Speaking Skills - Communication Types PDF

Theme 3: Definition and methods of \"art of public speaking\". Communication types. We address the three classic settings of communication studies, along with a new, emerging setting. The classic settings are Interpersonal Communication (one with one), Small Group Communication (several among sever...

Theme 3: Definition and methods of \"art of public speaking\". Communication types. We address the three classic settings of communication studies, along with a new, emerging setting. The classic settings are Interpersonal Communication (one with one), Small Group Communication (several among several), and Public Speaking (one to many). We look at the newest communication setting to emerge: Computer-Mediated Communication (communication via technology). We start by reviewing some basics of communication theory which apply to all communication, such as how communication works (perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, diversity, listening, and disclosure). After looking at this broad foundation, we will then look more deeply at some specific dynamics of each of these communication contexts. The Communication Settings **As researches define Interpersonal Communication** is the complex process through which people produce, interpret, and coordinate messages to create shared meanings, achieve social goals, manage their personal identities, and carry out their relationships. This is the everyday communication we engage in with our friends, family members, work colleagues, or others we encounter. Although we tend to assume this is "one-with-one," (but) it can be among several (So, when at a party, we are engaging in interpersonal communication with quite a few people). We do not engage in ***interpersonal communication*** with only those we already know. Communication with anyone is an interpersonal encounter, regardless of any prior relationship (with a server, who is a stranger). To understand why we are so driven to engage in interpersonal communication, it is important to first understand the most fundamental drive of communication: to reduce uncertainty. Humans use stimulus-*thought*-response. We sense the world around us, we think about it, we talk about it, and finally we respond to it. We respond to thought more than stimulus. According to the theory of General Semantics, *As human organisms, we have limits as to what we can experience through our senses. Given these limitations, we can never experience "all" of what is "out there" to experience.... To the degree that our reactions and responses to all forms of stimuli are automatic, or conditioned, we copy animals, like Pavlov's dog. To the degree that our reactions and responses are more controlled, delayed, or conditional to the given situation, we exhibit our uniquely-human capabilities (Institute of General Semantics, 2012a).* Communication is the key tool we use to manage and respond to the world around us. It is our key survival tool. By connecting with other humans, we can test and assess our perceptions, our thoughts about the stimuli, to determine if our responses to those thoughts are reasonable. The overriding goal of interpersonal communication is to reduce uncertainty by fulfilling our needs for **belongingness** and **acceptance***.* Humans are deeply social creatures, getting much of our sense of personal value and worth through our interactions with those around us. **Belongingness** is *our need to feel we fit in and belong to a group of some sort*. (Each of us has at least one \"reference group,\" a collection of individuals with whom acceptance is extremely important. We spend time with these people, we talk with them, and we joke with them. We care about what they think of us because we are strongly driven to feel we belong to that group; it gives us a place to fit in and feel valued. An intimate relationship with a significant other can also give us a feeling of belongingness. The connections with a long-term partner, parents, or children can give us comfort and certainty in our lives). **Acceptance** is not the same as agreement. We look for *those who accept and understand who we are*. (Although we can disagree about specific topics or issues, human relationship is still solid and exists despite those superficial disagreements. They accept our traits, both positive and negative, our successes and failures) Because these two needs are so strong in us, being in a strange place where we know no one can be very unsettling. Consider the awkwardness we feel in a social setting where we do not know many of the others present. Most probably feel a bit lost and uncertain. When in such a setting, most of us will deliberately try to connect with *someone* to fulfill those needs, at least temporarily. **Small Group Communication** is described as *several among several*. It is similar to interpersonal in that many of the dynamics of good interpersonal communication apply to several people interacting, but the primary difference is in the goal. The goal of small group communication is task completion. However, for us to work with a group to effectively complete a task requires our basic interpersonal needs to be met. The group communicates and works collaboratively most effectively to achieve a common result when there is a sense of acceptance and belongingness among members. We are all familiar with what happens when we speak up in a group but get ignored; we quit participating. Small group communication. In this model, we are looking at a task group of..five people. Researchers think ***five*** is the ideal size for a task group. The individuals are of equal value and worth, and the connecting lines indicate all members participate equally with all other group members. Realistically, such equality of participation will not occur in every group. The third setting is **Public Speaking**. Public speaking can be described as *one to many*. Note for interpersonal and small group, we speak of *with* and *among* others to suggest a sense of mutual exchange and responsibility. In public speaking, however, the majority of the message is ***from the speaker to the audience***, and as a result the speaker carries significantly more responsibility for the success of the communication event. Although the audience does retain some responsibility (attending to the message; decoding; interpreting; asking questions), it is not as equal as with interpersonal and small group. Consider a traditional, college lecture class. We easily accept the greater responsibility the instructor bears over the success of the class, especially in presenting welldeveloped, clearly structured lectures. The students still have their duties, such as attending class and actively listening, but there is no doubt the instructor bears more responsibility for the speaking situation. The goal of public speaking is a transmission of information. The speaker has some sort of idea/information/position to share with the group and shares that information in this primarily unidirectional (*operating in single direction*) process. The model for public speaking is somewhat different than the other two. This represents the speaker as the primary source for the communication, having significantly more responsibility for the creation, sending, and substance of the message. Second, note the smaller, lighter arrows from the audience to the speaker. Audiences communicate with speakers via feedback, ranging from subtle/delicate (such as slight facial expression changes) to overt/openly showen (such as laughter, asking questions, and applause). A good speaker uses feedback to gauge/measure how the event is going. For example, if the audience looks bored, perhaps the speaker needs to liven things up a bit, or if they look confused, perhaps the speaker should rephrase something. **Computer-mediated communication** (CMC) is *communication occurring through the use of computer technologies*. If we stop to consider all the ways we communicate via technology, it is mind-boggling*/ overwhelming/ extremely surprising and difficult to understand or imagine*. Everything from cell phones, texting, email, social media (like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), discussion boards, and video conferencing all fall in this category - CMC. Although most of you, dear studens, probably cannot recall a time without the internet or cell phones, in the timeline of human communication, these technologies are still very young. However, they continue to develop at a rapid pace, impacting how we connect with one another in ways we do not yet fully understand. Researchers are investigating ways technology is impacting how we communicate, form and manage relationships, work collaboratively/ working together, and even how we maintain a sense of self. We already know ***constant connectivity*** has benefits and drawbacks. Many ***workplaces*** have now become ***a blend of face-to-face and online***. We use social media to maintain long-distance relationships which in the not-too-distant past would have faded from lack of contact. Distant family members can remain connected, sharing special events or even just daily life. Funerals, weddings, and other important ceremonies are no longer limited to those who can travel to attend. In addition to personal use, organizations can save millions in travel costs using CMC tools. Many institutions of higher education system these days hold hundreds of meetings annually via CMC tools, saving travel costs and time away from other duties. **Communication** is *the transactional process of using symbolic language to stimulate shared meaning***.** To understand the concept of **transactional**, we need to see where communication theory was in the past, and where are we today. At first, communication was seen as a linear process. The sender said something to the receiver. The receiver then processed the message to understand it. The problem with this approach is it only shows communication as flowing one direction; it does not account for the fact many of our messages are responses to what we heard or experienced. We then moved to a circular model which shows the sender sends a message to the receiver, and then the receiver sends a message back to the sender as *feedback* to what was said. In effect, the sender becomes the receiver, and the receiver becomes the sender. This model is much better in that it accounts for those related messages; however, it can also suggest *all* messages have a causal relationship with what was just experienced. The linear model is too narrow, and the circular model is too broad. Today, we use the transactional model of communication. The **transactional model** says we have *multiple messages flowing simultaneously between people*. Some messages are independent, and some messages are causal (or feedback). As we interact, we sort out these messages, distinguishing feedback from independent messages. Communication is a **process***,* instead of a single act. A process is *an event comprised of many parts, working together, with each part having a dependence on the other*. Consider the complexity of a car. It works via a process of many different parts operating in concert to produce propulsion. If any one part breaks down, depending on how integral it is to the process, the whole vehicle stops moving. Communication is similar in that if a key part of the process fails, the whole thing stops working. Or, if a secondary part fails, it may keep running, but not smoothly. If only one part fails, the whole process is affected. The final aspect of the ***transactional model*** is the idea of **mutual responsibility**. In communication, ***all participants have some responsibility for the success or failure of the communication***. The person speaking has a responsibility to send a clear, organized, understandable message; and the listener has a responsibility to attend to the message, interpret it, respond to it, and if they do not understand it, to ask for clarification. Even in public speaking situations where the speaker carries a larger burden/  **weight** of responsibility, the audience still shares responsibility for success. A classroom is a good example of this. No matter how well a teacher teaches, if a student simply refuses to try to understand the material, the teacher cannot force the student to learn. The student must meet the teacher \"half way,\" so to speak. The Purposes of Communication Since communication is so complex, a reasonable question arises: Why do we do it? Evolutionary theory tells us instinctual behaviors exist to aid in the survival and perpetuation/continuation/ existence of the species. While the specific ways we communicate are culturally determined, the drive to communicate is an innate human trait/feature. To understand the purposes of communication, we need to begin at a very basic level. As discussed earlier, humans live in a stimulus-thought-response world, and we use communication as the tool to manage and respond to the world around us (by connecting with other humans). **1. We use communication to make sense of the world around us.** Since our actions are primarily based on how we think about the world around us, communication is the tool we use to develop, categorize, and modify perceptions. We have language because we have the ability to **abstract**, *to create mental images and symbols of the external world*. We can talk about, think about, and generally manipulate our internal world to enhance our understanding of people, events, and experiences. In other words[, language allows us to think]. As we process the world within our own minds (a form of intrapersonal communication), and as we interact with those around us (interpersonal communication), [these internal images are tested, verified, and modified]. Sharing our perceptions of the world with those around us is crucial in maintaining a sense of comfort and security that our view of the world is realistic and valid. While we do not seek this validation from everyone, we do seek it from our key reference groups. We want to know that we are seeing the world "accurately," which actually means, "similarly to those important to us." **2. We use communication to maintain a healthy sense of self.** Humans are inherently social creatures because we need acceptance and belongingness to feel we fit in and have worth to others. Interaction gives us a sense of how others see and value us, and as we gain a sense of value and importance from others, our sense of self-worth is validated or supported. Humans are not seeking acceptance from everyone; Humans develop **reference groups**. *A reference group is a collection of individuals with whom acceptance and belongingness is very important*. (We place high value on how they respond to us, and we strive to maintain good relationships and friendships with these individuals.) **3. We use communication to bind us socially.** Communication also facilitates the building of relationships. (In interpersonal communication, when we use the term "relationship," we mean it differently than commonly used. Most often, students initially assume relationship means an exclusive relationship, like intimate partners. However, within this field, a relationship is *any* connection we have with *anyone*.) We have a range of relationships, with a clerk at a gas station, etc. Regardless of the type, a relationship is nothing but how we communicate with that person; a relationship is defined and measured by the type of communication occurring. A tool we use to facilitate this connection is **scripts***.* Scripts are *socially prescribed topics and dialogues we have learned to use to engage in casual, socially necessary communication*. **4. We use communication to share information and to influence others.** People connect socially, naturally run into a range of ideas, interests, expertise, and goals. Instead of having to know everything, we can communicate with others to tap into the global, human knowledge base. Education is a prime example of the information sharing function of communication. Students attend school to gain information, ideas, and perspectives from others. Students learn from teachers and other students, and teachers learn from students. A unique ability of humans is that we can share information across generational lines. Humans have the unique ability to share information with those who lived before us and with those who will come after us. Oral histories have existed since the invention of language, and in some cultures the passing on of stories is of great cultural significance. With the advent of the printing press, we gained a tremendous ability to leave information for those who will come long after us. This ability to share information from generation to generation is why knowledge expands so rapidly; we learn from those before us, build on it, and then pass it on. Not only can we exchange information, we can influence each other. We live immersed in persuasion on a variety of levels. E.g. While we do not pay attention to all these messages, they are nonetheless an integral part of our social landscape. Persuasion is an inherent part of our cultural experience. In addition to this broad, rather obvious use of persuasive messages, we also engage in interpersonal persuasion. A simple conversation about whether a song is good or not, or whether a TV show is funny or not, is actually an interpersonal persuasion event. We also experience **intrapersonal persuasion**, *persuasion within ourselves*. Using our abilities to think, made possible by language, we are continually weighing options and making decisions. In effect, we debate ourselves: \"Should I buy it?\", \"Should I ask her out?\", \"Should I take English or Music?\". We find this intrapersonal communication helps us discern the best course of action. In effect, we engage in selfpersuasion. The Characteristics of Communication **1. Communication success is rare.** One of the core tenets of the theory of General Semantics is that due to the inherent complexity and interrelatedness of the components of the communication process, there is virtually always some factor inhibiting the success of communication. **2. Communication occurs verbally and nonverbally.** We communicate using a **communication package**. Our communication package is *anything about us that has communication value*. That package is comprised of two major types of communication: verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication consists of language (words, meaning, syntax, grammar), and nonverbal communication consists of non-language communication variables (vocal traits, gestures, posture, and many more). In emotional expression, verbal communication is about 7% of our overall communication package, and nonverbal is about 93% of the overall package. **3. Communication is continuous.** ***One cannot not communicate*** means No matter how hard we may try, we are always communicating something. Obviously we can quit speaking, but we cannot stop the myriad/very many of nonverbal messages being sent: silence communicates; absence communicates. Due to this ongoing nature of communication, we are also sending a blend of **intentional** and **unintentional** messages. Intentional messages are *those sent deliberately and purposefully*, while unintentional messages are *those the sender is unaware of sending*. **4. Communication has ethical implications.** Communication is a powerful tool. Communication is about choice, and some of those choices are inconsistent with an ethical approach to communication. **5. Communication is culturally specific**. Language varies from culture to culture. English speakers travelling in other English-speaking countries quickly find words may be pronounced differently or have different meanings. Nonverbal communication also varies distinctly. **6. Communication reflects personality**. We make assumptions of what a person is like based on communication behaviors. In western cultures, we usually see outgoing people as having more eye contact, a more open posture, and generally a more expressive demeanor. Likewise, quiet or shy people may avoid eye contact, use a more closed posture, and keep emotional expression at a minimum. Sender-based versus receiver-based communication We naturally tend to be **egocentric,** *assuming others think as we do, use language as we do, and generally see the world as we do*. **Sender-based communication** occurs *when the sender acts in an egocentric manner, assuming the way they communicate is appropriate for everyone*. **Receiver-based communication** occurs when the sender acts in a **provisional** manner, *assuming they need to consider how best to communicate this specific message to this specific person or to this audience.* They realize what works for one person or situation may not work for another. They know language interpretation varies depending on background, and concepts may have to be presented in a variety of ways depending on the receiver.