Semiotics of Language/Nonverbal coding/Kinesics (Message)

Question 1

Briefly explain the idea being semiotics within the Message. (Saussure)

Answer 1

Language is signs.

Saussure teaches that signs including language is arbitrary. Meaning that different languages use different words for the same thing. There is no physical connection between a word and its referent. Language and reality are seperat.

Question 2

Can you explain what Saussure means by “Language and Reality are seperat”?

Answer 2

signifier, signified.
different languages use different words for the same thing.
no physical connection between a word and its referent.

Question 3

What is linguistic for Saussure?

Answer 3

The study of langue(formal language) (not the study of parole/speech)

Question 4

What do Saussure find important in “language”?

Answer 4

Saussure believes that linguistic researchers must pay attention to language forms (speech, sounds, words, grammar). Because although language structure is arbitrary, the language use is not.

• you cannot choose any word you wish to express meaning.
• you cannot rearrange grammar and wish to be understood.

Question 5

Who is the modern founder of structural linguistics?

Answer 5

Ferdinand de Saussure

Question 6

Why is language structure important? (Saussure)

Answer 6

Because you cannot choose any words and be understood and you cannot rearrange grammar and wish to be understood.

Language structures refers to speech, sounds and words.

Question 7

Elaborate on the idea of the signifier and the signified? (Saussure)

Answer 7

Signifier: the word three
Signified: the actual three

Question 8

What is meant by “the structure of differences constitutes the structure of language” according to Saussure?

Answer 8

One sound differs from the other (the letter p and the letter b)
Words differ from each other (pat or bat)
One grammatical form differs from the other (the constructions has run or will run)

Question 9

According to Saussure what is all a person know of a world determined by?

Answer 9

Its determined by language.
Signs do not designate objects but rather constitute them. Meaning there can be no object apart from signs used to designate it.

Question 10

What is meant by langue and parole according to Saussure?

Answer 10

Langue: formal language
Parole: use of language in communication, speech

Langue can be analysed apart its use in everyday life.
Parole is the actual use of language to accomplish something

Question 11

How is language developed according to Saussure?

Answer 11

The rules of language are worked out over a long period of time and “given” to us when we are socialised into language communities.

Question 12

Explain how an individual can influence language according to Saussure?

Answer 12

Through interaction you make use of the language in creative and constantly changing ways.

Question 13

What is Nonverbal Coding?

Answer 13

Meaning attached to nonverbal forms.

Nonverbal codes have semantic, syntactic and pragmatic dimensions.

Semantic: the meaning of the sign
Syntactic: they ways signs are organised into systems with other signs
Pragmatic: the effects/behaviour elicited by a sign or a group of signs. (e.g. the devil sign can be taken as a joke rather than an insult)

Question 14

Nonverbal coding refers to different types of activity. Burgoon suggest six types. Name the six and explain what they are.

Answer 14

1. Kinesics (bodily activity)
2. Vocalics/paralanguage (voice)
3. Physical appearance (touch)
4. Proxemics (space)
5. Chronemics (time)
6. Artifacts (object)

Kinetics and proxemics are studied most intensively and are the most important.

Question 15

Who is considered the originator of the field og kinesics?

Answer 15

Ray Birdwhistell

Question 16

What is an other term for kinesics?

Answer 16

Body Language

Question 17

What is the idea behind Kinesics?

Answer 17

Somebody can always assign meaning to any bodily activity.
Behaviour is organised and can therefor be analysed.
Bodily activity in interaction is a part of the social system.
People are affected by the bodily activity of others.
You can investigate have bodily activity influence interactions.
A persons bodily features can both be individual and also be part of a larger social system shared with others.

Question 18

Paul Ekman and Wallace Friesen build on Birdwhistell’s work and made a general model of kinesics behaviour. Can you name the three ways they analyse nonverbal behaviour?

Answer 18

Three ways:

1. By origin: the source of the act
2. By coding: the relationship of the act
3. By usage: to which degree a nonverbal behaviour is intended to convey information

Question 19

What is Proxemics?

Answer 19

A category of nonverbal behaviour focusing on space.

Question 20

Who is the founder of Proxemics?

Answer 20

Edward Hall

Question 21

Edward Hall defines three basic types of space. Name the three.

Answer 21

1. Fixed Feature space: Unmovable things e.g. walls, rooms
2. Semi-fixed feature space: Moveable objects e.g. furniture
3. Informal space: personal territory

Question 22

Name the four distances.

Answer 22

Intimate
Personal
Social
Public

Question 23

Hall describes eight factors that may affect how space is used in conversation

Answer 23

1. Posture-sex factors: The sex of the participant in relation to the basic body position
2. Sociofugal-sociopetal axis: Discouragement of interaction and encouragement of interaction.
   Axis meaning the angle of the shoulders relative to the other person. (how the two speakers are positioned in relation to each other )
3. Kinesthetic: the ability to feel the parts of the body and the ways the body is positioned in space.
4. Touching behaviour: the closeness of the individuals in terms of touch and the kinds of touch in which they are engaged (caressing, hitting etc.)
5. Visual code: the manner of looking. (direct eye-contact, glancing, no contact at all)
6. Thermal Code: the perceived heat from the other communicator
7. Olfactory code: The dregree of odor (smell, scent, athosphere) detected by each participants.
8. Voice Loudness: The volume of the sppech can range from silence to normal to loud.