MCM101 Lesson 11

LESSON 11: LANGUAGE IN COMMUNICATION

1. What is ‘polarization’ in the context of language use?
   Polarization is the common practice in language to describe things in extreme positions, forcing people to take an extreme view when the reality may be somewhere in between.
2. What is meant by ‘labeling’ in language?
   Labeling is when language helps you categorize people into groups and thereafter always keep an impression about them based on that label, such as labeling all Scots as stingy.
3. Define ‘static meanings’ as a problem of language.
   Static meanings occur when certain words are attached to a person or group, and they continue to be known by those meanings even if they have changed over time.
4. What is ‘indiscrimination’ in language usage?
   Indiscrimination is the problem where language provides common nouns, leading people to assume that all individuals in a group are similar in behavior, like assuming all police or all students act the same.
5. According to the lesson, how many recognized languages are there?
   There are over 4,000 recognized languages.
6. What is the stated purpose of the debate on language and communication in the lesson?
   The purpose is not to prove languages are worthless, but to highlight areas where languages fall short of meaning and cause problems in common communication.
7. How does polarization affect communication during elections?
   During elections, polarization forces people to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, implying full endorsement or rejection of a leader’s policies, when in fact they may only like or dislike some aspects.
8. What is one example given of static meanings affecting historical perception?
   Ruling tribes described with certain characteristics in history books may have their generations continued to be known with those same characteristics, even if they are no longer true.
9. Explain how polarization can prevent someone from communicating the “very truth” about their feelings.
   Polarization forces an extreme judgment (good/bad), which doesn’t allow for nuanced feelings. For example, you might call a movie “good” but only like its music and acting, not its direction, yet you are pushed to defend the overall “good” label.
10. Explain how labeling can negatively impact communication with an example.
    Labeling can lead to prejudice; for instance, if you are told Scots are stingy, you may be overly cautious when dealing with a Scot, potentially harming the communication and relationship, even if that individual is not stingy.
11. How does the problem of ‘static meanings’ make it difficult for people to change perceptions?
    Once a label like “nuts” is attached to someone, friends may continue to refer to them as such years later, even if the person has become very reasonable, because the static meaning persists in language.
12. Explain the problem of ‘indiscrimination’ with an example from the lesson.
    If a group of students resort to hooliganism, people may quickly remark that hooliganism is a “common thing about students,” unfairly applying the behavior of a few to the entire group based on the common noun “students.”
13. Why are languages considered to have “innate flaws” that hamper communication?
    Languages have flaws like polarization, labeling, static meanings, and indiscrimination, which lead to oversimplification, prejudice, and misrepresentation, preventing accurate and nuanced communication.
14. How can static meanings be “harsh” in their application, according to the lesson?
    They are harsh because they attach outdated or inaccurate characteristics to people or groups based on past events or labels, preventing a fair and updated assessment of individuals.
15. Explain how polarization works in evaluating a movie.
    When evaluating a movie, you are often forced to call it “good” or “bad.” However, you might like the music and acting (good) but not the direction and script (bad), yet the polarized language doesn’t allow this mixed evaluation to be easily communicated.
16. Why is there “no scientific approach” in language to measure matters like in physics?
    Unlike physics or chemistry, language does not offer precise, quantitative measurements. It relies on subjective words and meanings that change over time and context, making it imprecise.
17. A person is described as “bad” because they committed a crime, but they are always truthful. Which problem of language does this illustrate?
    This illustrates the problem of ‘Polarization’, as the person is forced into an extreme category (“bad”) that doesn’t capture the nuance of their character (being truthful in some respects).
18. Analyze the following scenario: A manager assumes a new employee from a particular university will be brilliant because that university has a good reputation. Which language behavior is this?
    This is ‘Indiscrimination’. The manager is applying the positive label of the university (a group) to the individual employee without knowing their specific capabilities.
19. A news report labels all members of a certain political party as “corrupt.” Based on the lesson, what is the potential communication problem with this?
    The problem is ‘Labeling’. It creates a preconceived negative impression about every individual in that party, which may not be true for all, leading to biased communication and misunderstanding.
20. You hear someone say, “He’s just like all the others from his department.” Which language problem from the lesson does this statement exemplify?
    This exemplifies ‘Indiscrimination’, as it assumes all individuals in a department share the same characteristics, ignoring individual differences.
21. Apply your knowledge: Why might a history book describing a 19th-century event be misinterpreted by a 21st-century reader?
    Due to ‘Static Meanings’, the meanings of words used in the 19th century may have changed, so the reader might interpret the descriptions based on modern meanings, leading to a misunderstanding of the historical facts.
22. A friend asks if you liked a restaurant. You thought the food was excellent but the service was poor. Based on the lesson, why is it difficult to answer this simple question?
    Because of ‘Polarization’, language often forces a simple “yes” or “no” answer, making it difficult to communicate the nuanced, mixed experience you actually had.
23. Based on the lesson, what is one reason people in third-world countries might view the United Nations with suspicion?
    Due to ‘Labeling’, the UN might be labeled as an extension of the developed world, and this static impression persists, affecting communication and trust regardless of the UN’s actual actions in a given case.
24. If languages are not “worthless,” what is their value despite the flaws discussed in the lesson?
    Despite their flaws, languages are incredibly valuable as the primary tool for recording history, sharing religious and scientific works, and enabling communication across generations and cultures. The lesson aims to promote mindful use, not rejection.
25. A journalist is writing a profile of a public figure who has reformed after a past mistake. What language pitfall should they avoid to ensure fair reporting?
    The journalist should avoid the pitfall of ‘Static Meanings’ by not defining the figure solely by their past mistake and should describe their subsequent reformation and current character accurately.