Week 7: Language Blog
My husband is the only one who can participate in this
experiment.
Part 1.
Ø We
find the so called conversation was not easy. First of all, I do not think
conversation takes place to begin with. As conversation is always describe in
form of talking or reaching or sending messages out of form of talking. Without
talking there’s no conversation happening. Conversation is always part of
communication and communication has different forms such as writing, actions,
sign language and talking which either it could be in a form of conversing,
debating or speech. It is impossible to have a conversation without the factor
of delivering a message. Which I also believe message could be deliver into
different form it could be in written, action/ gestures or talking. In this
process of experiment, I would say there’s no communication at all and I am
blocking myself to the communication process. The conversation didn’t last not
even 10 minutes.
Ø My
husband was confused while he tried to communicate with me and no response of
whatsoever, no movement, no expression or even a gestures or not even sound
from my vocal cord. Yes, he altered the way he communicates with me. The
impression was like talking to a wall or any non-life materials.
Ø There is a big advantage of a speaking culture to culture
of a non- symbolic speaking language. There is a barrier of communication. In a
communication process there is a source, the message, the channel and the
receiver. Once it block by the other, there is no communication at all. Aside
from people with speech deficiencies one of the biggest problem in
communication is the comprehension or understanding exactly what one has try to
convey the message. Another problem is the culture diversity. Like many
cultures though some speak in English but the accent is different so the there
is a barrier of conveying the message. Another hindrance of communication is
between the source and the receiver of the message (age, gender, culture,
education level and the socio-economic status). In conclusion, the properly
sending of message, the receiver and the sender of message plays a very important
role in communication process. If there’s an absence of one these factors then
there’s a great barrier in communication process and that is the interpretation
of message itself.
PART 2.
Ø The
communication lasted for 15 minutes using only speech. It was difficult because
there was no facial expression or gesture or hand signal or body movement
coming from me. I felt like I am a robot. Just plain talking and tried not to
carry along with the conversation.
Ø My husband found
that the conversation was boring. Thus, he was curious of why I didn’t showed
interest in the conversation. There’s lack
of total interaction in the communication process. Though I can talk but
without the use of physical embellishments, he finds the conversation not
interesting and decided to end the conversation after 15 minutes.
Ø The use of signs,
gestures, expression is indeed very important in the conversation or the
communication process. Without it communication would not going to take its
process. Thus, lacking of these factors pertains of not being interested in
communication. It is important to use signs, gestures,
expressions and the appropriate intonation so one can convey of what one is
trying to express.
Ø Body language
matters the culture practices. There are body languages that are acceptable in
the society or within the standard of the norm however culture plays important
practices in expressing body language. What may be acceptable to us may not be
acceptable for others. When some of my body language could pertain a
different meaning to the other unless if both came from different culture then
body language or gesture is one of the easy access of communicating. There is
evidence that gestures vary from culture to the other. According to Lonely
Planet by USA Today, “In Greece, don't wave to anyone with an open palm —
even when greeting a friend. And don't show your palm, though you might think
to do so when gesturing for someone to wait or hold on, or showing the number
five. "It is essentially the way one flips someone the bird in Greece, but
more than that, it states, 'I reject you”. The proper travel etiquette should
be observed.
References:
USA Today: Travel
Photos: googleimages.com
Good description in Part A.
ReplyDeleteYou talk about barriers to communication, but one point you don't address is which culture has the advantage in communicating complex ideas. Which culture, the speaking or non-speaking, would have the advantage in explaining Darwin's theory of evolution?
For Part B, great job pulling in the cultural differences in body language! This problem can pose difficulties on both sides of the communication partnership. We can use the wrong body language and we can also misinterpret the body language of others.
Good post.
I think the speaking culture has an advantage in explaining Darwin's theory of evolution because through the speaking culture we could study the origin of the speech of speaking culture. However, in Darwin's theory, it emphasized more of the non-speaking culture like the apes and the monkeys and the survival and evolution of these creatures.
DeleteI appreciate the response, but the question didn't ask for Darwin's emphasis. It asked which system of communication would have an easier time *explaining* Darwin's theory. I can't even begin to imagine trying to explain his theory without spoken (or written) symbolic language. Can you?
DeleteHi Salome,
ReplyDeleteI learned from reading your post about barriers in communication. Although I discovered this while going through the exercises, I wasn't conscious of this term at the time. I guess it had to do with all the frustration and stress this assignment involved.
As for which culture has the advantage, I would have to say the one which can communicate verbally. It is far more efficient and time saving compare to a culture that can't speak with clarity and complete sentences.
Great post.
Salome-
ReplyDeleteThis was a really well done blog post. I think you did an excellent job of breaking down the communication process, and you and I shared many similar points. One thing that you pointed out was how some body language signs can be interpreted differently by different cultures, which I hadn't considered in my post. For example, you pointed out the whole open-palms thing in Greece, which is fascinating to me due to how odd that seems in the context of our culture.
You are right Preston. As Asian, there are some expressions, body gestures that has meaning to us while to others it doesn't mean anything but a simple gestures or body language. Cultures divesity and practices could also be a barrier in communication process. Thanks for reading my blog!
DeleteThanks Ahmad. You are right. Our culture sometimes could be a barrier in communicatoin process. Gestures, expressions or mannerism, the accent are just the few examples of barriers in communication. I can speak English but sometimes my husband couldn't understand what I am talking about because I mispronounce it or the use of accent. Im Asian and my husband is Caucasian and there were time communication barriers exist.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I found that my partner seemed disinterested at times, if not entirely throughout both conversations, and that on the whole it proved ineffective. I tried sparking up a conversation that could interest my grandma for a long time and then either stop talking or freeze, but both conversations died quickly, though I most certainly did not expect that to happen to the one where I was able to talk. Like you, I also noticed that I talked a little robotically without body movements or facial expressions. Though we were allowed (I assume) to talk however animatedly we chose, it seemed almost natural to talk in monotone without any accompanying gestures/expressions. Good post, Sally.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my blog Andrew. I really enjoyed this activity. We should be thankful that we have all our senses to communicate well. I just wonder what would be the world look like if we don't have gestures or facial expressions? or if its all actions/ gestures and no uttering a sound? Communication is what human made so unique from the rest of the creature.
ReplyDelete