Ch 3 Verbal Communication Sapir Whorf Hypothesis The language you use to some extent determines or at least influences the way in which you view and think about the world around you The limit of your words is the limit of your world It takes a long time for language acquisition Denotative Meaning The dictionary definition Connotative Meaning The feelings or associations each individual has about a word Ex freedom love Ladder of Abstraction A diagram of how we abstract through language classifications types categories etc At the bottom are concrete examples and illustrations With higher words there is more room for disagreement more of a chance for bypassing People determine the meaning of the words they receive Good communicators own their communication what is taking place 4 Elements of Verbal Communication places words in a context 1 People involved in the exchange 2 Rules that govern the communication situation 3 Purpose of the people who are there 4 Actual talk Appropriate Language Euphemism An inoffensive word or phrase that is substituted for other words that might be perceived as unpleasant It makes something socially palatable Ex passed on death Doublespeak When an institution uses a euphemism but it does not always have to do with unpleasant words words deliberately constructed for political purposes allows us to talk about things that you don t really want to say 3 Kinds of Language not appropriate male bias 1 Racist minority groups are portrayed in negative terms demeaning and 2 Sexist unintentionally or not excludes a gender Ex androcentric bias 3 Ableist refers to disabled people in a derogatory way Report talk Used by men goal is to maintain status demonstrate knowledge and skills and to keep the center stage position Rapport talk Used by women designed to lead to intimacy with others to match experiences and to establish relationships Men and women use different words because they have different goals Powerful talk Gets directly to the point does not use hesitation or qualification Ex uh like I guess avoids tag questions and disclaimers too Culture and language British is the highest ranking English language Dialect The habitual language of a community What you want to say Use words carefully when you re trying to say something How you want to say it Be careful about language choices be clear and vivid To whom you are talking Make words appropriate to your audience Metamessages Subtext what is really being said Ethics A choice of words is a choice of worlds Ch 4 Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication Information communicated without using words 67 93 of what we communicate is nonverbal oftentimes it cannot be controlled Setting place time channels environment and feelings can all be nonverbal Verbal communication is processed linearly nonverbal communication is processed holistically It is harder to control nonverbal than verbal communication Nonverbal communication is learned Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication Culturally Determined passed on from parents to kids learned through imitation Mixed messages Confliction the verbal and nonverbal contradict each other Largely Unconscious Shows your feelings and attitudes Varies by gender women initiate more eye contact in conversations women prefer side by side conversations men prefer face to face conversations men are more likely to initiate touch with others women give and receive more touches in men Displays power height physical size eye contact bodily positions movements gestures and voice display power touch repels disgusts insults and threatens Types of Nonverbal Communication Paralanguage everything but the words themselves the way in which you say the words Rate the most pleasing voices vary the rate Pitch the highness or lowness of the voice a little higher than normal is good Volume how loudly or softly a person speaks Quality made up of tempo resonance rhythm and articulation Body Movement kinesics refers to all forms of body movement Emblems movements that directly translate into words Illustrators accent emphasize or reinforce words Regulators control the back and forth flow of speaking and listening Ex nodding Displays of feelings show how intensely a person is listening through facial expressions and body movements Adaptors nonverbal ways of adjusting to a communication situation Facial Expressions the 42 facial muscles can produce more than 10 000 expressions the four expressions happiness sadness fear and anger are easily identified across cultures Eye Messages all information conveyed by the eyes alone Attractiveness having the power or quality of drawing or winning attention the importance of physical beauty to males is even across all cultures men prefer young nubile women for reproduction women prefer men with sufficient resources to care for them and have stronger preferences for intelligent considerate and outgoing mates across all cultures women prefer wealth status and power Elective characteristics physical characteristics you can control ex clothing makeup tattoos piercing Nonelective characteristics things you cannot change ex height 789 more a year inch body proportion skin color bone structure physical disabilities Clothing gives a strong immediate impression of its wearer categories are how the uniforms occupational dress leisure clothing and costumes echo audience feels and is dressed Body Adornment includes any addition to the physical body designed to beautify or decorate hairstyles facial hair makeup tattoos constantly changes Space and Distance proxemics examines the way people use the space around them as well as the distance they maintain from others men are more territorial space belonging to him her than women Intimate space touching to less than 18 inches apart Personal space 18 inches to 4 feet Social space 4 feet to 12 feet Public space a distance of more than 12 feet Touch to be in or come into physical contact with another person power status and sexual innuendos are affected by touch Haptics is the study of touch handshakes are important and cultural Smell important and cultural Olfactics is the study of smell Time how you tell times tells your consideration Chronemics is the study of time Manners very important know what is appropriate Silence Ch 5 Listening Listening includes the processes of listening preparation receiving constructing meaning responding and remembering you need to understand not only what is being said but also what is not being said