about oral communication

2.  Verbal Symbols
 WORDS!
 Nonverbal Symbols
 Gestures, Facial Expressions, Body Motions,
Tone of Voice
 Intentional or not, words, action, and dress
communicate who we are and what we think.

3. …sharing meaning by transmitting messages.
…sharing meaning by transmitting verbal messages.

4.  Words?
 Letters?
Everyone assigns meaning in their own special way.
Everyone has their own personal histories, moods,
biases, languages, attitudes, and knowledge…
…all influencing meaning!

5.  Messages are sent
and received…
 Meanings are in
message users
(people), not
messages (words).
 Meaning exists in
your HEAD!
 You speak, he speaks.
 He speaks, you nod.
 He imagines a day at
the beach. He talks
about it.
 YOU imagine
swimming.

6.  With experience,
meaning changes.
 Shared meanings are
never exactly the same!
 Misunderstandings
can’t be avoided, but
could be anticipated.
 When you were small,
the beach was huge.
 As an adult, it seems
smaller somehow.
 The perfect beach day
is different for
everyone!
 Ask “What do you
mean by ‘a perfect
beach day’?”

7.  Convey Emotional
Meaning BUT…
 One must be careful
NOT to give
confusing nonverbal
messages.
 …Can be easily
misinterpreted.
 For example, avoid
making a face that
may be seen as
angry, when all you
are doing is
squinting!

8. Establish
a
Relationship!
 Consider to whom
you are talking.
 Interpersonal?
 Group?
 Public or Private?
 Mass
Communication?

9.  Who is Dominant?
 Higher Status?
 Deserves Recognition?
 Authority?

10.  CurrentEmotionalState!
Education!
Culture!
Beliefs!

11.  …when to hold your tongue!
 …when to share and when not to share!
 Be aware of your audience!

12. SPEAKER’S ROLE
 Know the Listener.
 Direct information TO
the listener.
 Be sincere and respectful
to the listener.
 Know the speaker.
 Focus attention on the
speaker.
 Treat speaker with
respect.
LISTENER’S ROLES

13. SPEAKER’S ROLE
 Present information
clearly.
 Get Feedback, both
verbal and nonverbal.
 Keep an open mind.
 Ask for clarification, if
needed.
LISTENER’S ROLES

14.  Communication involves context!
 Meaning depends on the situation and the behaviour
that accompanies it.
 For example, the phrase “YOU NEED HELP” can have
a different meaning depending on the CONTEXT!
 Difficulty versus injury versus strange behaviour!

15.  Physical
 Social-psychological
 Relationship
 Location, physical
presence, attractiveness of
participants.
 Status, values, moods,
perceptions, roles, rules,
norms.
 Friends, family, coworkers.

16.  Cultural
 Temporal
 Collection of beliefs,
values, attitudes,
traditions, taboos,
customs, and behaviours
 Time of day, week,
season, history, position
of the communication in
a series

17.  First place one learns to communicate.
 Influenced by culture, roles, and emotional
connections.
 Strict and formal versus free-speaking and informal
 Different roles = different communication.
 Sometimes hard to break your role!
 Complicated relationships
 To help communication—identify issues, propose
improvements, understand other perspectives, share
your thoughts and feelings. MAINTAIN RESPECT!

18.  Usually based on shared elements like personality,
interests, backgrounds, family, etc.
 Some basic needs—enjoyment, affection, security, and
self-esteem—are fulfilled here.
 Often more comfortable than family relationships .
 Often make honesty difficult, espcially when things go
wrong.
 Easy to disrespect.
 IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN RESPECT!

19.  AT SCHOOL…
 Those with authority influence your position.
 Your role is to come prepared and help ensure your
learning.
 AT WORK…
 Boss has authority, thus influencing you severely.
 Affects the amount of info you are willing to share.
 Bosses maintain distance to stay authoritative.
 Like it or not, you are in a submissive position and
must, again, maintain respect to preserve
communication.

20.  Communities=networks of people living near each
other and interacting
 Important to know NAMES!
 Communicate consistently and in a friendly way

21. Generational Context
 People born within a 25 year time span
=GENERATION
 Events in those lives are not forgotten!
 Important to consider GENERATION when
communicating as the experiences of one are not the
same as another.
 For example, WWII Vests would see today’s wars with
different eyes, despite the war relationship.

22. Multicultural Context
 Communication expresses IDENTITY!
 Different ethnicities and religions approach things
their own ways, which may not be YOUR way.
 Be patient with others and be sensitive to the
differences.

23. FIVE
LEVELS OF
COMMUNICATION

24. Five Levels of Communication
 INTRAPERSONAL—self talk; internal dialogue
 YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!
 INTERPERSONAL—one-to-one; “between people”;
frequent role changes from speaker to listener and
back

25. Five Levels of Communication
 GROUP—3+ people; focus on decision making
 PUBLIC—to an audience to spread info/ideas
(teacher!)
 MASS—one person/group communicates through
mass medium (tv, radio, internet, etc); wide dispersal
of information, but impersonal to varying degrees

26. Communication and Careers
MOST IMPORTANT TO GET JOBS!
 Oral Communication
 Listening Ability
 Enthusiasm
 Interpersonal relationships are KEY!
 Verbal and Non-Verbal!
 KNOW YOUR CONTEXT! KNOW YOUR STUFF!

27. Communication and Careers
CENTRAL TO MANY CAREERS!
 ALL professionals require good verbal communication
 ALL professions require good listening skills
 In ALL careers, in ALL fields, and in EVERY way,
communication is a NECESSITY!

28. IN CLOSING…
 Realize that meanings shift!
 Know thy audience!
 Assess the speaker!
 Understand the context!
 Anticipate misunderstandings!