Oral Communication Strategies - Unit 8

Oral Communication in Context - Types of Communication Strategies II

• Unit 8 covers various oral communication strategies.

Learning Objectives

• Identify different types of communication strategies.
• Apply topic control and topic shifting in discussions.
• Identify violations in communication conversations.
• Employ solutions to repair or terminate discussions with violations.

Simon Says Activity

• Assign a student ("Simon") to control a conversation.
• "Simon" commands, discusses, or asks questions.
• "Simon" has a three-minute time limit.
• After time expires, assign a new student.

Topic Control

• The main or assigned speaker manages the discussion to stay on topic.
• Active participation and communication cues, such as:
  • "Let's focus on..."
  • "Let's discuss..."
  • "As I was saying..."
  • "Going back to..." (or a similar phrasing). are key concepts.

Topic Shifting

• Shifting discussions intentionally or unintentionally.
• Speaking topically: the listener focuses on phrases from the preceding statement. Ideas cohere in context, and are not out of context.
• Speaking on the topic: The listener focuses on a word or phrase which may or may not be directly relevant to the previous statement, but may not be in context to the broader discussion.

Violations in Communication

• Unnecessary actions of participants that cause misunderstandings or delays in discussion flow.
• Common Violations:
  • Grabbing the floor (Interruptions): A participant takes over speaking without allowing the previous speaker to finish.
  • Overlapping: Two or more people speak simultaneously.
  • Hogging the floor: One speaker talks continuously, ignoring others attempting to join the discussion.
  • Being silent: No one wants to speak.
  • Trouble in Speaking, Hearing, or Understanding: Problems include incorrect pronunciations, use of wrong words, inability to hear or be heard clearly, or listeners not understanding speakers' words.