communication4

CH4.pdf

Home >Social Science homework help >Philosophy homework help >communication4

Chapter Four: Verbal Messages

This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: - any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; - preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; - any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

 Learn the nature and principles of verbal messages

 Learn to use verbal messages more effectively  Distinguish between confirming and

disconfirming language  Learn to avoid sexism, heterosexism, racism,

ageism, and understand appropriate cultural identifiers

Chapter Four Goals

Eight Principles of Verbal Messages

1. Message meanings are in people

2. Messages are denotative and connotative

3. Messages vary in abstraction

4. Messages can deceive

5. Messages vary in politeness

6. Messages can be onymous or anonymous

7. Message vary in assertiveness.

8. Messages are influenced by culture/gender.

Messages Are in People

 To discover the meaning a person is trying to communicate, you must look into the person as well as the words

 As you change, you also change the meanings of your past messages

Messages Are Denotative and Connotative

 Denotative meanings are objective or dictionary definitions

 Connotative meanings are more subjective and emotional meanings

 Snarl and purr words (coined by semanticist S.I. Hawakowa), highly positive or negative terms are considered connotative

Messages Vary in Abstraction

 Abstractions are general concepts; they conjure up many images in listener’s minds

 Less abstract words, which are more specific and precise, are usually more effective in getting your point across

Entertainment Film American Film Classic American films Casablanca

Messages May Deceive

 The act of sending messages with the intention of giving another person information you believe to be false

 There are different types of lies (pro-social, self-enhancement, selfish-deception, and antisocial deception)

 Liars tend to exhibit certain behaviors

Messages Vary in Politeness

 Direct messages are usually less polite than indirect ones

 Indirect messages allow you to express a desire without insulting or offending someone

 Politeness differs between genders  Netiquette provides guidelines for politeness

in computer-mediated communication

Messages Can Be Onymous or Anonymous

 Onymous messages have a clearly defined author

 Anonymous messages are messages where the author is not identified – These messages allow people to express their

inner feelings more freely – This might encourage some to go to extremes

Messages Vary in Assertiveness

 Assertiveness is the willingness to stand up for your rights but with respect for the rights of others – Describe the problem – State how the problem affects you – Propose workable solutions – Confirm understanding

Messages Are Influenced by Culture and Gender

Culture  Messages are culturally

influenced  The principle of

cooperation  The principle of

peaceful relations  The principle of self-

denigration  The principle of

directness

Gender  Verbal messages

reflect considerable gender influences

 Example: disagreements

Disconfirmation and Confirmation

Disconfirmation  A communication pattern

in which one ignores the other person’s presence and communication

 Rejection is not the same things as disconfirmation; you still accept the other person’s significance

Confirmation  A communication

pattern in which one acknowledges the other person’s presence and attends to his/her communication

Disconfirmation and Confirmation cont…

Confirmation  Acknowledge presence and

contribution of other  Make nonverbal contact  Demonstrate understanding

of words and feelings  Ask questions  Encourage the other person

to express thoughts and feelings

Disconfirmation  Ignore presence and

indifferent to messages  Make no nonverbal contact  Jump to interpret and

evaluate messages  Talk about self  Interrupt; make it hard for

other’s expression

Skill Development Experience

Carrie’s boyfriend of seven years left her and married another woman. Carrie

confides this to Samantha.

What would she say if responding  with disconfirmation?  with rejection?  with confirmation?

Racist Speech  Puts down, minimalizes, and marginalizes a

group based on their race  Often subtle or unintended  Avoid derogatory terms for members of a race  Avoid mentioning race when it is irrelevant  Avoid attributing individual’s economic or

social problems to the his or her race

Heterosexist Speech

 Derogatory language used against gays or lesbians  Avoid offensive parodies and nonverbal mannerisms  Avoid “complimenting” gay men and lesbians that

they “don’t look it”  Avoid assuming that every gay male or lesbian

knows what every other gay male or lesbian is thinking

 Stay clear of making overattributions  Remember and celebrate relationship milestones

Ageist and Sexist Speech

Ageist  Prejudice against other

age groups  General disrespect for

older people  Age restrictions in

certain occupations

Sexist  Generic “man”  Generic “he” and “his”  Sex role stereotyping

Cultural Identifiers

 Race and nationality  Affectional orientation  Age  Sex

Principles for Using Verbal Messages Effectively

 Avoid intensional orientation  Avoid allness  Distinguish between facts and

inferences  Avoid indiscrimination  Avoid polarization  Avoid static evaluation

Extensionalize: Avoid Intensional Orientation

 Intensional orientation – Viewing people, objects, or events in the way they are talked about or pre-labeled

 Extensional orientation – Look first at the actual people, objects, or events and then apply labels

See the Individual: Avoid Allness

 Allness thinking – Putting into “all” or “never” categories

 Recognize that there is always more to learn about something

Distinguish between Facts and Inferences: Avoid Fact Inference Confusion

Discriminate Among: Avoid Indiscrimination

 Indiscrimination: A form of stereotyping, failing to distinguish between similar but different people

 Solution: See the individual apart from the group

Talk about the Middle: Avoid Polarization

 Polarization: Tendency to see the world in extremes, similar to the either-or fallacy

 Solution: Search for the middle ground

Update Messages: Avoid Static Evaluation

 Static Evaluation: When you hold on to judgments about people and ignore they’ve changed

 Solution: Look at statements in context of time

End Show

Chapter Four Goals
Eight Principles of Verbal Messages
Messages Are in People
Messages Are Denotative and Connotative
Messages Vary in Abstraction
Messages May Deceive
Messages Vary in Politeness
Messages Can Be Onymous or Anonymous
Messages Vary in Assertiveness
Messages Are Influenced by Culture and Gender
Disconfirmation and Confirmation
Disconfirmation and Confirmation cont…
Skill Development Experience
Racist Speech
Heterosexist Speech
Ageist and Sexist Speech
Cultural Identifiers
Principles for Using Verbal Messages Effectively
Extensionalize: Avoid Intensional Orientation
See the Individual: Avoid Allness
Distinguish between Facts and Inferences: Avoid Fact Inference Confusion
Discriminate Among: Avoid Indiscrimination
Talk about the Middle: Avoid Polarization
Update Messages: Avoid Static Evaluation
End Show