Introduction to Speech Communication, definition of language, definition of speech communication, gender fair language, examples of gender fair language, gender neutral language

1. LANGUAGE AND
COMMUNICATION
Ruby L. Rivero
Speech Communication Class

2. LANGUAGE
•The method of human
communication, either spoken or
written, consisting of the use of words in a
structured and conventional way.
•Any nonverbal method of expression or
communication: "a language of gesture
and facial expression".

3. LANGUAGE
CONT…
•Language is man’s most effective means of
communication.
•Used to express inner thoughts and
emotions, make sense of complex and abstract
thought, to learn to communicate with others, to
fulfill our wants…
•is the human capacity for acquiring and using
complex systems of communication, and
a language is any specific example of such a
system.

4. COMMUNICATION
•The imparting or exchanging of
information or news.
•A letter or message containing
such information or news.

5. COMMUNICATION
•Communication (from Latin
"communis", meaning to share) is
the activity of conveying
information through the exchange
of thoughts, messages, or
information

6. COMMUNICATION
•Spoken or verbal
•Non-verbal Communication
•Written communication
•Visualizations

7. COMMUNICATION
•Communication is the use of
words to describe and convey
a message or give information
to another person. We
communicate using language
as a code to share
information, ideas and
feelings.

8. COMMUNICATION
•Communication is like a
double-acting
hinge, swinging outward to
release your own ideas and
swinging inward to receive
the worthy thoughts of
others. – Stacey Huish

9. GENDER FAIR
LANGUAGE CONTINUED
A generation or so ago,
English language usage
standards used to tell us to
use "man," "he," etc., when
speaking about any
unspecified individual.

10. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
This standard has changed for
several reasons:
•it inaccurately represents
individuals who are female or
groups who are partly or
wholly female;

11. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
•it misleadingly focuses on the
sex of the individual rather
than what they are doing;
•it indicates bias (even when
you have no intention of doing
so).

12. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
•To remedy this bias, we use
gender fair or neutral
language in both our written
and oral communication.

13. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
How-to-do-it!:
•Use gender-fair specific pronouns.
(less he, him, his)
•Structure the sentence without
pronouns.
•Use a double pronoun (his/or her).
•Use passive voice sparingly.

14. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
How-to-do-it!:
•Use a more inclusive compound
word. (e.g.: person, mortal, human
and other numerous variations
instead of “Man”.

15. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
Examples:
•Original: The policeman overtook
the fleeing thief on the highway and
prevented him from causing so much
trouble.
•Gender-Fair: The police officer
overtook the fleeing thief on the
highway and prevented him from
causing so much trouble.

16. GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
Examples:
•Original: The governor signed the
workmen’s compensation bill.
•Gender-Fair: The governor signed
the worker’s compensation bill.

17. REFERENCE:
•Dictionary
•http://www.only-effective-communication-skills.com/what-is-
communication.html
•http://www.skillsyouneed.com/general/what-is-communication.html
•http://facweb.furman.edu/~moakes/Powerwrite/gender.htm

18. THANK YOU
English 3 - Speech
Communication