Unspoken meaning lecture 1 Flashcards
What strategies do we use to generate unspoken meaning?
- Non-verbal communication
- Ambiguity
- Contextual relevance
Define Non-verbal communication
Communication without the need for/use of words
How much of conversational meaning is accounted for by non-verbal communication?
65%
Define ambiguity
A word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning
What is contextual relevance?
Where the context of the communication influences the meaning of what you are saying
What does non-verbal communication do?
Plays a vital role in determining meaning in discourse
Define discourse
Written or spoken communication
What are some factors than can influence meaning?
- Who is involved
- Location
- What are they doing
- Relationship of the people
- Age, gender etc.
- Objects present
Define physiological reactions and exemplify
A physical response to a stimulus, eg smiling or furrowed brows
What did Birdwhistell say about gestures and when?
‘there is no body motion or gesture that can be regarded as a universal symbol’
1970
What influences gesture?
Cultures and traditions
What are the two types of symbolic gesture and who defined them and when?
Morris et al 1979
- Illustrators
- Emblems
Define Ilustrators
Actions which accompany verbal symbols and serve to illustrate them
Define emblems
Replace speech and can act as substitutes for it
Give an example of an illustrative gesture and emblem
Illustrative: Using hands to add emphasis to what you are saying
Emblem: Shaking your hand as if you’ve touched a hot object to signify that a woman was attractive
Define proxemics
Humankind’s ‘perception and use of space’ Hall 1963
How can proxemics vary from culture to culture?
In non-contact cultures invasion of personal space would be seen as a threatening act whereas in a contact culture it may be seen as affectionate
Why must proxemics be taught alongside languages?
In order to successfully communicate in a culture, you must adhere to their non-verbal systems and their language
What are the 4 types of proxemics when sitting at a table?
Directly opposite - competitive
Diagonally opposite - co-active
Side by side - Modified co-operative
Different sides of table but side by side - co-operative conversation
How do we teach proxemics?
Questioning, observation and roleplay
How does a listener decode a message successfully?
By knowing the code and the context
Define inference
Your understanding of what someone has said
Define implicature
Refers to what is suggested in an utterance, even though it’s not expressed nor strictly implied
Define Grice’s co-operative principle (stages and when?)
Being expected to:
- Make your contribution as it is required
- Answering the question asked or following the topic
- Often using implicature rather than being direct
1975
What are the two factors that influence inference?
Presupposition -
Define entailment
The logical statements that follow on from the content of the utterance
Define presupposition
The background sociocultural knowledge of the hearer
Problems with unspoken meaning
- Indirectness (not saying what we mean)
- Mis-interpretation
