COM2006-3

Communication Dimensions © 2014 South University

2 Communication Dimensions

Given below are the dimensions of communication with examples. Content Words create meaning. Use words to support others. Being other oriented necessitates that you assess how your words will be received. Indexing helps you avoid overgeneralizing. Allness, or overgeneralizing, places people in categories and does not recognize individuality. Content needs to be concrete and specific. Example My teacher Dr. Brown helps me understand complex theories, but my other teacher Dr. Ransom does not explain concepts very well. Timing One issue of timing in communication is to know when to talk and when to listen. This is particularly relevant in gender communication, where men tend to be task oriented and women tend to be more relational oriented. Example Yvette came home from work upset and wanted to talk to her husband, Jon, about her day. Instead of listening to Yvette’s feelings about her issues, Jon interrupted Yvette with questions about how she had contributed to the situation. Since Yvette felt that Jon was not listening to her, she decided to call a girlfriend instead. Selection of Audience Oftentimes, you just need to talk about what bothers you. It is particularly important that you consider your audiences before you speak. Since it is not always necessary to confront someone who you feel has wronged you, it can be more beneficial to speak with another person who is not engaged in the situation so that you can get a more unbiased viewpoint. Example Yolanda has a girlfriend, Mariel, whom she has known since first grade. Yolanda was upset because Mariel didn’t return her third phone call. She was going to leave a reprimanding message but, instead, decided to talk to her mother about the situation. Yolanda’s mother advised her to give Mariel some time as she may be busy or unavailable for some other reason. Presentation Style and Structure Whether you are speaking to one person or a group of people, it is important to consider your topic and audience. The presentation style can be formal or informal. Presentations need to be structured and organized so that your information is clear and easy to comprehend.

Page 2 of 3 Interpersonal Communication

©2014 South University

3 Communication Dimensions

Example Toby’s assignment is to give a speech to his class about how to study. Since Toby knows his classmates, he decides to create an informal speech and write his studying tips in a sequential structure. He writes his speech, explaining the steps for productive studying. Choice of Communication Medium Your choice of communication medium (face-to-face, e-mail, texting, social media, and phone) does affect how your message will be received. Only when you speak to someone face-to-face can you express and assess nonverbal cues. This is particularly important when trying to resolve interpersonal conflicts since nonverbal cues can reinforce verbal messages. Example Lucinda was upset with her boyfriend, Sam. The more Lucinda thought about their argument, the more Lucinda became angry. She was going to send him a nasty e-mail but thought that speaking to him face-to-face was the best way to air their differences. She really did not want to break up with Sam; so she decided to let herself cool down and then meet Sam for dinner. This, she decided, would be the best way for her to express her mood and work out a solution with Sam since Sam would be able to see that she really did care for him.

Page 3 of 3 Interpersonal Communication

©2014 South University