week 7: Question 3

Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of interest. 

In this day and age most of us chat and text more than talk on the phone. Chat, in general, tends to have very limited additional paralinguistics and at the risk of belittling other users' intelligence. I generally try to express my opinion with words rather ironic pose. I think that is actually quite different from the way most of us speak (like on the phone or in person).

week 7: Question 2

In Vietnamese society, respect is conveyed by the use of special terms of address and certain stylistic devices. But respect is also expressed by nonverbal behavior. A Vietnamese student who sits quietly and listens attentively to the teacher wants to express respect for his teacher. The behavior has been misinterpreted by the American teacher as passivity and non-responsiveness. It is also out of respect that the Vietnamese student avoids eye contact with the teacher when speaking or being spoken to. By American standards, a person acting in this way would appear suspicious, unreliable or mischievous. In Vietnamese culture, looking into somebody's eyes, especially when this person is of a higher status (in age or social or family hierarchy) or of a different gender, usually means a challenge or an expression of deep passion. The proper respectful behavior is to avoid eye contact in talking to someone who is not an equal or the same sex. 

week 7: Question 1

Just about any gesture you can imagine means something different in another culture and simply "being yourself" can cause serious misunderstandings. While visiting Vietnam I noticed people pointing and beckoning friends and workers by holding their hand up and flexing their middle finger - a well-know obscene gesture in Western cultures.

A Korean friend once told me, "Americans' eyes are like lasers piercing through me." To show respect, attentiveness, and interest, North Americans look directly into the other person's eye. But in many cultures it is disrespectful to avert your eyes when someone is speaking to you. Connection and interest are communicated in other ways. 

week 6: Question 1

Ideally we should just be open to new people and ideas so when we meet someone, let them show us who they are. Unfortunately that is not the way things work out. Everybody has that friend who upon meeting somebody at the same time as you that will make comments about them, usually after this individual has left. I do not like when I make these assumptions about others, and laugh when they are made about me. Because you never can tell what another person is going to be like. 

Many of the people I have known, and regularly associate with, for at least a year are to this day surprising me with different aspects of their personalities. You never know what any given person is like. Everybody deserves a chance to show that they are either a good person or not, that they are smart or stupid, and do not worry if you do leap to some kind of conclusion about a person you meet, you are only human after all. That is my excuse. 

week 6: Question 2

It is very interesting to know that although men and women have the same words, but the way they are used gives different meanings. The expressions are similar, but they have different connotations or emotional emphasis. It is just like each group has its own language. 

Women tend to use various superlatives, metaphors, and generalizations when she is upset or frustrated. But she does not expect those words to be taken literally. They are just used to fully express her feelings and ask for particular support. However, men mistakenly take these expressions literally and misunderstand the intended meaning. He thinks she is blaming him and commonly reacts in an unsupportive manner. Then it leads to arguments. At such times, it's important for men to rethink or translate what the have heard and show their caring and support.

week 5: Question 3

Attractiveness - 

Physical attractiveness plays a very important role in determining communication effectiveness and attitude change. Physical attractiveness elicits positive emotional responses during initial contacts. Attractive people are typically rated as more desirable, socially acceptable, respectable, and influential that their less attractive counterparts. 

Some suggest that physically attractive celebrity endorsers elicit better brand recall than unattractive celebrity endorsers. Commercials and advertisements confirm the effectiveness of using attractive celebrity spokespersons, as they create a more positive attitude towards ads featuring an "attractive" product. Companies use celebrities because they are familiar to the public.

Sometimes being too good-looking can backfire. The audience may not be impressed by their appearance and view the person as not credible. But if the audience is not overly concerned about expertise, then attractiveness is more desirable. 

week 5: Question 2

Martin Luther King Jr. was a great public speaker because he really care about the cause. He was not speaking so that he could become famous. He was doing it to help human kind. Also, the more you talk about something, especially if you care about the subject, you get use to speaking in front of large amounts of people. He knew the facts and was not just talking about empty things that he did not know about. His words came from the heart, which made people believe in what he said because he believed it.

I believe his strongest characteristic out of credibility, attractiveness, and power, would be his credibility. Not only did he speak with passion and belief, but he also led by example. I think that was a very strong statement. He did not allow anyone to compromise him and break his belief. 

week 5: Question 1

A speaker that I have been greatly influenced by is one of my best friends, Paul. I know that when he speaks, he speaks with a purpose. That is, he wants his listeners and viewers to think, feel, and respond by doing something. He takes responsibility when he speaks. Thus, he is very careful with what comes out of his mouth. He is also enthusiastic and alive when he speaks. 

The worst speaker I have heard was the best man at some wedding. He bit more than he could chew and the stories that he was sharing were spread thin. He did not catch everyone's attention. It did not seem like he was himself. He just did not seem like he was even the best man.

week 4: Question 3

The pragmatic perspective is a concept I found very interesting. A sequence of motivated dialogue will have consequences. Short and long term effects will occur as a result of communicating. We obtain very immediate effect: the pleasure of an interesting conversation; the angry attack of an offended person; an apology for thoughtless behavior; or something very concrete like a dinner order. Long term, we may achieve such things as gaining another person's trust, making a fortune, or staying married until death parts us.

The patterns of interaction established over time will provide expectations for the future communication between the members of relationships. We can anticipate how others will act, and we can select appropriate and effective behavior for future situations.

week 4: Question 2

The pragmatic model shows that communication is motivated, like a game. We communicate to achieve purposes, whether or not we are conscious of these purposes. A smile on somebody's face may mean that she enjoys our company or that he is mocking a mistake we have just made. We might judge a person as friendly or vicious. We need and want many things, some of which are not compatible in an immediate situation. For example, the intent to "tell somebody off" may interfere with attaining the desire to "avoid the scene." A stare can communicate many things. The clothes we choose to wear and the way we arrange out environment are also actions which communicate. 

week 4: Question 1

Social Constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in understanding what occurs in society and constructing knowledge based on this understanding. I guess you can call this "building worlds." But there are many different worlds due to different cultures and sub-cultures. With different ethnic cultures, it is obvious that the two worlds are different. But even within the same culture understanding can differ. For instance, a man and a woman. The two have been together for a few years and everything is going well. Well at least to the man it is. He loves her, takes care of her, provides for her. But to the woman, he doesn't provide emotional support, doesn't compliment her enough, doesn't express his love verbally, which she needs. It isn't that he doesn't love her, he just expresses it in a totally different way. You can see how they are from different "worlds."   

week 3: Question 3

Source credibility - People are more likely to be persuaded if the person doing the persuading is seen as being credible, expert and trustworthy. It is worth noting that expertise is not the only factor. For example, physically attractive communicators are generally more successful than unattractive ones in changing beliefs, as are people who are generally likable. For example, a shampoo commercial uses a person in a white coat who is described as their chief scientist to explain why the product is so wonderful.

Consider how the source of persuasion will be perceived in terms of credibility. Even though you may be expert, if you are not perceived as such it may be better to use someone else to front your argument. Remember that expertise is relative. When a person claims expertise when persuading you, check out how really expert they are.   

week 3: Question 1

One of the speakers that I admire and enjoy listening to is Barack Obama. I have never really been interested in politics or the presidential debates. Out of the blue, I decided to YouTube Obama's inauguration. I was very impressed with him as a speaker. Most of his power of persuasion comes from pathos. He definitely connects with people and touches them emotionally. This truly helped him in this presidential election.

As a speaker, I think my ability to persuade also comes from pathos. Some may think that is not a positive trait coming from a female. I see it as, females are innately more emotional to start with. Why not use it to our advantage.

Week 3: Question 2

An orator is an eloquent and skilled public speaker that delivers formal speeches, especially ones given on a ceremonial occasion. I see a point when the Greeks believed that an individual had to be morally good to be an orator. But I do not totally agree with this belief. I think a person can be a successful orator if they appear to be morally good. As long as they are able to instill trust in their audience and be convince them that they are believable. 

Goodness, truth, and public communication should all go hand in hand, but this isn't always the case. There are great speakers that speak lies. There are honest and righteous people that do not sound trusting because they might stutter or may not speak a certain way.

Hello Comm 105

Hello everyone! 

My name is Tiffany. I am a senior, graduating this May. I was a Communication Studies major and a Psychology minor, but I swapped it. I am now a Psychology major and a Communication minor. I found that Psychology helps me make sense of the world in which ever way I want to perceive it. Having a Communication background helps me verbalize my views and thoughts to help others make sense of their world. Communication Self and Society goes hand in hand with my education. Psychology is about the self and Communication is related to society.  I just hope that this class increases my knowledge in these areas. Nice reading about everyone!