Language in Social Interaction
Expert-defined terms from the Postgraduate Certificate in Linguistic Anthropology course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Language in Social Interaction Glossary #
Language in Social Interaction Glossary
Adaptation #
The process by which individuals modify their language use to fit the context and the interlocutor's expectations. Adaptation can involve changes in vocabulary, tone, syntax, and nonverbal cues.
Back #
channeling: Verbal or nonverbal signals used by listeners to indicate their engagement and understanding of the speaker's message. Examples of back-channeling include nodding, saying "uh-huh," and making eye contact.
Cohesion #
The linguistic devices used to create connections and flow within a conversation. Cohesion includes pronouns, conjunctions, and other elements that link ideas and maintain coherence.
Deixis #
The use of words or phrases that rely on the context of the conversation to convey meaning. Deixis includes words like "this," "that," "here," and "there," which require the listener to understand the speaker's perspective.
Embodied Communication #
The use of gestures, facial expressions, posture, and other nonverbal cues to enhance or complement verbal communication. Embodied communication can convey emotions, emphasis, and cultural nuances.
Facework #
The strategies individuals use to maintain their social image and relationships during interactions. Facework involves managing self-presentation, saving face, and avoiding embarrassment or conflict.
Grice's Maxims #
The four principles proposed by philosopher H.P. Grice to explain how people interpret and produce conversational implicatures. The maxims include the maxims of quantity, quality, relation, and manner.
Indexicality #
The relationship between language and context, where words or phrases take on meaning based on the situation or speaker. Indexicality allows language to convey social, cultural, and personal information.
Jargon #
Specialized vocabulary or terminology used within a particular profession, field, or social group. Jargon can create a sense of belonging and expertise among group members but may be incomprehensible to outsiders.
Kinship Terms #
Words used to designate family relationships, such as "mother," "cousin," "brother-in-law," and "grandparent." Kinship terms vary across cultures and languages and reflect societal values and structures.
Language Socialization #
The process by which individuals learn to use language within their social and cultural contexts. Language socialization involves acquiring linguistic skills, norms, and values through interaction with others.
Metapragmatics #
The awareness and understanding of the social and cultural rules that govern language use. Metapragmatics allows individuals to reflect on and adapt their communicative strategies based on context and audience.
Norms #
Implicit or explicit rules that guide language use within a particular social group or context. Norms may involve politeness, turn-taking, register, or other aspects of communication that shape interactions.
Overlap #
A conversational phenomenon where two or more speakers talk simultaneously, resulting in a complex interaction pattern. Overlapping speech can indicate enthusiasm, disagreement, or other communicative intentions.
Politeness Theory #
The framework that explains how individuals use language to maintain positive social relationships and avoid conflict. Politeness strategies include politeness markers, indirect requests, and face-saving techniques.
Question #
Response Sequence: A common interactional pattern where one participant asks a question, and another participant provides a response. Question-response sequences help structure conversations and establish communication roles.
Repair #
The process by which speakers correct misunderstandings, errors, or breakdowns in communication. Repair strategies include repetition, clarification, and confirmation to ensure message clarity.
Speech Acts #
The actions performed through language, such as requesting, promising, apologizing, or greeting. Speech acts involve both the literal meaning of words and the social conventions that give them force.
Transcription #
The process of converting spoken language into written form for analysis and study. Transcription systems may include symbols, conventions, and notations to capture the nuances of spoken discourse.
Utterance #
A unit of spoken language that conveys a complete thought or idea. Utterances can range from single words or phrases to longer sentences and play a crucial role in conversation and interaction.
Verbal Irony #
A rhetorical device where the intended meaning of a statement is opposite to its literal interpretation. Verbal irony relies on context, tone, and shared knowledge to convey humor, criticism, or other effects.
Word Play #
The use of language in creative and playful ways to produce humor, ambiguity, or cleverness. Word play includes puns, rhymes, double entendres, and other linguistic devices that manipulate meaning and sound.
Xenoglossia #
The ability to speak or understand a language that one has not formally learned. Xenoglossia is a rare phenomenon and is sometimes associated with spiritual or supernatural experiences.
Yield #
A term used in conversation analysis to describe the process of giving up the floor or relinquishing speaking rights to another participant. Yielding allows for turn-taking and smooth interaction flow.
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) #
A concept from sociocultural theory that refers to the range of tasks a learner can perform with the guidance of a more knowledgeable other. The ZPD highlights the importance of social interaction in learning and development.