For some employees, verbal abuse can be the everyday language of doing business. Defending yourself from these verbal abusers—calmly, professionally, and successfully—can be crucial to your on-the-job success.   Nationally recognized linguistics expert and author Suzette Haden Elgin applies her acclaimed techniques for combating verbal attacks to common workplace situations. Powerful yet unthreatening, her proven strategies will help you recognize and defend yourself from verbal abuse—everything from casual obscenities and racist or sexist language to sarcasm, cutting jokes, and subtle put-downs.   Richly illustrated with fully dramatizes scenarios and real-world examples, Dr. Elgin’s communication techniques will help you instantly take control of any verbal confrontation. You’ll also learn how to avoid “malpractice of the mouth” and sexual harassment; communicate sensitively and clearly with non-native English speakers; and project a strong, straightforward, and trustworthy image.   You’ll find tips for handling sensitive issues via email and voice mail, advice on meeting the communication challenges that face home-based and virtual businesses, and plenty of “workouts” placed throughout the book to give you valuable opportunities to practice your new skills. The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work is your roadmap through the potentially career-threatening minefields of workplace communication. ... a crash course on just how powerful the English language isand how easily it can be misconstrued. -- Copley News Service, September 24, 2000 Her genius is in separating what is meant from the words that are actually spoken. -- Dallas Morning News, Januray 23, 2000 She interweaves lessons agreeably with examples that read like fiction. -- American Way, February 2000 Suzette Haden Elgin is the author of the bestselling Gentle Art series and The Grandmother Principles . She is associate professor emeritus of linguistics at San Diego State University and the author of two linguistics texts, as well as numerous science fiction novels. Founder and director of the Ozark Center for Language Studies, she is nationally recognized for her seminars and public speaking engagements as well as for her appearances on television and radio programs, including Weekend Today and National Public Radio.