UNIT 1: THE VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS The multicultural communication concentration focuses on the dynamics of communication across cultures. It explores not only what happens when people of two different cultures meet but also what happens when people from a variety of cultures and ethnicities come together in one organization, community or country. Nature of Communication Communication (from Latin "communis" which means "commons") to be common means "to come together" or "to commune" meaning to share something in common. Communication is the act of conveying messages from one entity or group to another through the use of mutually understood signs, symbols and semiotic rules. The channel of communication can be visual, auditory, tactile/haptic (example - Braille system), olfactory, electromagnetic, or biochemical. Human communication is unique for its extensive use of abstract language. The purpose of communication is to hear and be heard. When we communicate, we send messages that are received and understood through the symbols that are used. These symbols are shared in a specific culture, they maybe verbal such as spoken or written words or non verbal such as gestures, facial expressions, and appearances. Responding to these symbols used in meaningful communication through various appropriate channels fulfills its purpose of making connections. Purposive communication is about writing, speaking and presenting to different audiences and for various reasons/purposes. Purposive communication is a systematic arrangement of symbols used by individuals to create a meaning. It serves five major purpose: To inform To express feelings to imagine to influence to meet social expectations Each of these purposes is reflected in a form of communication. WHAT ARE THE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION? Forms of Communication 1.Verbal communication It is the spoken or written conveyance of a message. It is the use of sounds and words to express a feeling, speaking, presenting verbally or by exchange of words use in this kind of communication. 2. Non verbal Communication It describes the processes of conveying a type of information in a form of nonlinguistic representations. This prefers a material to communicate like writing. This is also called manual language because it is the process of sending and receiving messages without using words. 3.Visual communication In visual communication, you use drawings or pictures that can visually explain what you want to convey. Most people rely to this because it uses signs, graphic designs and countless other examples. They also found it to be the oldestform of communication. Communication • a process by which people send messages or exchange ideas or thoughts with one another in a verbal and non- verbal manner – comes from the Latin word “communicare” meaning to share, to unite, or to have things in common – “communis” means commonness LEAGANS (1961) • a process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings, or impression in such ways that each gains a common understanding of the meaning and use of messages ROGERS (1983) • the process by which the message is being transmitted from the source to the receiver BROOKER (1949) - Anything that conveys meaning that carries a message from one person to another THAYER (1968) • A mutual interchange of ideas by any effective means PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION 1. Sender generates an idea in mind. 2. Idea is converted into words, pictures, sounds, symbols, or actions. (encoding the idea) 3. Encoded idea is transmitted to the receiver 4. Receiver receives the encoded message through the senses and perceives it in the mind. 5. Receiver decodes or converts the messages back into meaningful ideas in his own mind. FEATURES OF VERBAL LANGUAGE 1. Language is a System. A language system consists of three sub-systems, namely; sounds, words, and the manner these sounds and words are organized. 2. Language is Symbolic. Words are symbols for notions, actuations, bits and pieces and feelings. 3. Language is Conventional. Conventional means accepted or used by most people or of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be usual and typical. 4. Language is Learned. Children learn and absorb the language of their culture. PROFICIENCY IN LEARNING COMMUNICATION RULES: • Language Syntax is the structural rule that governs every language. Each language has guidelines for merging sounds into words and words into sentences. The established rules that explain how words are used in a language is called grammar. • Language Semantics deals with the study of the meanings of words and phrases in a language or in a particular context. Each word has its own specific meaning. It could be denotative or connotative. What is Syntax? 1. Syntax is the proper order of words in a phrase or sentence. 2. Syntax is a tool used in writing proper grammatical sentences. 3. Native speakers of a language learn correct syntax without realizing it. LEXICAL VS. FUNCTIONAL WORDS Words are split up into two major classes, which we can call functional/grammatical and lexical/content words. LEXICAL WORDS - These are the words that we normally recognize as “the ordinary words.” - The basic building blocks of a language’s vocabulary. - These are the words that are defined in the dictionary. FUNCTIONAL WORDS • Functional, or grammatical, words are the ones that it's hard to define their meaning, but they have some grammatical function in the sentence. • These are words with grammatical purpose. Examples of Functional Words • the • an • could • in/on/at SYNTACTIC RULES • English Language follows certain rules. Examples: • Subject-Verb Agreement • Order of Adjectives • Active-Passive Voice transformation • Basic Sentence Patterns NONVERBAL COMMUNCATION Nonverbal Language is considered as communication without the use of language and is symbolic and representational. It is a second kind of language which is also called as Artificial Language which uses all elements of communication except words. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION 1. Facial Expressions 2. Eye Gaze 3. Gestures 4. Haptics 5. Appearance 6. Body Language 7. Artifacts 8. Proxemics UNIT 2: PROCESS, PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Process of Communication Communication is a process of exchanging verbal and non-verbal messages. It is a continuous process. 1. Encoding - is everything that goes inside the brain of an individual. - involves the sender who, grounded by communicative intentions and goals, decides on assigning codes. - it is a systematic arrangement of symbols used by individuals to create meaning. 2.Transmission - is the process by which the sender, having assigned codes to come up with thought symbols (message) that are also comprehensible by the participants of the communication, transmits or sends message to its recipient. 3. Receiving - having been submitted through sound waves and light waves, it comes from the sender then reaches the receiver. It is assumed that the receiver's attention is to focus on the communication at hand to facilitate better understanding of the message transported by the sender. 4. Decoding - is the process by which the receiver interprets or assigns meanings to the codes transported by the source. The receiver tries to give meanings to these symbols which may be literal or may give associations depending on knowledge and/or experience. 5. Responding - response is anticipated by the sender from the receiver. Also called as feedback. Components of Communication Process 1. Sender - the one who initiates the communication 2. Message - is made up of the ideas and feelings that a sender-receiver wants to share with others. - a. Verbal symbols - expressed through words - b. Non-verbal symbols - expressed through gestures, inflection, tone, etc. - The message is whatever a speaker communicates to someone else. - Messages consist of both verbal and non-verbal elements. Your words and how you deliver them equally make up the balance of your message. 3. CHANNEL - Channel is the means by which a message is communicated. - The method a sender uses to send a message to a receiver. The most common channels humans use are auditory and visual. - In a face-to-face setting, the channel will be primarily audio and visual. - Synchronous and asynchronous channels of communication 3.1. Co-Located Audience Channel - When speaking to an audience in person, a speaker uses both verbal and nonverbal methods to communicate the message. - The sounds that a speaker makes are interpreted as words. The sounds are transmitted through an audio (or auditory) channel as sound waves and are received by the listeners in the audience. - Speakers also use their hands to make gestures, change their facial expressions, and project images or words on a screen. These cues are received by the listeners through the visual part of the channel: their sense of sight. 3.2 Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) Channel • Speakers also use communication channels that are mediated, meaning there is something between the speaker and the receivers. • In some cases, the auditory and visual signal is mediated by a computer to convert what the speaker says and does into a digital signal that is transmitted to remote audiences. 4. AUDIENCE/LISTENER/RECEIVER • • • • These are the persons who receive the communicated message. “Who is my audience ? ” is the first question you should ask yourself before you begin crafting your speech. Your audience may share commonalities and characteristics known as demographics. You should never stereotype or generalize your audience by their demographics, but you can use them to inform the language, context, and delivery of your speech. An effective speaker is an audience-centered one. Elements to be considered about your audience • Age • Culture/Race • Gender • Occupation/Education • Values and Morals 5. FEEDBACK - Your audience, the receiver, may send you a message in response to your message in the form of feedback. - Feedback happens in real time as your audience provides you with visual and verbal cues in response to your speech. Verbal and visual cues refer to those sounds and reactions you may hear and see made by your audience. 6. INTERFERENCE the barrier or block that prevents effective communication to take place. a. psychological barriers- hampering thoughts b. Physical barriers - stimulus like weather, climate health and ignorance c. Linguistic barriers - different culture and language d. Mechanical barriers - communication issues like connectivity and electric power outage. 7. SITUATION/CONTEXT Situational context and environmental context Situational context refers to the reason why you’re speaking. Think of situational context as the event itself. Environmental context refers to the physical space and time in which you speak. Think of environmental context as the time and venue of the event. The key to understanding your context is to cultivate a habit of situational awareness. Types of Communication 1. Intrapersonal communication - operates within the communicator himself. Example what to wear for the day, what activities to engage, reflecting different situations, talking to oneself. 2 .Interpersonal communication - occurs between two or more people Examples - private conversations with friends, interview with prospective employer, simple group meetings. Principles of Effective Communication 1. Courtesy - builds goodwill. It involves being polite in terms of approach and manner of addressing an individual. 2. Clarity - makes speech understandable. Unclear language is absolutely forbidden. Jargons, cliché, expressions euphemisms, and doublespeak languages must be avoided. 3. Conciseness - simplicity and directness help you to be concise. Avoid using lengthy expressions and words that may confuse the recipient. Brief but substantial. 4. Completeness - each message must have a clear and logical conclusions 5. Correctness - glaring mistakes in grammar obscure the meaning of a sentence. Misuse of language can damage your credibility. 6. Concreteness - reduces misunderstanding. It must be supported by facts such as research data, statistics or figures. To achieve concreteness, abstract words must be avoided. 7. Creativity - means having the ability to craft interesting messages in terms of sentence structure and word choice 8. Consideration - sender must consider the receiver's profession, level of education, race, ethnicity, hobbies, interests, passion, advocacies, and age when delivering or drafting a message. 9. Cultural sensitivity - emphasis must be given to empower diverse cultures, lifestyles and races as well as the pursuit for gender equality and cultural sensitivity 10. Captivating - sender must strive to make a message interesting to attract better responses and attention from the receivers. Ethical Standards Used in Communication Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. It seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. Ethical Rules to Consider in Communication 1. Respect the audience/receiver of information 2. Consideration in the result of communication 3. Truth of the information must be valued at all times 4. Only correct information must be obtained and disseminated 5. No falsification or bending of the true information UNIT 3: COMMUNICATING IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS UNIT 3: COMMUNICATING IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS • Communication is defined as the sharing of information, ideas, and messages between two or more people. • For communication to be effective, both parties must have a mutual knowledge of what is being delivered. • Communication is culture-bound. • Communication and culture are interdependent concepts. • Communicating in a culturally appropriate way would require finding ways to impart and receive messages with respect to the cultural differences between individuals involved in the communication process. What is Culture? • “colere” - to build on, to cultivate, to foster • “cultura” – related to cult • Culture is often defined as the learned patterns and attitudes shared by a group of people (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). • According to Geert Hofstede (1984), a noted social psychologist, culture is "the programming of the mind." Characteristics of Culture • It is learned. • It is unique. • It is shared. • It is symbolic. • It is dynamic. • It is transmitted. • It is heavy. Parapak (1995) describes our world as a World of Diversity. Communicating in multicultural settings refers to communication climate of different countries when using their mother tongue and their language as lingua franca. Cultural Awareness is knowing that there are multiple different cultures – based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, and other factors- that have different attitudes and outlooks. Cultural Sensitivity involves accepting those differences without insisting your own culture is better , or that everyone should do it your way (Sherman, 2018) Intercultural Communication • refers to the communication between people from two different cultures. • Includes understanding that no two individuals are alike and that every person comes from a background that may be different from one another. • Involves High – Context Culture and Low – Context Culture High – Context Culture and Low – Context Culture • This concept refers to the values that cultures place upon direct and indirect communication (Neese, 2016). • It tells how implicit or explicit verbal and nonverbal communications are. High – Context Culture Low – Context Culture People have a high regard towards relationship. Independence and individualism are emphasized. Communication is indirect, implicit, and subtle. Communication is concise, straightforward, and explicit Nonverbal cues such as tone of voice, eye movements, gestures and facial expressions carry a great deal of meaning. Requires attention to the literal meanings of words than to the context surrounding them. True intent of the message is not communicated verbally and is With emphasis on sending and receiving accurate messages, often left to the interpretation of the individual nothing is left to interpretation & actual intent is conveyed in words. Individuals who value high context communication find low context style of communication as extremely detailed, distrustful and a waste of time due to repetition of message. Individuals who value low context communication find high context communicator as lazy, undisciplined, secretive, lacking transparency, unable to communicate effectively or those who waste a lot of time in trying to build relationships as opposed to getting the work done Asian, African, Arab, central European and Latin American Western cultures with European roots, such as the United States and Australia How cultural difference shapes communication According to Carol Kinsey Goman (2011), people in Japan, a high-context culture, would rather communicate face-to-face than over electronic devices, which are often preferred by people in highly industrialized countries such as the US, UK, Germany, etc., which are considered low-context cultures. This is because the Japanese place more value on the relationships they create and establish through communication. Potential Areas for Misinterpretation in Intercultural Communication 1. Opening and closing conversations 2. Taking turns during conversations 3. Interrupting 4. Using silence 5. Using appropriate topics of conversation 6. Using humor 7. Knowing how much to say 8. Sequencing elements during a conversation What is gender sensitivity? refers to the aim of understanding and taking account of the societal and cultural factors involved in gender-based exclusion and discrimination in the most diverse spheres of public and private life. What is gender-sensitive language? is the realization of gender equality in written and spoken language. It is attained when women and men and those who do not conform to the binary gender system are made visible and addressed in language as persons of equal value, dignity, integrity, and respect. Gender-neutral words 1. Ancestors, forebears (instead of forefathers) 2. Artificial, manufactured (instead of man-made) 3. Average/ordinary person (instead of common man) 4. Chair, chairperson, coordinator (instead of chairman) 5. Courteous (instead of ladylike) 6. First-year student (instead of freshman) 7. Flight attendant (instead of stewardess) 8. Human resources (instead of manpower) 9. legislator, representative (instead of congressman) 10. Mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker (instead of mailman, postman) 11. people, human beings (instead of mankind) 12. person, individual (instead of man) 13. Police officer (instead of policeman) 14. Solidarity (instead of brotherhood) 15. To operate, to cover, to staff (instead of to man) Lesson 2 Unit 1 – Cultural and Global Issues on Communication and its Impact According to Mitchell Roshong, 2019, leaders need to adapt their communication styles to be more dynamic in the digital age. The sharing of information, news or other reporting data is now in real time and global. Social media platforms improve concise external communication by following character limits that highlight key points with hashtags or key people with @ symbol. source - https://www.sfmagazine.com Intercultural communication refers to interaction with people from diverse cultures (Jandt, 1998) Forms of intercultural communication 1. Interracial communication - communicating with people from different races 2. International communication - communicating between representatives from different nations 3. Intra-cultural communication - interacting with members of the same racial or ethnic group or co-culture. Issues on intercultural communication Linguistic competence is an important part of intercultural communication. It requires understanding and perception of different cultures. Effective intercultural communication is a vital skill, along with the language knowledge, for the multinational countries, companies and people. To avoid misunderstanding people need to to acquire language competence and practical skills, to study the culture and traditions of the country where they plan to live or work. (Source - https://www.researchgate.net) Since each culture has its distinct aspects, intercultural communication can be the cause of conflict and disorder. Three main issues which are the root of the problem of intercultural miscommunication 1. Language barrier - a difficulty for people communicating because they speak a different language. 2. Cultural diversity - a society made up of many different groups with different interests, skills, talents and needs. It also means that some members can have differing religious beliefs and sexual orientations. 3. Ethnocentrism - is the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture, a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own. Some of the most talked about issues include gender equality, political views, associated with specific cultures, observance of religious holidays and ethnic stereotyping. (Source - https://www.bartleby.com Cultural Diversity in the Workplace Diversity benefits the workplace because people from various backgrounds have different perspectives. Their contribution to the business allows the group to look at problems from all different angles, the results are often innovative. If employees and management do not encourage cultural diversity, teams will be weak. When it works, diversity increases workplace productivity and profits. (Source https://www.thebalance.com) How to Improve Intercultural Communication Competence 1. Recognize the validity and differences of communication styles among people 2. Learn to eliminate personal biases and prejudices 3. Strive to acquire communication skills necessary in a multicultural world Unit 2 – The Impact of Communication on Society and the World Communication Portal A communication portal is a service that allows individuals, businesses, schools and government agencies to share information from diverse sources using unified communications (UC) media. The most common modes are email, texting, voice-over IP (VoIP) and conventional telephone services. Features of a communication portal can include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. call answering and disconnect call waiting and call holding caller identification capability for voice-enabled e-mail contact whitelisting and blacklisting ability to dial any number in a document or message dynamic contact availability and status displays automatically updated address book messaging shortcuts for favored contacts ability to set up and modify conference calls detailed messaging and contact histories compatibility with all popular Web browsers and among multiple service providers (Source - https://www.techtarget.com) Advantages/Disadvantages of Using Social Media Platforms Advantages 1. Can reach a large audience 2. Direct connection with the audience 3. Create organic content 4. Access to paid advertising services 5. Can build brand 6. Drive traffic to your website 7. Evaluate your performance Disadvantages – 1. Promote negative experiences such as inadequacy about your life or appearance 2. Negative effect on teens like distracting them, disrupting 3. 4. 5. 6. their sleep, exposing them to bullying Rumor spreading Unrealistic views of other people's lives and peer pressure Link to unhealthy dispositions in life, feelings of envy, and less satisfaction with life Can lead to ADHD symptoms, depression, anxiety and sleep deprivation (Source - https://www.unicef.org) Impact of Fake news on Social Media Fake news is quickly becoming an epidemic and has been playing a vital role in campaign, politics, influencing votes and dominating the media to a greater extent in our daily lives. it has an illusory effect ; the fact that if a lie is repeated enough times, you will begin to believe it is true. In addition, the effect that fake news has on people's views of news media with so much false information, consumers are skeptical and it erodes the trust they should have in the media. How do we combat fake news? 1. Consider the journalist or media - unless it is from a credible news source, be wear y that the information could be fake. 2. Research - check the citations and dates of research to ensure its from a reputable source and not outdated. It could have been true at some point, but if it is more than a few years old, the information could no longer be fact. 3. Find the source – do not just Google it to see if the information is on other sites. Find sites like Snopes which is excellent at setting the record straight. Note: Be vigilant to put a stop to its recirculation. If you see a friend sharing inaccuraciesask them to remove their post. Add comments to articles stating the false claims, adding a link to the accurate information. We cannot stop fake news, but we can at least do our part to keep it from being reposted or repeated. (Source - https://www.wearefalls.com UNIT 3: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS of Spoken and Written Language LANGUAGE • Language can be mainly divided into two main aspects: spoken language and written language. • A spoken language is a language produced by articulate sounds, as opposed to a written language. An oral language or vocal language is a language produced with the vocal tract, as opposed to a sign language, which is produced with the hands and face. • A written language is the representation of a spoken or gestural language by means of a writing system. • Written language is a way of recording language using any of various instruments and material, such as pen and paper, chisel and stone, or computers • Spoken language involves speaking and listening skills. • Written language involves reading and writing skills. Spoken language vs. written language Spoken language Spoken language more casual and informal. Written language Written language more formal and should follow the rules of the English language. Spoken language is essentially dialogic in nature. Written language is essentially monologic in nature. Spoken language is not planned nor structured. Written language can be planned and can be structured. Spoken language is older than written language. Written language is not as old as spoken language. Spoken language is mostly used by two people who are in the same place. Written language promotes communication across space and time. Spoken language uses tone, pitch, and volume. Written language uses layouts, punctuations, heading etc. Spoken language is temporary since there are no records. Written language is permanent since there are records. VARIETIES OF LANGUAGE 1. Pidgin • Is a new language which develops in situations where speakers of different languages need to communicate but do not share a common language. • Arises quickly for functional communication (e.g trading, labour, jobs) • A lexifier is a particular language where the vocabulary of the pidgin comes from. 2. Creole • Is a pidgin that becomes the first language of the children and the mother tongue of a community. Examples: • Patwa (Jamaican Creole) • Haitian Creole • Chavacano 3. Regional Dialect • Is not a distinct language but a variety of a language spoken in a particular area of a country. • A regional dialect, also known as a regiolect or topolect, is a distinct form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area. If the form of speech transmitted from a parent to a child is a distinct regional dialect, that dialect is said to be the child's vernacular. 4. Minority Dialect • Is a variety used as a marker of identity usually alongside a standard variety, by the members of a particular minority ethnic. Examples: • African American Vernacular English in the USA • London Jamaican in Britain • Aboriginal English in Australia 5. Indigenized Varieties • Are spoken mainly as second languages in ex-colonies with multilingual population. Example: • Singlish (spoken in Singapore) Register • According to Nordquist (2018), a register is: - Defined as the way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances. - Determined by factors as social occasion, context, purpose and audience 1. Frozen - It refers to historic language or communication that is intended to remain unchanged. - The Holy Bible, 1987 Constitution 2. Formal - Is used in professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected to be respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained. - Slang is never used, and contractions are rare. - Examples: a business presentation, a thesis defense 3. Consultative - Is used in conversation when they are speaking with someone who has specialized in knowledge or who is offering advice. - Tone is respectful (use of courtesy titles) but mire casual if the relationship is longstanding or friendly. - An annual PE 4. Casual - Is used when they are with friends, close acquaintances and co-workers and family. - A birthday party, a backyard BBQ scene 5. Intimate - Is reserved for special occasions, usually between only two people and often in private. - An inside joke between two college friends, or a word whispered in a lover’s ear. 1. Formal Language Register - Is more appropriate for professional writing and letters to a boss or a stranger. Examples Business letters letters of complaint some essays Reports official speeches Rules in formal writing: 1. Do not use contractions 2. Spell out numbers less than one hundred prof. e-mails 3. Write in third person point-of-view 4. Avoid using too much passive verbs 5. Avoid using slang, idioms, figurative languages 6. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms 7. Use good transitional signals 8. Always write in complete sentences. 9. Write longer and more complex sentences. 2. Informal Language Register - Is conversational and appropriate when writing to friends and people you know very well. Examples Phone texts friendly letters diaries journals short notes personal e-mails 3. Neutral Language Register - Is not necessarily formal or informal. - Is used to deliver facts Examples Reviews articles Technical writing Lesson 3 UNIT 1 Evaluating Texts That Use Words and Images TEXT • is any form of written, spoken, or media work conveying meaning to an audience. • Text may use words, graphics, sounds and images in presenting information • It may also be in oral, print, visual or electronic forms GEOSemiotics • is the study of the social meaning of the material placement of signs and discourses and of our actions in the material world. (Mooney & Evans, 2015) PRINCIPLES OF GEOSemiotics • Indexicality – meaning was given to a sign by a place the sign was put in. • Dialogicality – signs have double meaning, and they correspond with each other • Selection – one does not see all signs MEDIA MESSAGES • Contain information and ideas that are shared to a large audience of people. • If these are not scrutinized properly, they may become agents of information pollution. • By evaluating these texts and messages, we ensure that the ideas presented are accurate, relevant and appropriate. Information pollution MISINFORMATION - False information No harm is intended. DISINFORMATION - False information Harm is intended. MALINFORMATION - Genuine information Harm is intended It includes leaks, harassments, hate speeches, etc. MEDIA LITERACY • is the ability to identify different types of media and the messages they are sending. • Media literacy encompasses the practices that allow access critically evaluate, and create or manipulate media • It is the ability to analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication. In evaluating "text“, you need to consider the following: 1. Message 2. Purpose of the message 3. How is the message conveyed 4. Target audience of the message 5. Effect of the message being conveyed HOW TO EVALUATE A TEXT All media messages are “constructed.” 1. What is the message of the text? 2. How effectively does it represent reality? 3. How is the message constructed? Media have embedded values and point of view. 1. What lifestyles, point of views or values are represented in the text? 2. Who or what is missing? Each person interprets messages differently. 1. What message do you perceive from the text? 2. How might others understand it differently? Why? Media have commercial, ideological or political interest. 1. What is the purpose of the text? 2. What is the target audience of the text? 3. Who might be disadvantaged? 4. Who created the text? people to Media messages are constructed using a creative language having its own rules. 1. What techniques are used and why? 2. How effective are the techniques in supporting the messages or themes of the text? 3. What are other ways of presenting the message? UNIT 2: Communication Aids and Strategies COMMUNICATION AIDS • A communication aid helps an individual to communicate more effectively with people around them. • Communication aids are also referred to as AAC devices. AAC refers to Augmentative and Alternative Communication. • A huge range of techniques which support or replace spoken communication. These include gesture, signing, symbols, word boards, communication boards and books TWO MAIN TYPES OF AAC SYSTEM UNAIDED COMMUNICATION - does not use additional equipment. Body language, gesture, vocalization, signing are typically used. AIDED COMMUNICATION - uses equipment, but this ranges from lowtech to high-tech methods, with pictures and symbols often used COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES • Communication is the exchange of information between a sender and a receiver. • Communication strategies are the blueprints for how this information will be exchanged. TYPES OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES 1. Verbal 2. Non-Verbal 3. Visual USING TRADITIONAL MEDIA • Overhead Transparencies - Transparencies are clear acetate pages displayed by an overhead projector during a speech. • Flip Chart- a large pad paper that rest on an easel allowing the speaker to record. • White board/chalk board- these materials can also help you achieve the same outcome. • Document Camera - is a projector device. • Video - showing a video clip can elicit an emotional response from the audience. • Handouts - are sheet of paper containing relevant information that some speakers use in conjunction with other presentation media. • Sound recordings - sounds, like visual images can stimulate mental images triggering the imagination and setting mood.
