cmn105 final argument myths
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- 7. Why does the usage and meaning of words change? Which is the least likely to change? Why?
- a. It is a universal characteristic of language to change over time. Least likely to change are unspoken ones and have very limited purpose,
- Deborah Tannen's thesis regarding what she calls "the argument culture"?
- o American culture and spirit is being corroded by living in an atmosphere of unrelenting contentiousness - an argument culture, o Describes as being like having an argument with a spouse
- 12. What do the authors describe as the two competing views regarding the myth that Italian is beautiful and german is ugly? What are the perspectives of the 2 views
- a. Inherent value - some language and accents are inherently more attractive than others. - i. Criticque because of identity - linguistic self hatred, link between attractiveness and intelligibility, how we speak can have great social currency, b. Social connotations - perception of pleasantness more about social connotations. Built on complex social, cultural, regional, poitical, and personal associations and prejdices
- 3. What are the various implications and consequences of the "argument culture" she describes?
- Winners and losers, two-valued thinking, demongraphy, we are what we speak, guilty victims, slash and burn thinking, only one type of leader, who won?, and ethic of aggression
- 10. What does the author say about the myth that women talk too much? Upon what does the amount of talk a person does depend?
- a. Evidence does not support this notion. All depends on , social context, kind of talk, relative social confidence, social rules, familiarity with topic
- 13. What is an accent and what does it tell about a person? How does the author respond to the myth that everyone has an accent but me?
- a. Accent defines and communicates who we are and where we have been. , everyone has an accent
- 9. Why are the media accused of ruining English and what is the authors response? What does it mean that media are linguistic mirrors?
- a. We have concerns for the health of English. Journalism is a demanding skill. Linguistic mirror because they relect current usage and extend it, do not invent these word forms
- 4. What are her definitions for the terms "agonistic response", demonography" and rhetorical cry wolf"
- a. Demonography: when writers seek negative sides of their subjects to display for readers who enjoy seeing heroes transformed into villains, b. Agonistic response - programmed, patterned, unthinking use of fighting to accomplish goals that don't require it, c. Cry wolf - use of adversarial rhetoric for everything
- 11. What are the various challenges involved in learning a new language and why are some languages considered harder to learn? What is the most difficult aspect of learning a language? What are the rules of language usage?
- i. Grammer, vocab, sound system, rules of usage, b. Most difficult is the vocabulary because we develop it forever, c. Rules of usage- when to speak how to address a person, how to ask questions, politeness
- 8. Why are some languages accused of not being "good enough" and what is the author's response?
- a. Accused of not being good enough because some are restricted and used for very specific purposes. Some languages do not cover a wide range of functions and are not good enough. Not good enough for what? All languages are capable of expanding their vocabulary
- 14. What are the common themes or perceptions held by all of the linguitst writers who contributed to the book?
- a. Ongoing and inevitable nature of language change, b. People are concerned about the state of English, c. Beliefs held by linguist regarding language different than held by general public, d. Prejudices based on the way people speak are = to sexism and racism, e. Supioeroirtiy of one language over another is due to social and historical origns not linguistic
- 5. What is her recommendation regarding the use of argument and debate in public discussions
- a. Listen to all sides, cooperation is not that absence of conflict but a means of managing a conflict. Using ccommunication as a method of learning about others positions
- purpose of the language myth book
- • Wanted to write a book that could explain language to the general public