Download Communication Science 010

Communication Science 010
Learning Unit 2: Verbal- and Nonverbal Communication
Learning Unit Objectives:
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Define verbal communication
Understand words and meaning by doing:
- Explain ‘symbols’ and ‘referents’
- Explain ‘denotation’ and ‘connotation’
- Explain ‘private’ and ‘shared’ meaning
Describe the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Discuss all the language problems
Discuss all the language types
Define and discuss non-verbal communication
Explain all the different categories of non-verbal
communication
Verbal (using words: verbal or written)
Communication
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.
Referent: the thing or idea the symbol refers to.
E.g. the words ‘Varsity College’ (symbol) refers
to the idea of a tertiary-institution-whereeducation-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.
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.
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.
Language PROBLEMS (part 1)
1.
2.
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…)
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.
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
TYPES of language
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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”.
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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.
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.
Three (3) FUNCTIONS of non-verbal
communication
(1)
(2)
(3)
Replace: Instead of saying “Hallo”, we can
wave
Reinforce: When telling someone that we
love them, we reinforce the feeling with a
kiss
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)
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
ii. Proxemics
Communicating through space.
Intimate
distance
Personal
distance
Social
distance
Public
distance
A
person’s
portable
territory
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 flexible (polichronic)
v. Physical appearance
We dress, groom and take care of our
physical appearance, because what we
look like communicates something about
us.
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.