Communication and Language

Communication Communication - the evoking of a shared or common meaning in another person Interpersonal Communication - communication between two or more people in an organization Communicator - the person originating the message Receiver - the person receiving a message Perceptual Screen - a window through which we interact with people that influences the quality, accuracy, and clarity of the communication

Communication Message - the thoughts and feelings that the communicator is attempting to elicit in the receiver Feedback Loop - the pathway that completes two-way communication Language - the words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used & understood by a group of people

Basic Interpersonal Communication Model Message Perceptual screens ////////////////// ////////////////// ////////////////// ////////////////// CommunicatorReceiver Influence message quality, accuracy, clarity Include age, gender, values, beliefs, culture, experiences, needs

One-way vs. Two-way Communications One-Way Communication - a person sends a message to another person and no questions, feedback, or interaction follow Good for giving simple directions Fast but often less accurate than 2-way communication Two-Way Communication - the communicator & receiver interact Good for problem solving

Barriers to Communication  Physical separation  Status differences  Gender differences  Cultural diversity  Language Communication Barriers - factors that block or significantly distort successful communication

Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal Communication - all elements of communication that do not involve words Four basic concepts Proxemics - an individual’s perception & use of space Kinesics - study of body movements, including posture Facial & Eye Behavior - movements that add cues for the receiver Paralanguage - variations in speech, such as pitch, loudness, tempo, tone, duration, laughing, & crying

c c = social 4-12’ b b = personal 1.5-4’ Proxemics: Territorial Space Territorial Space - bands of space extending outward from the body; territorial space differs from culture to culture a a = intimate <1.5’ d d = public >12’

Examples of Decoding Nonverbal Cues Boss fails to acknowledge employee’s greeting No eye contact while communicating Manager sighs deeply Boss breathes heavily, loud & hoarse voice He’s unapproachable! My opinion doesn’t count I wonder what he’s hiding? He’s angry! I’ll stay out of his way!

New Technologies for Communication  Informational databases  Electronic mail systems  Voice mail systems  Fax machine systems  Cellular phone systems

How Do New Technologies Affect Behavior?  Fast, immediate access to information  Immediate access to people in power  Instant information exchange across distance

 Communication can become more impersonal— interaction with a machine  Interpersonal skills may diminish—less tact, less gracious  Non-verbal cues lacking  Alters social context  Easy to become overwhelmed with information How Do New Technologies Affect Behavior?

Language

Definition of Language  Language is the human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, and a language is any specific example of such a system. The scientific study of language is called linguistics.  The method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.

Definition of Language  Language is the method of human communication. It is a complex, open system that allows for innovation and it is usually distinguished from non-human communication by three major properties: productivity, recursion and displacement. Productivity is the ability to produce novel utterances using the existing grammatical framework, particularly with word creation. Recursion is the ability to nest phrases within a hierarchical structure. Displacement is the ability to communicate about things that are not present either physically or temporally.

Language relates signs to meaning. These signs can be oral, as in spoken language, or visual, as in signed language. The components of language are:  Phonetics & Phonology: Phonemes are sounds or gestures that are the building blocks of a language.  Morphology: Morphemes are the smallest possible semantic units, which are composed of phonemes.  Syntax: The order and hierarchy of strings of words or utterances which are meaningful.  Semantics: The meaning that is associated with a morpheme, word or utterance.

There are nearly 7,000 known living languages, including sign languages, grouped into over 100 larger language families. These include, but are not limited to:  Indo-European Languages: English, French, Swedish, Russian, Latvian, Farsi, Hindi.  Sino-Tibetan Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese (Yue), Central Tibetan.  Japonic Languages: Japanese, Okinawan. Living language is constantly evolving, but it also relies on speakers and transmission for survival. Out of the almost 7000 known living languages, hundreds are endangered and nearly 500 are almost extinct.