Spoken Language Indices of Uncertainty

Owayne, John Sherblom; Rheenen, Dwayne D. Van

doi:10.1111/j.1468-2958.1984.tb00046.x

Cited by 23 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 23 publications

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“…Second, the communications and linguistics literatures have shown that when individuals perceive a high level of downside risk, they typically experience cognitive stress, which invokes negative responses (Hastie & Dawes, 2001;Owayne & Rheenen, 1984;Rozin & Royzman, 2001;Wright, 1974). Concrete language is more effective than abstract language at reducing cognitive stress as it provides information that is easy to understand, extract, and process (Elsbach, 2004).…”

Section: Concrete Language Abstract Language and Risk Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions

Pan

McNamara

Lee

et al. 2017

Strategic Management Journal

103

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Research Summary: Building on the communications and linguistics literatures, we explore the language attributes managers use in interactions with investors and the subsequent reactions of investors. Specifically, we hypothesize that top managers’ use of concrete language attributes in communication with investors broadly associates with positive investor reactions. We further posit that this relationship will be moderated by the level of firm risk. Our results support our hypotheses and, thus, offer important insights to the impression management literature. First, subtle elements of managerial communication can have significant impression management consequences. More specifically, language concreteness is a key language attribute that generally induces positive investor responses. Finally, the effectiveness of language concreteness is conditional on the informational environment of the firm. Managerial Summary: How can managers communicate in a way that presents the firm more positively or reduces the negativity associated with perceived firm risks? Our findings indicate that choosing appropriate persuasive language features in interactions with investors can help a firm manage its impressions. Specifically, we find that top managers’ use of concrete language that provides details and specific information in communication with investors, in general, garners positive investor reactions. Further, the effectiveness of top managers’ use of concrete language depends on investor concerns. More specifically, we find that when a firm is seen as having a riskier profile, using concrete language helps induce a more positive investor response; while when a firm is seen as low risk, using abstract language may be more beneficial.

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Section: Concrete Language Abstract Language and Risk Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions

Pan

McNamara

Lee

et al. 2017

Strategic Management Journal

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Verbs Speak Loud: Verb Categories in Learning Polarity and Strength of Opinions

Sokolova

Lapalme

2008

Advances in Artificial Intelligence

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Language of Uncertainty: the Expression of Decisional Conflict Related to Skin Cancer Prevention Recommendations

Strekalova

James

2016

J Canc Educ

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User-generated information on the Internet provides opportunities for the monitoring of health information consumer attitudes. For example, information about cancer prevention may cause decisional conflict. Yet posts and conversations shared by health information consumers online are often not readily actionable for interpretation and decision-making due to their unstandardized format. This study extends prior research on the use of natural language as a predictor of consumer attitudes and provides a link to decision-making by evaluating the predictive role of uncertainty indicators expressed in natural language. Analyzed data included free-text comments and structured scale responses related to information about skin cancer prevention options. The study identified natural language indicators of uncertainty and showed that it can serve as a predictor of decisional conflict. The natural indicators of uncertainty reported here can facilitate the monitoring of health consumer perceptions about cancer prevention recommendations and inform education and communication campaign planning and evaluation.

show abstract

Spoken Language Indices of Uncertainty

Cited by 23 publications

References 23 publications

Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions

Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions

Verbs Speak Loud: Verb Categories in Learning Polarity and Strength of Opinions

Language of Uncertainty: the Expression of Decisional Conflict Related to Skin Cancer Prevention Recommendations

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