1. Watch the video about euphemistic language and answer the questions. Video: Euphemisms and Connotation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-B3cFB3FPc Write a response to the video in which you share your own observations about how businesses and government officials sometimes use euphemistic language to hide the truth and to manipulate their customers and constituents.
What is euphemistic language?
How is euphemistic language used to manipulate people and to hide or soften the truth?
2. Read the email and then answer the questions below.
Email: To: All employees
From: Lisa Dawn
Subject: September 1 kickoff
September 1st will again mark the start of Hunger Action Month. Each year, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank recognizes Hunger Action Month by holding a one-month long food drive competition among local area businesses. This year on September 1st we will once again mark the beginning of Hunger Action Month at our company. Last year’s competition brought in over 20,000 pounds of food!!!!!! That roughly equals 26,000 meals for families in Central PA! Thank you for your participation and commitment to end hunger in our community!!!!!!!
Penn National Insurance will once again participate in the Corporate Food Challenge August 30 through September 24. Last year, we brought in 1,798 pounds of food! Our goal for this year is 2,500 pounds! You can help change the lives of many families in our community who are having difficulty putting food on the table during these tough economic times.
Bins will be placed in the lobby, and once again we will have competitions each week to see which department will bring in the heaviest amount of food.
1. Provide a general critique of this email.
2. What is the writer’s objective?
3. Has the writer achieved her objective?
4. If not, what would you change to help the document achieve the writer’s objective?
5. Imagine that you received this email over the weekend, and did not see it until first thing Monday morning, in a crowded email inbox filled with dozens of emails. What key element is missing from this email that could result in recipients not bothering to open and read it?
3. Answer the following questions:
• How can I apologize effectively?
• How can I apologize in a way that is truthful, genuine and likely to restore my relationship with those whom I am apologizing to?
4. Discuss and analyze a situation where you worked on a project team consisting of diverse or intercultural team members. Briefly describe the team and answer the following questions.
• What were some good and/or poor examples of communication?
• Discuss any examples or interpretation of cultural differences as described in Hoftstede’s Cultural Values chart on p. 46 of your text (i.e. individualism, time orientation, formality, etc.).
• Is there anything that could have been done to make the communication more effective?
5. Review and analyze a recent example of communication you received at your workplace. Discuss whether you felt the sender used an appropriate channel of communication and why.
o Identify the components of communication (stimulus, filter, message, medium and destination)
o Discuss any examples of “noise” and verbal or non-verbal barriers
