CMST 1A03 Lecture Notes - Indirect Speech, Steven Pinker, Tabula Rasa

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: CMST 1A03
• Professor: Terry Flynn

Document Summary

1a03- introduction to communication friday, sept. 27, 2013. Easier to be exposed to negative messages than positive ones. Historically more exposed to negative messages (i. e warnings etc. ) Pinker states that our brain is wired to understand messages as warning signs. Reasons to doubt the human mind is a blank slate: common sense, human universals, genetics and neuroscience. Pinker can be tied to innis = expression & availability of language (elite level to populous level) Allowed us to expand where more voices or cultures can be added to that discussion. Politically language has been taken over by elites to manipulate and make meaningless and using language to confuse culture not better it. Language helps define our culture and is complex for a reason. No universal language but characteristics where all of our cultures have in common.