Human Communication In Society 4th Edition By Jess K. Alberts - Test Bank

Human Communication In Society 4th Edition By Jess K. Alberts – Test Bank

 

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Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

Chapter Five: Verbal Communication

 

Multiple Choice Questions

 

TB_Q5.1   The ________ function of language is used when one invites people to a party.

1. instrumental
2. personal
3. heuristic
4. common

Answer: a

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.2   When giving directions to your home, you ask a friend to stop at the corner market to pick up some beer and soda. In telling your friend to pick up those beverages, you are using the ________ function of language.

1. personal
2. heuristic
3. interactional
4. regulatory

Answer: d

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.3   Karen told Girard to be at her house at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday for dinner. She is using the ________ function of language.

1. personal
2. heuristic
3. inform
4. interactional

Answer: c

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.4   After you have given directions to your friend, you ask if he understood what you said. In asking, you are using the ________ function of language.

1. personal
2. heuristic
3. inform
4. regulatory

Answer: b

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

 

TB_Q5.5   After explaining how to get to the movie theater, Marcus jokingly told Connor “don’t drive over the curb like you did during your driving test!” In adding this, Marcus is using the ________ function of language.

1. regulatory
2. personal
3. instrumental
4. heuristic

Answer: b

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.6   Watson wrote a poem for his girlfriend to celebrate their anniversary. Which function of language was he using?

1. regulatory
2. instrumental
3. heuristic
4. imaginative

Answer: d

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.7   The study of the sounds that compose individual languages and how those sounds communicate meaning is called ________.

1. phonology
2. syntax
3. semantics
4. pragmatics

Answer: a

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TB_Q5.8   “Crash” can mean many things, like ocean waves hitting the shore, a car accident, or cymbals being struck together.  This is an example of a ________ type of semantic meaning.

1. denotative
2. literal
3. connotative
4. symbolic

Answer: c

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

 

TB_Q5.9   ________ is the study of language in use in specific situations to accomplish goals.

1. Phonology
2. Syntax
3. Semantics
4. Pragmatics

Answer: d

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

TB_Q5.10   Speech act theory is based on the idea that people not only say things, they also _____ things with their words.

1. do
2. repeat
3. hear
4. access

Answer: a

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.11   When friends talk over one another rather than listening to one another before speaking, they are violating _____.

1. a contextual rule
2. a conversational rule
3. syntax
4. semantics

Answer: b

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

 

 

 

 

 

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.12   All of the following are considered major influences on verbal communication EXCEPT for _____.

1. race and ethnicity
2. age
3. geographical region
4. attractiveness

Answer: d

LO 5.3 Identify and give examples of several major influences on verbal communication.

Topic: The Individual and Verbal Communication: Influences

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.13   The basis for the relativist position on language and perception is known as the ________ hypothesis.

1. Korp-Draft
2. Sapir-Whorf
3. Tywin-Smith
4. Bukka-Mutton

Answer: b

LO 5.4 Describe the relationships between language, perception, and power.

Topic: The Individual, Verbal Communication, and Society: Language, Perception, and Power

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

 

TB_Q5.14   The conceptual pairing of maleness with humanity in language is known as ________.

1. androcentrism
2. ethnocentrism
3. neocentrism
4. male-centered communication

Answer: a

LO 5.4 Describe the relationships between language, perception, and power.

Topic: The Individual, Verbal Communication, and Society: Language, Perception, and Power

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

TB_Q5.15 Max: You should have been there.  Lyra agreed to go to the formal with me.

Jamie:  I heard. I also heard she only agreed to make the guy she actually likes jealous. Jamie’s comment is an example of _____.

1. confirming language/communication.
2. disconfirming language/communication.
3. an “I”
4. a “You”

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: b

LO 5.5 Identify and give examples of confirming communication, disconfirming communication, and hate speech.

Topic: Ethics and Verbal Communication

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.16 Max: You should have been there! Lyra agreed to go to the formal with me.

Jamie: I heard.  That’s awesome.  This is her chance to get to know you better.

Jamie’s comment is an example of _____.

1. confirming language/communication.
2. disconfirming language/communication.
3. an “I”
4. a “You”

Answer: a

LO 5.5 Identify and give examples of confirming communication, disconfirming communication, and hate speech.

Topic: Ethics and Verbal Communication

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

True/False Questions

 

TB_Q5.17 Verbal communication generally refers to the written or oral words we exchange, but can also refer to pronunciation or accent.

Answer: True

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.18 Phonology refers to the study of word meaning.

Answer: False

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

TB_Q5.19 If you create a sentence and the noun and verb do not agree, you have a problem with syntax.

Answer: True

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TB_Q5.20 The denotative meaning of a word refers to its dictionary or literal meaning.

Answer: True

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

TB_Q5.21 Speech acts and conversational rules are two units of study in the area of pragmatics.

Answer: True

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

TB_Q5.22 Women and men are generally similar in their verbal communication skills.

Answer: False

LO 5.3 Identify and give examples of several major influences on verbal communication.

Topic: The Individual and Verbal Communication: Influences

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.23 Geographical differences in dialect generally are more pronounced among those with less education compared to those with more education.

Answer: False

LO 5.3 Identify and give examples of several major influences on verbal communication.

Topic: The Individual and Verbal Communication: Influences

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.24 Language discrimination occurs when a person is treated differently because of that person’s native language or other characteristics of that person’s speech.

Answer: True

LO 5.4 Describe the relationships between language, perception, and power.

Topic: The Individual, Verbal Communication, and Society: Language, Perception, and Power

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

TB_Q5.25 It is common for members of more powerful groups to label the members of less powerful groups.

Answer: True

LO 5.4 Describe the relationships between language, perception, and power.

Topic: The Individual, Verbal Communication, and Society: Language, Perception, and Power

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TB_Q5.26 Hate speech is illegal in the United States.

Answer: False

LO 5.5 Identify and give examples of confirming communication, disconfirming communication, and hate speech.

Topic: Ethics and Verbal Communication

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

Completion (fill-in-the-blank) Questions

 

TB_Q5.27 Language is used to control the behavior of others with the ________ function of language.

Answer: regulatory

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.28 With the ________ function, language is used to express oneself artistically or creatively.

Answer: imaginative

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.29 Nathan is interested in words and their meaning within our society. He studies ________.

Answer: semantics

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty Level: Moderate

 

TB_Q5.30 In his book, Jeffrey Walker used the term _____ to refer to the way people change the way they speak in different situations.

Answer: code switching

LO 5.3 Identify and give examples of several major influences on verbal communication.

Topic: The Individual and Verbal Communication: Influences

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essay Questions

 

TB_Q5.31 Define four of the seven functions of language and provide examples of each.

Answer: The most basic function of language is instrumental. This means we can use it to obtain what we need or desire. For instance, when you send an e-vite to your friends to a party to celebrate a birthday, the invitation is instrumental in that you want your friends to come to the party and the invitation helps make that happen.

• A second (and closely related) language function is regulatory, meaning that we can use it to control or regulate the behaviors of others. In your invitation, you may ask your friends to bring a bottle of wine or a dessert to the party, as a way of regulating their behavior.
• Another basic function of language is to inform—to communicate information or report facts. When you invite your friends to the party, you usually include the date and time to inform them of when you want them to come.
• We also use language to acquire knowledge and understanding, which is referred to as a heuristic use. When you want to invite friends, you may ask them to respond to indicate if they are available at that date and time to learn if your party is going to occur as scheduled or if you need to make some changes.
• When language is used in an interactional fashion, it establishes and defines social relationships in both interpersonal and group settings. Thus, when you invite your friends to a celebration, you engage in a behavior that helps maintain your relationship with them as friends.
• Personal language expresses individuality and personality and is more common in private than in public settings. When you invite your friends to the party, you might jokingly add a private message to one, “Don’t bring a cheap bottle of wine, like you did last time.” In this way, you use language to express your sense of humor.
• A final way you can use language is imaginatively. Imaginative language is used to express oneself artistically or creatively, as in drama, poetry, or stories. Thus, if your e-vite says “Screw cake, let’s drink!” or “Let Them Eat Cake,” you would be using the imaginative function of language. For another example of the imaginative use of language, see Did You Know? Candidate for a Pullet Surprise.

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Analyze It

Difficulty Level: Difficult

 

TB_Q5.32 In terms of pragmatics, describe the study of contextual rules. Provide examples to illustrate your description.

Answer: No matter what language or dialect you speak, your use of language varies depending on the communication situation (Mey, 2001). For example, you probably wouldn’t discuss the same topics in the same way at a funeral as you would in a meeting at your workplace, in a courtroom, or at a party. What would happen if you did? For example, telling jokes and laughing at a party is typically acceptable, whereas those same jokes and laughing might be interpreted negatively in a courtroom or at a funeral. One challenge for pragmatics scholars, then, is uncovering the implicit communication rules that govern different settings. As noted previously, communication pragmatics also vary by culture. For example, in some houses of worship, appropriate verbal behavior involves talking quietly or not all, acting subdued, and listening without responding—but in others, people applaud, sing exuberantly, and respond loudly with exclamations like “Amen!”

 

 

 

 

 

Neither set of communication rules is “right”; each is appropriate to its own setting and cultural context.

LO 5.2 Describe the functions and components of language.

Topic: What is Verbal Communication? Functions and Components of Language

Skill Level: Analyze It

Difficulty Level: Difficult

 

TB_Q5.33 Explain how the media’s representation of men’s and women’s communication styles contributes to the perception that men and women are different. Provide examples to support your argument.

Answer: Growing up male or female may influence the way you communicate in some situations, because men and women are socialized to communicate in specific ways. In fact—as exemplified in the popularity of books like Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (Gray, 2012)—many people believe that English-speaking men and women in the United States speak different dialects. These beliefs are reinforced by media depictions that tend to present stereotypical depictions of men and women in magazines, on television, and in movies. For example, one team of researchers reviewed how journal articles talked about gender differences in the past fifty years and found that because people are more interested in hearing about differences than similarities, shows and books that emphasize these differences tend to sell better and receive wider recognition (Sagrestano, Heavey, & Christensen, 1998). Even scholarly research tends to focus on, and sometimes exaggerate, the importance of sex differences; some researchers have reported that women’s verbal style is often described as supportive, egalitarian, personal, and disclosive, whereas men’s is characterized as instrumental, competitive, and assertive (Mulac, Bradac, & Gibbons, 2001; Wood, 2002), and as we saw in Chapter 2, there is some evidence that differences exist in social media “talk.” But other research refutes this claim. A recent review of studies comparing males and females on a large array of psychological and communication differences, including self-disclosure and interruptions, revealed few significant differences (Hyde, 2006). How can these contradictory findings be explained? To begin, many studies of gender differences ask participants to report on their perceptions or ask them to recall men’s and women’s conversational styles (e.g., Aylor & Dainton, 2004). This approach can be problematic because people’s perceptions are not always accurate.

LO 5.3 Identify and give examples of several major influences on verbal communication.

Topic: The Individual and Verbal Communication: Influences

Skill Level: Analyze It

Difficulty Level: Difficult

 

TB_Q5.34 Describe the five assumptions of cocultural theory in terms of the relationship between language and power.

Answer: 1. In each society, a hierarchy exists that privileges certain groups of people; in the

United States, these groups include men, European Americans, heterosexuals, the able-bodied and middle- and upper-class people.

2. Part of the privilege these groups enjoy, often subconsciously, is being able to set norms for what types of communication are acceptable or not acceptable (Orbe, 1998). Consequently, communication patterns of the dominant groups (in the United States, rich, male, White, educated, straight) tend to be more highly valued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Language maintains and reinforces the power of these dominant groups, again, mostly subconsciously. Thus, people whose speech does not conform to what is valued in society may be excluded or negatively stereotyped.
4. In the relationship realm, society tends to value a more female communication style, and men may be criticized for failing to communicate appropriately with their intimates. Remember that none of these language variations is inherently good or bad, powerful or powerless; it is the societal hierarchies that teach us how to view particular communication practices.
5. These dominant communication structures impede the progress of persons whose communication practices do not conform to the norms. For example, what are the consequences for women who do not conform to “male” communication norms in a corporation?

LO 5.4 Describe the relationships between language, perception, and power.

Topic: The Individual, Verbal Communication, and Society: Language, Perception, and Power

Skill Level: Analyze It

Difficulty Level: Difficult