Discussion

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Course Learning Outcomes for Unit V Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

2. Determine methods for developing interpersonal skills on the job. 2.1 Describe the differences between verbal and nonverbal communication. 2.2 Outline the five factors of nonverbal communication.

8. Explore career-enhancing strategies and tactics.

8.1 Prepare a friend for a virtual job interview through providing communication tips. Required Unit Resources Chapter 8: Communicating Verbally Chapter 9: Communicating Nonverbally Unit Lesson

Verbal Communication Anyone who has children probably remembers how they would get frustrated and maybe cry when they did not have the verbal communication skills to communicate their thoughts and/or feelings. Some children may learn sign language as babies that gives them the ability to communicate before they learn to talk. The benefit was having that ability to communicate may cause them less frustration along with less temper tantrums. Verbal communication is the exchange of spoken language with others during interactions.

UNIT V STUDY GUIDE Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

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Language has five distinct characteristics:

1. Language is symbolic. Words represent different aspects of our lives, and we use context and experience to interpret meaning.

2. Language is governed by rules. The way we use language is directed by rules, including nonverbal communication.

3. Language is flexible. Within groups and/or pairs of people (e.g., the partners in a romantic relationship), personal words and phrases develop that are specific to those individuals.

4. Language is cultural. Language is the set of symbols that represent cultural values. Dialects are the creative variations on language rules used by large groups.

5. Language evolves. Even though we may believe that language is stable and static, language changes over time. Constitutive rules (word meanings) change as society evolves, so does language. For example, “tweet” is now a commune word that was unknown to previous generations. Regulative rules are subject to change as well (McCornack & Morrison, 2022).

We use verbal communication to share two kinds of meaning with others. Denotative meaning refers to the original definition of a term, while connotative meaning refers to the additional meaning of the word based on context (McCornack & Morrison, 2022).

Cultural and Gender Influences Different cultures may assign unique meaning to words, and this is known as linguistic relativity (McCornack & Morrison, 2022). Using derogatory names to label others is a means of spreading cultural prejudice. Culturally oppressed groups face a challenge in naming themselves since the names they choose get co-opted by others and are used as insults against them. A prime example is the difficulty faced by members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer) community in arriving at identifying language that does not connote prejudice. The practice of replacing traditional language labels for gender and replacing them with preferred gender pronouns (PGPs) is becoming more global. While it has generated some controversy in the United States, it is important to be aware that language labels used to refer to gender are changing to embrace a more comprehensive list of gender identity.

How Verbal Communication Works Verbal communication enables us to perform actions with language, known as speech acts:

• “Representative speech acts commit the speaker to the truth of what has been said. • Directive speech acts attempt to get listeners to do things. • Commissive speech acts commit the speaker to future action. • Expressive speech acts convey a psychological or emotional state that the speaker is experiencing. • Declarative speech acts produce dramatic and observable effects” (McCornack & Morrison, 2022, p.

210). Verbal communication is used to construct conversation:

• “Conversations are interactive. At least two people must participate…. • Local management means that we make decisions regarding who gets to speak, when, and how

long, each time we exchange turns…. • Conversation is universal; [it] forms the foundation for most forms of interpersonal communication and

for social organization generally…. • Conversations often adhere to scripts—rigidly structured patterns of talk” (McCornack & Morrison,

2022, p. 211). Managing relationships is the most important function of verbal communication. People who communicate frequently with partners experience less uncertainty and are more likely to stay together.

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Meaningful interactions and relationships are enhanced by cooperative communication. Using cooperative verbal communication means producing easily understood messages, taking active ownership for what you say, and making others feel included. According to the cooperative principle, basic principles of cooperative communication include being informative, honest, relevant, and clear, given the purposes and situational characteristics of the encounters in which you are involved (McCornack & Morrison, 2022).

(McCornack & Morrison, 2022)

Use “I” language to show ownership over a situation or idea. “You” language places the emphasis on others (McCornack & Morrison, 2022). “I” language is used to show one’s feelings or attitudes towards a conversation. Using “we” language emphasizes inclusion and tends to reflect those who are satisfied with their relationships. Common barriers to cooperative communication are as follows:

• Verbal aggression refers to a tendency to attack another person’s self-concept. Multiple forms of verbal aggression exist including bullying, cyberbullying, and microaggressions. If you know someone who is chronically verbally aggressive, it may be best to avoid or minimize contact with them.

• Deception refers to the intentional misleading of others through vague language. • Concealment occurs when a message is hidden behind half-truths and avoiding the honest answer.

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• Defensive communication refers to one’s response to criticism. The four types of defensive communication are dogmatic messages, superiority messages, indifference messages, and control messages.

• Communication apprehension occurs when someone is fearful of communicating (McCornack & Morrison, 2022).

Nonverbal Communication

We all know the power of nonverbal communication. Most of us were probably first introduced to it by our parents. Communication through nonverbal means can be both intentional and unintentional and can say more than words (McCornack & Morrison, 2022). Nonverbal communication differs from verbal communication in several ways:

• auditory (voice), visual (body language, eye contact, facial expressions), and tactile (touch) • multiple interpretations than verbal communication • less structured than verbal communication • communicates more information than verbal communication (McCornack & Morrison, 2022)

Of course, mixed messages occur when verbal and nonverbal messages contradict each other (e.g., saying “I’m okay” while frowning). Despite the differences between verbal and nonverbal communication, both are essential to become competent communicators.

Cultural and Gender Influences Cultural differences may contribute to misunderstandings of behaviors. A person may be verbally fluent in a language but not in the nonverbal communication. Becoming fluent in nonverbal communication can take years of observations (McCornack & Morrison, 2022). Gender influences how we send and receive nonverbal communication. Men and women interpret nonverbal communication equally, but women may be better at communicating nonverbally. Women show greater facial expressiveness than men, and they smile more. These differences reflect gender socialization and differing cultural expectations based on gender.

Using online platforms to meet, such as Zoom, is becoming increasingly

popular, which requires us to think critically about how we communicate. (Pastukh, n.d.) Technology has liberated nonverbal communication. In the past 20 years, technology has developed to allow us to see and hear one another while interacting. Developments in media have allowed us to choose more forms of media that allow us to hear and see others when interacting. Nonverbal challenges include Zoom fatigue and diminished smiling.

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How Nonverbal Communication Works Nonverbal skills can be developed by understanding the different means used for transmitting information nonverbally known as nonverbal communication codes. Kinesics refers to the ways bodies and faces respond during communication (McCornack & Morrison, 2022).

• Facial expressions (and their online equivalents, emoticons and emoji) are constant sources of emotional information about us and others.

• Eye contact serves several purposes during interpersonal communication, including expressing emotions, regulating turn-taking in conversation, indicating attentiveness while listening, signaling relationship intimacy with knowing glances, and conveying hostility (such as through prolonged staring).

• Gestures are hand motions used to communicate messages; they serve distinct purposes in communication. Emblems are gestures (hand motions) representing specific verbal meanings (e.g., flashing a “thumbs-up,” forming the “okay” sign).

• Posture includes the way one holds their body, such as head, back, and shoulder positioning. The way someone holds themselves can indicate intimacy and power (McCornack & Morrison, 2022).

Vocalics, the way one’s voice sounds, have communicative power. The way one’s voice sounds shapes our perspectives of others (McCornack & Morrison, 2022). The voice has four characteristics: tone, pitch, loudness, and speech rate.

• Tone is very complex and can indicate the mood of a message. • Pitch (high voice or low voice) shapes our impressions of trustworthiness, competence, and

dominance. • Emphasis and social decorum are related in obvious ways to loudness. • Controlling speech rate is a critical technique for effective speaking; people often slow their rate to

improve communication.

Touch and Proxemics Touch, formally known as haptics, is another nonverbal communication code. Touch is a powerful and noticeable behavior during interpersonal encounters. Scholars distinguish between six types of touch:

• Functional-professional touch is task-based, such as a doctor examining a patient. • Social-polite touch stems from social norms and expectations; handshakes and hugs are types of

social-polite touch. • Friendship-warmth touch expresses liking for another person such as when we gently grasp a friend’s

arm or pat someone on the back. • Love-intimacy touch conveys deep feelings and may include gently touching a loved one’s face. • Sexual-arousal touch involves physically exciting another. • Aggressive-hostile touch involves using touch to show anger through hitting, kicking, or throwing

(McCornack & Morrison, 2022). Cultures vary in their norms regarding appropriate touch and distance, some favoring lots of touching and close distance during interpersonal encounters and others less. Try to adapt to individual comfort levels that others have in giving and receiving touch (e.g., reciprocating the behavior of “touchy” people, respecting the boundaries of “hands-off” people). Proxemics is communication using physical distance. There are four communication distances:

• “Intimate space ranges from 0 to 18 inches. • Personal space ranges between 18 inches and 4 feet and is the distance we occupy during

encounters with friends. • Social space ranges from about 4 to 12 feet

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• In public space, the distance between persons ranges upward from 12 feet, including great distances” (McCornack & Morrison, 2022, p. 243). For example, the distance between teachers and students in lecture halls.

We do not want others to invade our personal space, and this is known as territoriality (McCornack & Morrison, 2022). Our homes and/or our workspaces are places we feel comfortable, and we do not always want others in our space without our permission. We might also need to adjust our space to accommodate our interactions with others. Also, be aware that your preferences for large or small personal space may not be shared by people from other cultures. Physical appearance includes visible attributes such as hair, clothing, body type, and other physical features—strongly impacts communication with others. Facial symmetry—the degree to which each side of the face precisely matches the other—is highly regarded as attractive across cultures. Clothing also has a profound impact on perceptions of others. Artifacts are the things we use to express our identity to others, such as cars, electronic gadgets, and watches; these can represent nonverbal communication. Artifacts convey both power and status.

Nonverbal Communication Expressions Nonverbal communication can serve many different functions. Nonverbal communication expresses emotions. Emotions are communicated through body language, eye contact, and facial expressions. Vocalics are also a powerful source of emotional information. Pitch can convey emotion so powerfully that words sometimes become unnecessary. Nonverbal communication conveys meanings. Meanings can be direct, such as the immediately understood implications of “thumbs-up” and “okay” gestures. Meanings can be indirect in five different ways (McCornack & Morrison, 2022):

• Reiterate verbal messages • Contradict verbal messages • Enhance verbal messages • Replace verbal messages • Spotlight verbal messages

Nonverbal communication is a basis for presenting different aspects of self. Identities unfold through various nonverbal codes. Effective nonverbal communicators present selves consistent with the situation and supports interaction management. Nonverbal cues regulate turn-taking during conversation and regulate the attention and behaviors of others. Nonverbal communication defines the nature of relationships. Nonverbal communication serves to create intimacy, a feeling of emotional bonding between ourselves and others. Competently managing your nonverbal communication is important when interacting with others since nonverbal communication carries so much weight. The three aspects of nonverbal competence are effectiveness, appropriateness, and ethics. Remember that your nonverbal communication often speaks louder than words.

References McCornack, S., & Morrison, K. (2022). Reflect & relate: An introduction to interpersonal communication (6th

ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781319395827 Pastukh, V. (n.d.). Video meeting on laptop screen, zoom app (ID 181626732) [Photograph]. Dreamstime.

https://www.dreamstime.com/video-meeting-laptop-screen-zoom-app-video-communication-via- laptop-zoom-app-video-call-online-meeting-many-people-image181626732

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Suggested Unit Resources In order to access the following resources, click the links below. Reviewing the below Chapter Presentations will reinforce the unit topics: Chapter 8 Presentation PDF of Chapter 8 Presentation Chapter 9 Presentation PDF of Chapter 9 Presentation Silence can be a very powerful form of nonverbal communication. The below study investigates the way people use silence to convey meaning, and possibly creativity: Baltezarević, R. V., Kwiatek, P. B., Baltezarević, B. V., & Baltezarević, V. N. (2022). The meaning of silence in

personal communication: Spiral of silence or a stimulant of creativity? Creativity Studies, 15(1), 58– 73. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?dire ct=true&db=asn&AN=155919579&site=ehost-live&scope=site

The below video explains the ways nonviral communication can appear in the workplace. Consider watching the segments listed below: Promedion/American MultiMedia (Producer). (2004). Interpreting nonverbal communication [Video]. Films on

Demand. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPl aylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=115840

"Introduction: Interpreting Nonverbal Communication" video segment "Projecting Nonverbal Communication" video segment "Proxemics" video segment "Misinterpreting Nonverbal Communication" video segment The transcript for the video segments can be found by clicking on “Transcript” in the gray bar to the right of the video in the Films on Demand database.