FOCS Verbal Comm

Question 1

Verbal Communication: Channel

Answer 1

Channel is a medium through which messages are exchanged between people

Symbols = Non Verbal Symbols
Language is a subset of Symbols

Question 2

3 Characteristics of language being made up of symbols

Answer 2

Arbitrary, Ambiguous, Abstract

Question 3

Symbols -> Arbitrary

Answer 3

1. Symbols are arbitrary representations of something else
   
   1. No intrinsic connection between the symbols and referent
   2. Language changes as we invent new words or imbue existing words with new meanings

Question 4

Symbols -> Ambiguous

Answer 4

1. Language does not have a clear-cut, precise meaning
   
   1. Depends on cultural context
   2. Differences in context can lead to misunderstandings
   3. Good friend could mean
      
      1. To hang out with
      2. To confide in someone

Question 5

Symbols -> Abstract

Answer 5

1. Words are not the phenomena - ideas, people, events - to which they refer
2. Stand for things but not what they represent
   
   1. By using words, we move further and further away from the external objective phenomena
      
      1. “He is a student” but we call him a “Young WKW boy”
         
         • Ladder of mushroom
         • As language becomes increasingly abstract, the potential for confusion mushroom
           
           • Through overgeneralisation

Question 6

Symbols -> Abstract ladder

Answer 6

• Through overgeneralisation
  
  • Most Concrete
  • Concrete Phenomena
  • Perceived Behaviour
  • Label Applied
  • Judgement
  • Action
  • Most Abstract

Question 7

Why we need to interpret communication?

Answer 7

We interpret communication because language is abstract, ambiguous and arbitrary, so we interpret it to determine what it means

Question 8

Brute vs Institutional Facts

Answer 8

• Brute Facts
  
  • Objective, concrete phenomena and activities
• Institutional Facts
  
  • Meanings of brute facts based on human interpretation

Question 9

Language creates meaning by…

Answer 9

Defining and evaluating phenomena: Labels, Values, Totalising, Loaded language, Reappropriation of language

Organising Experiences

Invites Higher Level Thinking

Invites Higher Level Reflection

Defining Relationships

Question 10

Defining and evaluating phenomena: Labels and Values

Answer 10

1. Labels “a car”, “my car”
2. Values “disabled”, “physically challenged”

Question 11

Defining and evaluating phenomena: Totalising Definition

Answer 11

Responding to a person as if one label totally represents that person

Question 12

Defining and evaluating phenomena: Loaded Language

Answer 12

Words that slant perceptions, thus meanings, exceedingly

Question 13

Defining and evaluating phenomena: Reappropriation of language

Answer 13

5. Use a negative term others’ use to label a group as a positive self description
   
   1. Queer as an insult but now it is good

Question 14

Language creates meaning by… Organising Experiences

Answer 14

1. Classifying things into categories
2. Often part of the perceptual process
3. Can distort thinking → Especially when we stereotype

Question 15

Language creates meaning by… Inviting higher level thinking

Answer 15

1. Why we think about the concept of time, future and dreams?
2. Can enrich personal relationships by allowing intimates to remember a share moment
3. Imagine places we never visit before
4. Improve who we are

Question 16

Language creates meaning by… Invites higher-level reflection

Answer 16

1. “i” vs “me”
2. I → spontaneous and creative self
3. Me → Socially conscious part of self that monitors and moderates I’s impulses
4. Self reflections empowers us to monitor ourselves
5. Self reflections allows us to manage the image we present to others

Question 17

Language creates meaning by defining relationships

Answer 17

1. Send signals about the relationship
2. Relationship level meaning
   1. Responsiveness
      Showing attentiveness to others’ communicationLiking
      Sharing what we enjoy and do not enjoyPower
      Define dominance and negotiate status and influence

Question 18

Guidelines for effective communication

Answer 18

Engage in person-centred communication
Be aware of levels of abstraction

Question 18

Guidelines for effective communication

Answer 18

Engage in person-centred communication
Be aware of levels of abstraction
Qualify language
Own you feelings and thoughts

Question 19

Guidelines for effective Communication: Engage in person-centred communication

Answer 19

• Adapted to specific individuals
• Use specialised and incomprehensible language
• Knowledge and attitudes of listeners

Question 20

Guidelines for effective Communication: Be aware of levels of abstraction

Answer 20

• Reduce levels of misunderstanding
• Use when you have similar knowledge about what is being discussed

Question 21

Guidelines for effective Communication: Qualify Language

Answer 21

• Qualify generalisations to avoid misleading others
• Avoid static evaluationby making extreme statements but make it more dynamic