1. Communication Science 010 Learning Unit 2: Verbal- and Non- verbal Communication

2. Learning Unit Objectives: Define verbal communication Define verbal communication Understand words and meaning by doing: - Explain ‘symbols’ and ‘referents’ - Explain ‘denotation’ and ‘connotation’ - Explain ‘private’ and ‘shared’ meaning Understand words and meaning by doing: - Explain ‘symbols’ and ‘referents’ - Explain ‘denotation’ and ‘connotation’ - Explain ‘private’ and ‘shared’ meaning Describe the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Describe the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Discuss all the language problems Discuss all the language problems Discuss all the language types Discuss all the language types Define and discuss non-verbal communication Define and discuss non-verbal communication Explain all the different categories of non-verbal communication Explain all the different categories of non-verbal communication

3. Verbal (using words: verbal or written) Communication Verbal (either spoken or written) communication refers to the use of. Words do not contain meaning in itself…we give words meaning! The word is not the thing. Verbal (either spoken or written) communication refers to the use of words. Words do not contain meaning in itself…we give words meaning! The word is not the thing. Symbol: representing something. E.g. representing a car; or the word ‘father’ representing the man who raises you. Symbols can be words/ pictures/ colours/ signs.

4. Referent: the thing or idea the symbol refers to. E.g. the words ‘Varsity College’ (symbol) refers to the idea of a tertiary-institution-where- education-takes-place (referent). Denotation: the Dictionary meaning of a word. E.g. ‘Mother’: a female parent (Oxford Dictionary, 2001) Connotation: the additional meaning of a word. E.g. ‘Mother’ may mean a close companion; for some it may mean a true friend; others might interpret the word as a strict disciplinarian; while others associate the word with a woman in a convent.

5. Private meaning of words: language used in a unique way; only understood by select few. Shared meaning of words: language used in a way that everyone understands it. There is a link between how the sender encodes a message and how a receiver decodes it.

6. Language and Thought Language evolved from the need people have for food, shelter, community, water, etc. Our cultures contextualise (gives meaning to) language. Does language merely represent our thoughts, or does it shape our perception as well? The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis What the theory is about: This theory claim that language do not merely represent our thought, but also guide how we think about the world around us. E.g. if we do not have a word to describe something, we think about it less (or not at all); in the English language there aren’t too many descriptions for snow, but in Iniut culture (living in Alaska, Geenland and coastal Canadian Arctic) there are various different descriptions – this means, that while the English do not contemplate and think about ‘snow’ much (except in winter), the Iniut people find snow to be an important consideration in their culture.

7. Language PROBLEMS (part 1) 1. Abstract language – language we use that is too vague. E.g. Telling a friend that you are close (‘close’ could be 10m to some, or 1km to others…) 2. Inferences – to make ‘guesses’ or judgements about words. E.g. people infer that the word ‘communication’ means talking to someone. As a communications student, you know that this inference is inadequate and insufficient.

8. PROBLEMS (part 2) 3. Dichotomies – when there’s two opposing concepts, but no middle description. E.g. If you’re not tall or short…? If a man isn’t chubby nor slim…? 4. Euphemisms – softer, less truthful words. E.g. Instead of saying: “I hate baked beans”, saying: “I dislike baked beans”. Note: In an assessment, answer a question about the problems by referring to an explanation, example and why the problems cause miscommunication

9. TYPES of language Sexist language We often use language in a way that suggest women are inferior to men. E.g. Referring to a police officer as a policeman or calling a girl “sweety” or “honey”. Powerful vs. Powerless language Powerful language inspire confidence in the speaker; it requires self-confidence. E.g. “I will kill for Zuma” (Julius Malema). Powerless language creates the image that the speaker is weak and lacks self-assurance. E.g. “I don’t know what to say” or “I can’t do this”. Sexist language We often use language in a way that suggest women are inferior to men. E.g. Referring to a police officer as a policeman or calling a girl “sweety” or “honey”. Powerful vs. Powerless language Powerful language inspire confidence in the speaker; it requires self-confidence. E.g. “I will kill for Zuma” (Julius Malema). Powerless language creates the image that the speaker is weak and lacks self-assurance. E.g. “I don’t know what to say” or “I can’t do this”.

10. Meta-communication Communication about communication (2 marks). E.g. If you shout at your best friend, they might get more upset about how you speak to them, not necessarily what you said. Meta-communication Communication about communication (2 marks). E.g. If you shout at your best friend, they might get more upset about how you speak to them, not necessarily what you said.

11. Non-verbal (no words) Communication Remember that non-verbal communication is communicating without the use of words! There are four (4) CATEGORIES of communication: 1) Verbal (words)/ vocal (voice; speaking) – E.g. Saying “Hallo” to a friend. 2) Verbal/ non-vocal (no voice; no speaking) – E.g. Writing a letter to your grandmother. 3) Non-verbal (no words)/ vocal – E.g. Clearing your throat to indicate your irritation at something OR ‘Psst’ to get someone’s attention. 4) Non-verbal/ non-vocal – E.g. Hugging someone to show your affection to that person.

12. Three (3) FUNCTIONS of non-verbal communication (1) Replace: Instead of saying “Hallo”, we can wave (2) Reinforce: When telling someone that we love them, we reinforce the feeling with a kiss (3) Contradict: While denying that we took money from the cookie jar, we blush (the blushing tells people that we are lying…thus, the non-verbal communication contradict the verbal denial)

13. Six (6) CATEGORIES of Non-Verbal communication i. Kinesics Communicating through body movement. The key word is ‘movement’. Facial expression (movement); eye movement; body movement; hand gestures (movement) - Facial Expression: effortlessly convey emotion (sadness, shock, concentration, etc). - Oculesics: Eye contact; Eye aversion. Determined by culture. - Body movement: express intensity of emotion. - Hand gestures: culture contextualise hand gestures. E.g. thumbs up

14. ii. Proxemics Communicating through space. A person’s portable territory Intimate distance Personal distance Social distance Public distance

15. iii. Haptics We communicate through touch. E.g. Hugging iv. Chronemics We communicate through our reference to time. E.g. “Hurry up, I don’t want to be late”. Cultures approach time in one of two ways, either: Time is important (monochronic); or Time is important (monochronic); or Time is flexible (polichronic) Time is flexible (polichronic)

16. v. Physical appearance We dress, groom and take care of our physical appearance, because what we look like communicates something about us.

17. vi. Vocal cues If a man has a deep voice, we perceive him as masculine. A woman with a deep husky voice is perceived as sensual. Paralanguage is the how we say things, as well as the voice quality and vocalisation.