INTD 205 Business These dimensions of self serve to remind us that we are not fixed—that freedom to change combined with the ability to reflect, anticipate, plan, and predict allows us to improve, learn, and adapt to our surroundings. Communication Language is a code, a collection of symbols, letters, or words with arbitrary meanings that are arranged according to the rules of syntax and are used to communicate. Interpersonal Communication Physical characteristics influence how we perceive and respond to information. Our perceptual set involves our attitudes, beliefs, and values about the world. Your psychological state can also influence what you read and listen to, and why you do so. Your cultural background plays a significant role in what and how you perceive your world. Dimensions of a speaker’s voice: • • • • • • Volume – how loud or soft your voice is Pitch/Inflection – the minor variations within a sentence that can signal the end of a statement or question Rate – how fast or slow each work is delivered Pauses – delay between words and/or phrases to add emphasis Articulation – distinct consonant sounds within sentences Pronunciation/Dialect – how specific words and phrases are sounded out Language can be an obstacle or barrier to communication. • • • Main Takeaways Professor Alyxandra Sherwood • • • Cliché - a once-clever word or phrase that has lost its impact through overuse Jargon – the fine line between using too much profession-specific vocabulary and “talking down” to the audience Slang – the use of existing or newly invented words to take the place of standard or traditional words with the intent of adding an unconventional, nonstandard, humorous, or rebellious effect Sexist and racist language – using gender or racial/ethnic slurs as a discriminating factor Euphemisms – substituting an acceptable word for an offensive, controversial, or unacceptable one that conveys the same or similar meaning Doublespeak – deliberate use of words to disguise, obscure, or change meaning Nonverbal communication gives our thoughts and feelings away before we are even aware of what we are thinking or how we feel. People may see and hear more than you ever anticipated. Your nonverbal communication includes both intentional and unintentional messages, but since it all happens so fast, the unintentional ones can contradict what you know you are supposed to say or how you are supposed to react.