Amy Davenport
January 30, 2013

Exploratory Question One There are five problem areas within our use of language. These five problems and their definitions are: 1. Abstraction and Meaning: Abstraction in language operates on many different levels, meaning that it can range from being very vague to very specific. For example, you can speak in vague terms that no one knows what you are talking about (“Stuff is cool!”), or you can speak so specifically that people might think you are keeping notes for a court case against them: “I noticed you didn’t do your chores today. You agreed to do your chores every Monday and Wednesday since you have school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” There are high-level abstractions and low-level abstractions in language. High-level abstractions are general and vague. Low-level abstractions are more specific and can help you understand more precisely what people mean. Abstraction in language can also offer information about your affiliations and memberships. For example, slang is language that is informal, nonstandard, and usually particular to a specific group; it operates as a high-level abstraction because meanings of slang are known only by a particular group of people. 2. Situation and Meaning: Situation and meaning in language involves semantics and pragmatics. Semantics involves the relationship among symbols, objects, people, and concepts and refers to the meaning that words have for people, either because of their definitions or because of their placement in a sentence’s structure. Pragmatics is the ability to use the symbol systems of a culture appropriately. 3. The Limits of Labeling: When using labels in our language, we ignore individual differences. Labels that we choose to use for our beliefs affect how we communicate them to others and how they respond. Labels can sometimes be derogatory labels, such as racial and ethnic slurs, demean and disenfranchise entire groups of people. 4. The Dangers of Biased Language: Biased language is words that are infused with subtle meanings that influence our perceptions about the subject. For example, referring to an older person as “sweetie” can be belittling to that person. 5. Profanity, Rudeness, and Civility: Profanity includes words or expressions that are considered insulting, rude, vulgar, or disrespectful, while civility involves language that meets socially appropriate norms.
I have personally experienced each of these language problems throughout the years. An example of abstraction that I have experienced is when my daughter feels the need not to help me out around the house. I tend to get really upset with her and tell her that “She never helps me out around the house like she promises to.” A Situation and Meaning example would be would