How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable

As bestselling author Suzette Haden Elgin proves, you don't have tolive your life on red alert. With her Gentle Art of VerbalSelf-Defense techniques, you'll be able to respond clearly tohostile comments from others--or deliver necessary negativemessages of your own--without sacrificing your dignity orprinciples. You'll learn to:
* Keep domestic disagreements from escalating
* Deliver criticism to coworkers, employers, or employees
* Handle aggressive, negative comments about race, politics, orreligion
* Provide discipline without increasing hostility
* Use language that reduces tension and creates rapport in everysituation OVERVIEW.

Is Hostile Language Bad?

Is Hostile Language Necessary?

LAYING THE FOUNDATION.

Detachment.

Listening.

Metaphors.

TECHNIQUES.

Using the Satir Modes.

Using Presuppositions.

Managing the Verbal Attack Patterns.

Reducing Tension, Increasing Rapport.

Conclusion.

References and Bibliography.

Index. Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D., is the founder of the Ozark Center for Language Studies, near Huntsville, Arkansas. She is nationally recognized for her seminars and public speaking and is the author of ten books on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense, including Genderspeak, You Can't Say That to Me!, The Gentle Art of Communicating with Kids and Try to Feel It My Way (all published by Wiley). As bestselling author Suzette Haden Elgin proves, you don't have to live your life on red alert. With her Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense techniques, you'll be able to respond clearly to hostile comments from others—or deliver necessary negative messages of your own—without sacrificing your dignity or principles. You'll learn to:

• Keep domestic disagreements from escalating
• Deliver criticism to coworkers, employers, or employees
• Handle aggressive, negative comments about race, politics, or religion
• Provide discipline without increasing hostility
• Use language that reduces tension and creates rapport in every situation