Effective Communication/LANGUAGE

The Languagea collection of symbols, governed by rules, and used to convey messages
vIdentify at least two ways in which language has shaped perception
vIdentify at least two ways in which language reflects attitudes

Nature of Language
•Language is symbolic
•Language is Rule-Governed
•Phonological rules – how sounds are combined to form words
•Syntactic rules govern ways symbols can be arranged. (structure of language)
•Semantic rules govern meaning
•Regulative rules tell us what interpretation of a message is appropriate in a given context

Meanings Are in People, Not Words

“The spoken word belongs half to the one who speaks and half to the one who hears.” French proverb
Language Shapes Attitudes
•Culture
-the structure of a culture’s language shapes the world view of its members
Kaibigan Kapatid
Mano Po
•Naming
The perceptions we hold about people because of their names influence our behavior toward them.
•Credibility
•Status- judgments of attractiveness and status are strongly influenced by style of speech
•Self-esteem- the words we use to describe people’s roles or functions in society can also shape the way they feel about themselves.

Language Reflects Attitudes
•Power
Powerless language:
Hedges: I’m kinda disappointed…
I think we should…
I guess I’d like to…
Hesitations: “uh…” Well,…” “er”
Intensifiers: I’m not very hungry
Polite forms: excuse me, sir…
Disclaimers: I’m not really sure…

•Attraction and interest
üChoice of demonstrative pronoun: These vs Those
üNegation: It’s good vs It’s bad
üSequential placement: Brothers and Sisters
•Responsibility
ü“It” vs “I” statements
ü“You” vs “I” statements
ü“But” statements
üQuestion vs statements

Language of Misunderstanding
•Equivocal Language- have more than one correct dictionary definition
•Relative Terms – gain their meaning by comparison
•Emotive Language – contains words that sound as if they’re describing something when they are announcing the speaker’s attitude.

Characteristics of Non-Verbal
ØNonverbal Communication Exists
ØNonverbal Communication is Primarily Relational
ØNonverbal Communication is Ambiguous
ØMuch nonverbal Communication is Culture-bound

Functions of NonVerbal
•Repeating – Where’s PCU college?
•Substituting – Musta na?
•Complementing – nonverbal behaviors that accompany and support spoken words
•Accenting – nonverbal devices used to emphasize oral messages.
•Regulating- nonverbal behaviors that control the flow of verbal communication
•Contradicting – people simultaneously
express different and even contradicting messages.

Types of Nonverbal Communication
•Posture and Gestures
•Face and Eyes
•Voice
•Touch
Clothing
•Economic level
•Educational level
•Trustworthiness
•Social position
•Level of sophistication
•Economic background
•Social background
•Educational background
•Level of success
•Moral character

Distance
•Intimate Distance- skin contact to 18 inches
•Personal Distance – 18in to 4 ft
•Social Distance – 4 ft to 12 feet
•Public Distance –outward from 12 feet

Time
Territoriality- the way people use space
Environment