Chapter 7- Conversation And Communication Style Flashcards
Define conversations
Logically managed and interactive sequential interchanges
Is small talk an even simple conversation?
Nope
Define logically managed
The participants determine the topic, who gets to speak, for how long, and in what order
Difference between interactive and sequential
Interactive- two people must participate in a conversation
Sequential- participants take turns exchanging messages
Does sequential have a beginning middle and end?
Yes
What do researchers who study conversation analysis do?
Study the order, the organization, and the orderliness of everyday interaction
Study what communication does
What are two reasons to study everyday conversation
1- learning about the dynamics of conversation could help us effectively and appropriately participate in conversations
2- the basis of formal interactions
What are some things that rely on appropriate conversation?
The Economy Law Religion Courtship Socialization And education
What is communication apprehension and who studied it?
An individuals level of fear or anxiety associated with communication related outcomes
James c McCroskey
What is rational emotive behavior therapy
Replaces irrational thoughts with rational thoughts to reduce debilitative emotions such as anxiety
How do conversations function
2 things
Speech acts
The cooperative principle
Define speech acts
Greetings, criticism, invitations, congratulations, insults, promises, requests, and warnings
What is an example of a speech act
Do you know the time
You don’t say yes- you tell them the time
What do speech acts do?
Reveals the assumptions and expectations that are prevalent in everyday talk
What is one issue to the speech act theory?
Can’t explain how conversation effectively functions when the “doing” can have more than one interpretation or when people misinterpret what a portion of talk is supposed to do?
An example of a disadvantage to speech acts?
Son: “I’m off!”
Mother: “you sure are- but we’ve known that for a long time!
Pg 184
What should speech act theory be used in conjunction with?
A speakers nonverbal behavior, the characteristics of a situation, and the conversational context to interpret a message
What is the cooperative principle, and who developed it?
Conversation partners use their talk to facilitate understanding
Herbert Paul Grice
What are the four “The Cooperative Principle and Conversation maxims”?
Quality maxim
Quantity maxim
Relevancy maxim
Manner maxim
Define quality maxim
We should provide info that is truthful
Define quantity maxim
We should offer info that is sufficient to keep the convo going
Not too much or too little info
Define relevancy maxim
We should provid info that pertains to the topic under discussion
Define manner maxim
We should be organized and specific when we speak
Why should people adhere to the cooperative principle
The speakers talk will be truthful, sufficient, relevant, and clear
How does cooperative principle explain:
“I’m off!”
“You sure are, but we’ve known that for a long time!”
Mom understands I’m off
But nonverbal comm from mom(she’s smiling) let’s her son know she’s playing, or teasing
What is the overview of skills associated with competent conversations
Beginning a conversation
Sustaining a conversation
Concluding a conversation
What could you ask questions about when beginning a conversation?
The environment
Something that’ll engage others
The other person
What could you do for sustaining a conversation?
Provide and respond to free information
Credit the source of ideas
Engage in appropriate turn taking
What could you do for concluding a conversation?
Summarize main ideas
End with a compliment or positive statement
Make plans to see conversation partner again
Indicate closure with “exit lines”
Examples of asking questions about the environment in a college classroom
In a college class room: what do you know about the professor? I was absent yesterday what did we talk about? What do you think will be on the next exam?
Example of asking a question about the environment in line for a movie
What are you going to see?
What have you heard about the movie?
Do you like comedies/action movies/ romances?
In engaging in a conversation, what should you choose: open ended questions or closed ended questions? Why?
Open ended questions
Allows person to elaborate and you can’t get some insights on what they’re thinking
What are three examples you could ask the other person about when asking questions about the other person ?
About the others family
About the others recent activities
About the other in general
What SHOULDNT you ask the other person about? Why?
Their physical appearance - too risky
What is an overview in how you can sustain a conversation?
RESPONDING to and providing free information
Maintaining conversational coherence
Engaging in appropriate turn taking
Crediting the source of ideas
What is free information?
Example?
Data beyond requested or expected
What do you know about the professor?
- not a lot but some friends told me to enroll in this course
What could free information lead to
MORE QUESTIONS
Define conversational coherence
How talk is organized
How do you maintain conversational coherence?
Talk about only the relevancy- what the topic is about
If you can’t then use metacommunication like (that reminds me of) and go from there
What three things could you be called if you’re not engaging in appropriate turn taking?
Rude (too many interruptions)
Dominating (not enough turn yielding)
Frustrating (unable to me an important point)
How to cope with conversation dilemmas
Direct response
Indirect response
Deception
Pleasing the other
Soliciting the others help
