Elements of Communication

1. Elements of Communication Chapter 2 – pages 24-49 http://www.chsrf.ca/other_documents/cartoons/Communication.jpg

2. Key Terms • Nonverbal messages • Perception • Slang • Verbal messages • Channel • Connotative meaning • Context • Denotative meaning • Feedback • Noise

3. Essential Elements of Communication • Verbal messages • Nonverbal messages • Perception • Channel – HOW the message is delivered • Feedback • Context – WHERE the message is delivered

4. Verbal messages • Messages that use words • Spoken • Includes choice of words and order of words • “Can you tell me how to get to the movie theater?” • “The AMC, where do I find it?”

5. Verbal Messages (cont) • To communicate effectively, a person must select the most precise words to get his or her ideas across.

6. Who’s on first? Listen to the following Abbot and Costello comedy sketch, and see if you can identify the names of the baseball players for the following positions- • 1st Base • 2nd Base • 3rd base • Left Field • Center field • Pitcher • Catcher • Shortstop

8. Verbal Messages (cont) When choosing which words to use, a speaker must consider the denotative meaning and connotative meaning. Denotative = dictionary definition Connotative = emotional response to words (usually positive or negative) EXAMPLES?

9. Connotative Meanings Some connotative meanings are shared by a culture or society Consider this: Capitalism and democracy from American perspective Consider this: Capitalism and democracy from _______ perspective

10. Connotative Meanings (cont) Some connotative meanings vary by individuals How do the connotative meanings of the word rose vary in these examples? When Marissa was young, her father worked nights and rarely could make it to her dance recitals. When he could attend, he always bought her a bouquet of roses and took her to dinner to celebrate. These are some of her favorite childhood memories of her father.

11. Connotative Meanings (cont) How do the connotative meanings of the word rose vary in these examples? When Arianna was 8, she was in the hospital because of a head concussion. The doctors gave her many shots, and put her in many terrifying machines during the three days she was there. Many of her family members sent her roses and get-well cards. Now, when she sees a rose, she thinks about the shots and the machines in the hospital.

12. Language Evolves Language changes over time Wet Salt Other examples? Pejoratives? Slangis informal language unique to a group Slang changes frequently Most difficult for non-members to understand Other examples?

13. Language Evolves (cont) New speakers bring elements of old language and add to the new (Semi-) common words added to American English-also called loanwords Zombie (African) Tsunami (Japanese) Attorney (French) Literature (French) Ghetto (Italian) Information from http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words/loanwords.html

14. Chapter 2: Day 3 – Friday, February 7th, 2014 • Non-verbal Communication • 1 slide of notes • Stack the deck • Line up • Gestures • Perceptions (if time) • Homework: If you have an iPhone, download “Oldster”. (Take a selfie, and it will age you 60 years)

15. Nonverbal messages Messages without words How do you create messages without words? Appearance Facial expressions Eye contact, posture Gestures Voice

16. Stack the deck • 1. Give each student a playing card
2. Take a card. Memorize it (# and suit). Put it in your pocket. NO ONE SEES YOUR CARD BUT YOU.
3. No talking.
4. Assemble into 4 groups according to suits (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades) using nonverbal communication. 
5. Once students get into those groups, they must line up in order of rank, from ace (first) to 7/8 (last). 
6. The group that lines up in proper order first wins!

17. 1st activity: Non-verbal: • Without speaking at all, line up around the room in order of youngest to oldest in class. • 2nd activity: GUESSTURES • Red/Black cards

18. Individual Perceptions Perception – process of giving meaning to information you learn through your five senses 2 steps Something affects your senses You interpret and explain sensation

19. Tone changes - Individual Perceptions You hear a friend say, “It’s about time you showed up.” He sounds like he is growling You interpret – _________ You hear a friend say, “It’s about time you showed up.” He smiles as he says it You interpret – ___________

20. Individual Perceptions Each person perceives differently – You look “sick” or _______ Person A hears a joke Person B hears an insult Three major factors influence perception Physical differences Past Experiences Present situation

21. Perception! • Using only your body language and how you perceive the ball, pass the ball around the room imagining it is: • 100 lb weight • Balloon • Hot potato • Puppy • Newborn baby

22. What did this activity teach you about perception? • What are the two steps to perception? • What are the three things that influence it?

23. Individual Perceptions Physical differences People’s senses differ Near-sighted/far-sighted Past experiences Cultural knowledge, things that you have done Present situation How you feel mentally and physically

24. Channels of Communication Channel – the way that a message is communicated You say something (sound) Your facial expressions (sight) Your smell (smell) {Did you remember your deodorant today? People receive messages from this} Giving someone a hug (touch) We rarely use taste to communicate – so don’t go licking strangers!

25. Channels of Communication People often place greater emphasis on one channel over another Noise – anything that interferes with a listener’s ability to receive a message

26. Channels of Communication Examples of noise (Internal vs. External) Daydreaming Actual noise from TV, radio, etc Reading/writing a text while someone is speaking A headache Boredom Uncomfortable environment

27. Activities • Role-play various stereotypical non-verbal messages that you associate with the following people. How does each person walk or stand? • Who do you think this person is trying to be? • Mr. Sanders notes (Pg. 48)

28. Feedback Feedback = the messages that a listener sends a speaker about how the communication is being perceived Feedback is verbal and nonverbal Feedback can be positive or negative

29. Feedback Positive feedback Tells the speaker that the message is being communicated clearly Negative feedback Tells speaker that the message is unclear

30. Feedback Effective communicators respond and adapt to the feedback they receive Positive feedback -> explain less, move through material more quickly Negative feedback -> explain more, slow down Feedback differs by culture Some cultures find it rude to make eye contact, for example

31. Feedback Self-Feedback Being aware of your behavior, and adjusting your actions Examples: Feel like you’re talking too much

32. Context The setting and people that surround a message Helps reveal message’s real meaning Setting – how does the time, location, and occasion affect the message? Dad has been working late this week, and not getting enough sleep. He comes home really late one night and yells at your younger brother for not tying his shoes, even though your brother doesn’t know how to tie his shoes. The time and the occasion help you to understand that Dad is upset because it’s late and he’s tired, not because he’s really mad at your brother.

33. Context People are part of context Who you are talking to, and who is around when you are talking, will influence what you say and how you say it. In what situations do actions speak louder than words?