How does social class affect communication? Provide an example.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

- Social class refers to the perceived status, influence, authority, and power a person may have based on economic, educational, and family history.
- Class differences seem to influence with whom we talk, whether we are likely to invite our neighbors over for coffee, and who we choose as our friends and lovers. Members of a social class develop ways of communicating class differences to others by the way they dress, the cars they drive, the homes they live in, and the schools they attend, in addition to other visible symbols of social class. Research indicates that advertisers target people based on their social class. We are more likely to interact with people from our own social class.
* People who interact with one another over time tend to communicate in similar ways; they develop similar speech patterns and use similar expressions.
- For example, Kanisha declined to invite Eduardo to a black-tie fundraiser even though they were both involved with the organization. While Kanisha liked and respected Eduardo, she didn't think he would "fit in" with the crowd based on his job level, the community in which he resided, and her perceived idea of his net worth.
- Student examples will vary.