© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Chapter Clarify Ideas and Concepts THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Learning Outcomes • Explain how context and purpose affect the quality of an interpretation • Explain the conditions under which vagueness and ambiguity become problematic, clarify your explanation with examples • Apply five strategies to effectively resolve problematic vagueness and ambiguity THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Learning Outcomes • Explain why strong critical thinking, particularly judicious interpretation, is helpful when encountering a new language community THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Chapter Opening Video THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Interpretation, Context, and Purpose • • • • Meaning matters But, clear enough for what? Worth 1000 words Communication, language, and thought THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Meaning Matters • Essentials for making an accurate interpretation – Context within the use of a word or expression – Intent of the speaker THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc But, Clear Enough for What? • Clarity depends on purpose and context of the communication • Strong critical thinkers use interpretive questions to reveal context and purpose – Can also be applied to non-verbal communication THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Worth 1000 Words THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Communication, Language, and Thought • Closely connected • The capacity to use language gave Homo sapiens an advantage over other hominids • Earliest language was a rich and varied system of gesticulations, sounds, pictures, and symbols • Written communications increase the risk of vagueness or ambiguity THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Contextualizing • Reminds the topic of discussion or the circumstances within which a statement was made • Words taken out of context can be misleading – Intellectual integrity and a habit of truthseeking are needed when summarizing and de-contextualizing words of others THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Clarifying Original Intent • Challenging when multiple alternative wordings are possible and asking for clarification is unlikely • Problematic vagueness can be intentional – Intentional vagueness can be frustrating when precise, practical answers are desired THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Negotiating the Meaning • Strong critical thinkers reflect on their thinking process – Discover that assumptions may be mistaken • Compromising - Settling for less – Position-based negotiation - Each side has its opening position, negotiation chips away those positions THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Negotiating the Meaning • Interest-based negotiation - Parties are collaborators, not adversaries • A word has marginal value for communication, if it can mean anything any person might want THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Using Qualifications, Exceptions, or Exclusions • Qualifications that clarify included and excluded cases help resolve problematic vagueness and ambiguity • Judicious habit of mind – Drives a person to make judgments about what to believe or as the subject matter, context, and purposes permit THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Stipulating the Meaning • Adding qualifications or noting exceptions and exclusions may not be sufficient when the determination of a term’s meaning has consequences for parties involved • Stipulating meaning intends to remove problematic vagueness and ambiguity – Establishes a term’s meaning for a specific set of purposes THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Simulation THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Donkey Cart Words Signal Twisted Meanings • Donkey cart words - Good words used with twisted meanings – Used to mislead and exploit gullible individuals THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Language Communities • National and global language communities • Language communities formed of people with like interests • Academic disciplines as language communities • Critical thinking and college introductory courses THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc National and Global Language Communities • Language community: Community which shares an understanding of the meanings of words and icons • Meanings of words within a language are conventional • People may use expressions that symbolize their own language community – Context of the expression may remain the same in different parts of the world THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Language Communities Formed of People with Like Interests • Words and symbols used specialized fields have conventional meanings – People who know and use these words and symbols form a part of the community THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Academic Disciplines as Language Communities • Newcomers to academic language communities: – May not understand textbooks or lectures prepared by senior members of the community – Do not comprehend the conventions within different disciplines on conducting inquiry and communicating findings THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Critical Thinking and College Introductory Courses • Strong critical thinking skills and habits of mind help individuals venture into different academic language communities THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Discussion Question • What language communities are you a member of? • What language communities would you like to be a member of, and why? THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Sketchnote Video THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc ... encountering a new language community THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Chapter Opening Video THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc... applied to non-verbal communication THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Worth 1000 Words THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Communication,... meaning for a specific set of purposes THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Simulation THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS © 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc Donkey