DocumentCode
1480225
Title
Curbing language intensity
Author
Peneguy, Lynna Dunn
Author_Institution
Dept. of English, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Volume
42
Issue
1
fYear
1999
fDate
3/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage
52
Lastpage
54
Abstract
Language plays an enormous part in an audience´s perception of a writer, particularly when such language is highly intense. High-intensity language tends to be more colorful, subjective, emotionally charged and personal (e.g. “plot”, “scheme”), while low-intensity language tends to be more bland, objective, dispassionate and impersonal (e.g. “plan”). High-intensity language can be good for the professional writer since color and emotion attract interest, but this can be a damaging sort of interest if readers are offended by the level of intensity. Low-intensity language, on the other hand, is safer because it is less personal and hence less likely to offend, yet too much of it may put the reader to sleep. Thus, the challenge for professional writers is to find a median intensity, a healthy balance between subjectivity and objectivity
Keywords
human factors; technical presentation; audience perception; blandness; boring language; colourful language; credibility; dispassionate language; emotionally charged language; impersonal language; language intensity; objectivity; offensive language; personal language; professional writing; reader interest; subjectivity; tone; writing style; Costs; Humans; Lips; Marine vehicles; Natural languages; Nominations and elections; Psychology; Sleep; Speech; Writing;
fLanguage
English
Journal_Title
Professional Communication, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher
ieee
ISSN
0361-1434
Type
jour
DOI
10.1109/47.749368
Filename
749368
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