The Role of Rules in Language (Essay Sample)

The Roles of Rules In Language Institutional Affliation Name The concept of language is rule guided implies that there are rules involved in the communication process. According to Wood (2010), there are places that certain types of communications should be used and not used. Whenever there is a conversation, rules of communication come naturally. For example, a person taking turns when speaking, whispering in libraries and not cursing in public. This concept implies the set of rules that guide communication and help in the smooth and proper running of conversations (Wood & Schweitzer, 2010). The use of constitutive and regulative rules tends to make the conversation run smooth because people agree on what various communication mean and how to sequence their activities. But when people work on diverse constitutive and regulative rules, misunderstandings and friction arise. Regulative rules refer to action rules because they try to regulate conversation by specifying how, where, when and with whom to communicate about particular issues. They show what should happen next and guides about how to react or behave (Wood & Schweitzer, 2010). For instance, how and when to interrupt a conversation, when it is appropriate to yell in public and what to argue when guests are present. They help to set boundaries for communication. Constitutive rules are regulations of meaning that interpret what a particular communication means and how individual acts of communication can be understood. They are more socially generalized to involve hugs and kisses, interrupting the conversation, paying attention, dressing well and being a responsible employee. They demonstrate appropriate behavior in a given setting. These are used to interpret an event or message. In face to face communication, eye contact is necessary. It lets the other individual realize that you are interested in what they need to say. One basic rule is that your eyes can show respect and emotion. When you are in a formal situation, it is important to dress appropriately. For instance, at a wedding, it is proper to wear a formal shirt or tie for men and dress for the ladies when communicating (Wood & Schweitzer, 2010). Formal dress wear is an important constitutive rule that shows people that you are respecting the occasion. Regulative rule ought to play a significant role in everyone’s life. Children are always taught never to interfere with authority people when they are talking. Regarding email, a regulative rule would be to respond promptly. It can also involve reading and editing grammatical errors of what you are sending before hitting the send button. When you hit send, you cannot get it back and need to make sure that the right message is sent (Wood & Schweitzer, 2010). The constitutive...