Norms governing speech

Skilled speaking requires a number of factors, including a knowledge of the relevant rules governing speech. These are often termed the speech norms. The rules vary from one society to another, and as we said, they can be very different.

We call these speech norms, because they define the normal behavior for social interaction, and thus speech interaction in a given society.

The book does a good job of discussing these. I will deal with each of these norms, one at a time, and try to elaborate on what is said.

1. Norms governing what can be talked about: taboos and euphemism.

The first speech norm we will discuss is NOT mentioned in your book, but it is an important norm. It is what we are allowed to talk about. Topics that people do not discuss are called taboos. They exist in every culture, but they can be very different depending on the culture.

Taboo:/ B tbu / noun [count] something that people in a given society or culture do not do or talk about because it is very offensive or shocking

There are a number of subjects people do not talk about at certain times or with certain people, for example in the U.S.A we usually are careful about who we talk to about politics, religion, and sex. Are these different in Ukraine?

Similarly, in the U.S.A people never talk about how much money they are making, and it is considered impolite to ask someone…is that the case in Ukraine?

Take the next ten seconds to think about all those terrible things you are not supposed to talk about in public—Good. Those are your examples of language taboos.

2. Norms governing non-verbal communication: body language

The second social norm governing speech is non-verbal communication. Diversity in norms is matched in the area of non-verbal communication or what is sometimes called body language. Different actions can have different meanings in different societies, or be non-existent.

SMILE

For example, a smile, in the U.S. is normal. We smile to be polite, so smiling at a stranger is not strange at all.

ASK STUDENTS: What does a smile mean in Ukraine?

Similarly, some people you smile at, some people you don’t. If someone does not “look” friendly, whether stranger or friend, you would not smile at him or her. If you do it will likely be taken the wrong way.

RAISING EYEBROWS

The book offers the example of raising the eyebrows. In any given culture, it can mean: a greeting, an invitation, a warning, skepticism, disdain, doubt, interest, intrigue, or disgust. In America, it can mean interest, skepticism, and invitation, depending on how it is done and its context.

ASK STUDENTS: What does it mean in Ukrainian culture?

What does eye contact mean?

ASK STUDENTS: What about eye-contact? What does it say between strangers? What about at a disco between a man and a woman?

PHYSICAL DISTANCE

Another non-verbal norm governing speech is the physical space between people in a conversation.

Your status in society or your social closeness or solidarity to another person is also reflected in the physical distance between speakers. It is safe to say that in most cases the physical distance between speakers is proportional to social distance, so that people who feel “close” to each other socially, generally stand physically nearer to each other in conversation than people who are not close, or if there is a difference in their power relationships.

What varies, often from culture to culture is the distance that is appropriate for a particular degree of solidarity. For instance Arabs generally set the distance much lower than Americans.

It is not strange to see two men who have a close relationship holding hands while walking down the street. This is only suggestive that they know each other well as friends.

In America, our distance between people, even people who are close, is much greater. I will always give even my closest male friend about an arms length of space. The distance is of course greater if I do not know the person.

ASK STUDENTS: What about in Ukraine?