COMM 302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Communication Accommodation Theory, Doublespeak, Collateral Damage
Document Summary
Chapter 7: language and persuasion: symbols, meaning and persuasion a. Symbol: something that stands for something else (words count) No connection between symbol and what it represents necessary. Involves both denotation (definition) and connotation (personal connection) Ultimate terms: words or phrases accepted as having special power. God terms: facts, family values, critical thinking. Ultimate terms are not stable over time. Example: how politicians use language to persuade c aphorisms: sayings that offer advice. Persuasive under peripheral processing d labeling: a person"s name affects how people respond to the person. The power of labels extends beyond names. Broken homes vs single parents e euphemisms: inoffensive terms to replace taboo ones. Downsizing vs. layoffs/firing f doublespeak: ambiguous or evasive language. Ii) language intensity, vividness and offensiveness a profanity. If you want to be perceived as attractive or credibly, swear less. Sherer study: people who used damn were more persuasive than those who didn"t.