean the same however, the alternative meaning for me was "to feel strife or anger towards someone". During this unit I have come to learn that this was also used in 1920's American slang and it meant "a complaint or to complain". What ethical issues can you identify with how you communicate verbally? I notice that for myself, the way that I communicate verbally is significantly different when it comes to gender, race, my environment. I tend to assess the current situation and personalities around me before I speak. How I communicate verbally also depends a lot on my audience as well. When I am speaking with someone who knows fluent English and they are from America I feel that they may be on my intellectual level and I do not have to explain or rephrase my statements a much. However when I am speaking with someone who speaks a different language I speak to them as if they are children. I do not use lots of big words that I think they may not understand, I "dumb it down" sort of speak, in an attempt to make them feel more comfortable but I have learned that this makes people feel offended. Explain the guidelines for improving verbal communication. Why are each important? Which do you need to work on
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