MalcolmArmstrong

SPC 2608 - Public Speaking (Communication)

MATERIAL TO REVIEW FOR MIDTERM:

Communication

1. A general definition: Any process in which people share  information, ideas, and feelings.  Process involves not
    only spoken and written words (symbols), but also body language, personal mannerisms and style, the
    surroundings - anything that adds meaning to a message.
 
Basic Components of Communication:

1. Interactants (sender/receiver)

2. Message - Three components:

    Content - What the communication is about (e.g., information, facts, ideas, etc.).

     Structure - How the message is organized; in a logical way, so it is comprehensible to an audience.
 
     Style: How the message is presented/delivered by speaker (e.g., sentence structure, words used, gestures,
     etc.).
 
3. Channels - By which the message/communication is transmitted (hearing, sight, other senses).

4. Feedback - Process by which sender perceives how the message is being received.

5. Noise - Any "signal" that disrupts the accuracy of messages being sent (internal/external/semantic).

6. Field of experience - Experiences that we bring to communication interactions with others (please note this!
    Such as important variable.  We'll be discussing this throughout the semester).

*Perceptions of the World

    Psychological Safety - The approval and support that we get from familiar people, ideas, and situations.
    However, in order to grow, people need to abandon some of the safe areas of their lives and take some
    psychological risk.  This involves taking a chance on something new (e.g. different religions, cultures etc).

7. Encoding - formation of message (in brain) and motor behavior necessary to transmit the message as signals
    (send message).

8. Decoding - involves the perception of the message by the sense organs and its interpretation by the brain
    (analyze message received).
 
Communication Models:

1. Linear - Conception that communication was a one-way process (e.g., I talk to you, you only listen).  Emphasis
    was often placed on performance of the speaker only.

    Although there was "receiver" feedback, it was very limited.
 
2. Interactive communication/transactive communication:

    A two-way process in which participants (interactants) are both senders/receivers.  Participants formulate
    messages and watch/listen to reaction to message (feedback).

    Interactive communication can also emphasize transaction (transactive model).  When people communicate,
    they are sending/receiving messages continuously and simultaneously (transactive communication).
 
Types of Communication (for our class focus):

1. Intrapersonal - within yourself, personal - It involves thoughts/feelings (Channel is brain).
 
    There is feedback in the sense that we talk to ourself.

Practical applications of intrapersonal communication:

    a. adapting to environment
    b. adapting to stress
    c. adapting to individuals
    d. memory
    e. listening

2. Interpersonal - Communication between two or more people.

    Field of experience is necessary for effective interpersonal communication (individuals bring unique
    backgrounds and experiences to communication process).  Remember: All messages  are made up of verbal
    and non-verbal symbols.

    Small Group Communication - A number of persons communicate with one another often over a span of time,
    who are few enough (generally 3-5 individuals) so that each person is able to communicate with all others, not
    secondhand, but face-to-face.

3. Public Communication - Face-to-face communication to a large number of people (don't necessarily know
    what the attitudes, values, beliefs of the audience might included, hence, somewhat of an "unknown" entity
    in regard to how a particular message might be received).

Verbal Communication

1.  Language - Most basic function of language is to communicate our thoughts (intrapersonal).  Language helps
     organize our thoughts for conveying a message.

2.  Semiotics (Semiology) - Study of language systems (how language conveys meaning) -

    a. the sign (signifier/signified - e.g., candy) and referent (object in reality) are sometimes different to
        different people (e.g., milk chocolate, fudge).
   
    b. denotation - precise or explicit meaning of word (dictionary definition).
   
    c. connotation - feelings or associations we have about a word (suggested or implied meaning of a word).          

3.  Concrete vs. Abstract Language (words):

    a. Abstract - words(s) are usually more ambiguous (e.g., animal).  The more abstract a word is, the less control
        the speaker exerts over what the audience will think (e.g., the word, candy).

    b. Concrete - word(s) tends to be specific or particular, and is more likely to evoke in the minds of the
        audience a specific thing from their own experience.  Language is often simple, concise (e.g.,  Reese's                 peanut cup, Hersheys milk chocolate).  Sometimes speaker uses modifiers to make words more concrete                 (dog=bull dog).
    
4.    Direct vs. Indirect Language

    a. Direct word(s) - choosing words that the audience is sure to understand (e.g., "dead") - can class give an
        example of a direct word?

    b. Indirect word(s) - is the use of words to avoid stating the socially unacceptable.  Family/friends may use
        more direct (graphic) language among themselves, but more publicly the language becomes less direct (e.g.,
        "bought the farm," "kickin' up daisys," "sleepin' with the fish," etc.) - euphemisms
 
5.  Avoiding Inappropriate Language -

    a. equal and balanced treatment - include women in the main thought and expression of the statement (avoid
        overuse of "he").
    
    b. avoid stereotyping!
   
    c. Language Choices (e.g., slang, jargon, "street talk," profanity).
     
6.  Working on Communication (three basic questions):

     What do you want to say? To whom?  For what purpose? (Objective types)

     Go for clarity and vividness (recreate experience for listeners).
 
Nonverbal Communication

    Research has shown that as much as 65% to 75% of the meaning we gey from a message is communicated
    nonverbally.

1.   Space (Proxemics - study of the use of space):

    a. Territorial space - defined by physical boundaries; can be concrete (wall) or abstract (perimeter of a beach
        towel).   Affects the way we communicate with others. (e.g., seats in classroom).

    b. Personal space - defined by psychological traits; our imaginary "bubble" around us.

    c. Characteristics of space

        1. personal space and territorial space are interrelated.
       
        2. people of the same age and status will approach each other closer physically.
       
        3. we use personal space to communicate friendship; our personal space decreases around friends.
       
        4. various cultures have different expectations of personal space.
       
        5. personal space is often greater between males than females.
       
        6. praise lessens personal space; criticism increases it.
       
        7. the setting and topic of a communication encounter will determine the amount of personal space.

        8. psychological makeup (individuality) will influence any communication encounter and therefore personal
            space.

2.   Gestures (basic types):

    a. Emblems - these are nonverbal acts which have a direct verbal translation or dictionary definition, usually
        consisting of a word or two or a phrase (A-OK.; peace).

        Emblems are often produced with the hands - but not exclusively (a nose wrinkle may say "I'm disgusted"
        To say "I don't know", one might turn up both palms and shrug shoulders.

    b. Illustrators - Nonverbal acts which are directly tied to or accompany speech - serving to illustrate what is
        being said verbally.  May be movements which emphasize a word, or present objects.

    c. Affect Displays - Facial configurations which display affective states/emotional states (smile, frown,
        sadness).

    d. Regulators - Nonverbal acts which maintain and regulate the back-and-forth nature of speaking and
        listening (head nods and eye behavior).  Nodding fast may mean hurry up while nodding slow may mean
        keep talking.  Receivers (including a large public audience), in essence, are regulating the pace of the                 discourse (between sender and receiver)
 
    e. Adaptors (self) - These nonverbal behaviors are the most difficult to define and involve the most
        speculation; labeled adaptors because they are thought to develop in child-hood as adaptive efforts to
        satisfy needs, perform actions, manage emotions, or develop social contacts.

3.   Using the Body:

    a. Posture - Whether you slouch or stand or sit straight communicates a message:
 
        - slouching: disinterest, boredom.  (Leaning on podium, crossing legs, swaying, hands in pockets)
       
        - good posture: alert, interested.

    b. Facial Expressions

        1. some of the oldest, identifiable types of nonverbal communication.

        2. reflect emotions and personality.

        3. functions of facial expressions:

            - open/close channels of communication.
           
            - complement or qualify verbal and/or nonverbal responses.
           
            - replace speech.
 
            - withholders - hide emotions/difficult to read
            - revealers - wear feelings openly.
       
            - substitute expressors - display different facial expressions from what they are feeling.
   
4.   Attire (Dress)

     a. People form impressions about us from the way we dress.

      b. Research has proven that how we dress affects our self-concept/image.
   
     c. Dress appropriately for occasions (e.g., our "speech" engagements, please.  Go to the higher end of your
         "fashion sense").
   
5.   Color is definitely a nonverbal communicator - e.g., red cars are always getting stopped for speeding.  Why
      do you think this is the case?  Look at the colors used at fast food restaurants.  Why are the colors so garish?
      Think about it...
   
6.   Body "attributes" can be nonverbal communicators, including "shape of face/body, hair, smell, etc.

Do's/Don'ts of Nonverbal Communication:

        a. Do:

            Use natural gestures.
           
            Maintain good eye contact; look at each person in the room briefly, slowly scan the room from
            side to side, looking at each person for a short time.
           
            Know appropriate use of proxemics (space). 
            Convey excitement/interest by appropriate facial gestures (smile, head nod, etc.).
           
            Plan and practice purposive gestures.

        b. Don't:

            Fake or use gestures that do not come naturally when speaking.
           
            Do not stare at one person for too long.
            Do not invade your audience's space, unless someone is not paying attention; then you can use this as
            a way of pulling the uninterested person back in.
            Do not frown or be apathetic/motionless, etc.

Remember:

    Nonverbal communication is often culturally determined.
   
    Nonverbal messages "may" conflict with verbal messages.
   
    Nonverbal messages are largely unconscious.
   
    Nonverbal communication "may" show our feelings and attitudes.
 
Introduction to Small Group:

Definition: Number of persons who communicate with one another, often over a span of time, and who are few enough so that each person is able to communicate with all others, not secondhand, but face-to-face.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the small group:

Advantages:

        Enhances an individual's motivation and fosters positive attitudes toward the subject matter.

        Develops an individual's problem-solving and decision-making skills.

        Enables an individual to share his/her ideas with others for critiquing and comparisons.

Disadvantages:

        Time consuming.

        Possible personality conflicts.

        Lack of full participation by all group members.

        Responsibility for group goals placed too heavily on one single individual.

        "Power trip syndrome" on the part of a group member.

Task(s): The primary purpose of the group.  The reason for the group's existence.

Outcome: What the group accomplishes (quality, quantity, objective, etc.).

Atmosphere: The emotional climate of the group (e.g., positive/negative).
 
Size: The larger the group, the less feedback for each member.  Larger groups tend to develop subgroups with divergent goals.  Larger groups have more resource, but diminish the role a member can play.

Research suggests that group members are most satisfied when groups consist of five members.

The most effective group is small enough so that members can communicate face-to-face.

NOTE: A handout detailing "Listening" may or may not be provided as part of midterm lecture material for this class.  This variable will depend on previous course concepts discussed and whether the instructor finds it necessary to provide a handout detailing "listening."

END of Midterm Notes