Language and

Power
 Types of power...

Political...Political power is the type of language that has

to do with law or politics.
For example, a judge in a courtroom has more
power/authority than anyone else.
Personal... Personal power is the role that someone
plays in society.
Social Group... Social group is the type of language used
within a group.
For example, somebody in a group may speak differently
within one group of friends that they wouldn't use within
another.
Instrumental and Influential.

Instrumental and Influential are the categories that

Political, Personal and Social group language powers
fall into.

Political is the only language power to fall into

instrumental because power through knowledge and
authority is used.

Both Personal and Social group fall into influential

because power can either go one way or another.
The media and persuasive language is also used in
influential.
Examples...

An example of instrumental power is the judge in a

courtroom because he/she will use more law related
words than a defendant will.

An example of influential power is when a teacher in

a classroom because he/she would have the final
say. But the role would be reversed when he/she is
with his/her boss because they would then have the
least power and his/her boss would have the higher
power.
Grice's Maxims (4 rules of conversation)

1. QUANTITY. This is the appropriate of detail used.

- If to much detail is used, people become bored of listening to the
same conversation.
- If to little detail is used, people may not understand properly.
2. QUALITY. This is speaking the truth and not to knowingly mislead.
- Doing this can lead to people not knowing everything they should,
or thinking something they shouldn't.
3. RELEVANCE. Keep what is being discussed relevant.
- Don't talk to about two things at once. People might become
confused or loose interest to the conversation.
4. MANNER. This is avoiding being vague and ambiguity.
Power Asymmetry.

Power Asymmetry is the when one

speaker is seen as either the most
powerful or least powerful participant in
conversation. This also links in to
examples for influential and instrumental.
Power Asymmetry is also termed as
unequal encounters.
Other words...

Constraint.. This is when a powerful participant

blocks the contribution of the less powerful
participant in a conversation.
For example, when a police officer is arresting
somebody.

Formulation... This is when a powerful participant

rewords something that doesn't always make sense
or isn't completely right.
For example, a lawyer questioning a witness will
reword what is said to make more sense to the
judge or jury.