LECTURE 1- INTRO

Question 1

what is communication

Answer 1

A way of promoting changes in the world – specifically, of influencing others by using signs
it is synergetic and interactive

Question 2

what is coordinted action

Answer 2

An example, dog waits for owner to throw a ball. Base your actions off what someone else is doing e.g., going through a door someone is holding open for you.

Question 3

what is mechanical action

Answer 3

Using actions, body language, use of signs e.g., someone throwing a punch/ moving a chair to let someone sit down

Question 4

what is communicative action

Answer 4

An example= threatening actions, asking someone to do something. Involves the use of signs.

Question 5

Shannon and Weavers transmission model of communication

Answer 5

linear model
Explanation= P influences R mechanically

This is a linear model= it does not help us see the back-and-forth interaction within communication

Question 6

synergetic model/ interactive model (Bateson)

Answer 6

P does not cause a change in r in a mechanical way

Rs response depends on how they make sense of p’s communicative action

Gregory Bateson says r actively make sense of communications directed at them

R’s response= depends on how they understand signs, their motivation to understand/respond.

This model highlights that misunderstanding is possible as the outcome is never certain, how one interoperates P CA is not the same.

Question 7

human vs wolf communication

Answer 7

human= flexible, learned, recipient designed, intentional
wolf= fixed, determined, indiscriminate, unintentional

Question 8

ape communication limitations vs humans

Answer 8

referential limitation= there is no external referent (humans have a external reference).

Signal limitation= apes show a natural meaning only (humans show a conventional meaning).

Temporal limitation= always in the here and now only (humans are temporally flexible).

Action limitation=imperative (humans have many communications)

Question 9

what are the 3 principles for human communication

Answer 9

1. Context= the physical setting where CA is produced/ the ongoing activity in which P and R are engaged when CA is produced
2. Relevance= Specific aspects of the context that ae needed to make CA make sense/ The specific CA that would fit in present context
3. Common ground= Knowledge that P and R share from previous interactions/ knowledge they share as members of society, community, and culture

for these to occur you need cooperation and motivations