Transcript ComS 103--Business and Professional Speaking

Language and Nonverbal Communication
“I’m sorry, but your position has
been redeployed…”
Sample Mid Term Q #1
• Which of the following theorists is most
closely associated with bureaucratic
management theory?
a) Henri Fayol
b) Douglas McGregor
c) Katz and Kahn
d) Max Weber
Sample Question #2
• Polysemy is most clearly connected with
which element of the contemporary
communication model described in class?
a) noise
b) channel
c) decoding
d) none of the above
Sample Question #3
The most appropriate leadership style for
a group task that is relatively simple, the
group members relatively unskilled and
time for action limited would be:
a) laissez-faire
b) democratic
c) autocratic
d) contingent
Initial Thoughts on
Language
• There is no transparent language, it is
all a process of translation
• Our understanding of language is
hampered by the container fallacy--we
treat words as if they contain meaning,
in fact, people contain meanings
• Meanings can be denotative or
connotative
Jargon
• Defined as the language of a
specialized community--computer techs,
pilots, skateboarders, etc.
• Advantages
--promotes efficiency
--promotes group cohesion
• Disadvantages
--the problem of mystification
Euphemism
• defined as the intentional or unintentional
use of words to mask the potential
emotional impact of language
• examples
--death
--losing your job
• potential impact--far less shared meaning
Verbal vs. Nonverbal
• Compared to Verbal Communication,
Nonverbal is:
– Less discrete
– More vulnerable to misunderstanding
– More likely to be context dependent
– More likely to contain the truth
Classes of Nonverbal Communication
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Kinesics--movement, generally
Oculesics--eye movement
Objectics (Artifacts)--clothing, jewelry
Vocalics--vocal qualities
Chronemics--time
Proxemics--space
Haptics--touch
Types of Gestures
• Emblems--stand alone,
replacement
• Illustrators--additional message
• Regulators--affect verbal behavior
• Adaptors--stress indicators
Objectics
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Dress for Success and other lies
Casual days and what they mean
Policies on jewelry and piercings
Cubicle decoration and nesting
Office Proxemics
• Personal space and distance
• Office size
• Office orientation
Chronemics and Vocalics
• Time as an arbitrary human creation
• Monochronic and polychronic cultures
• Vocal qualities and the latent
message
• Speed, pitch, breathiness, nasality,
etc.