Effective comms with lesson 2 and 8

Communicative Situations

The exchanges of ideas or information

Five Basic Communicative Situations

Conversation, discussion, negotiation, argument, and dialogue

Conversation

Casual small talk (Informal)

Discussion

Group brainstorming (Formal)

Negotiation

Aimed to attain an agreement (Formal)

Argument

Aimed to attain a conclusion (Formal)

Dialogue

Scripted or rehearsed performance (Formal)

Politeness Markers

Words and phrases that show respect and help create positive interactions

Honorifics

Politeness markers used to show respect, such as "Sir," "Ma'am," or "Dr. / Professor"

Softeners

Politeness markers used instead of direct commands, such as "Could you please hand me that?"

Hedges

Words used to soften statements, like "perhaps," "maybe," or "I think"

Gratitude and Apology

Phrases showing appreciation or regret, such as "Thank you," "I appreciate it," or "I'm sorry to bother you"

Practice Tips for Politeness

Start small (add "please" and "thank you"), listen first, pause before responding to choose kind words, and be consistent to make politeness a habit in all interactions

Communicative Strategies

Practical verbal and non-verbal approaches used to navigate communication situations effectively

Topic Nomination

Introducing a new subject (e.g., "Let's talk about…" or "I'd like to discuss…")

Topic Restriction

Narrowing the focus of a conversation (e.g., "Let's focus on…" or "Specifically, I mean…")

Turn-Taking

Knowing when to speak (e.g., "If I may add…" or "May I share my thoughts?")

Topic Shifting

Changing the subject politely (e.g., "Speaking of that…", "By the way…", or "That reminds me…")

Repair

Correcting or clarifying a statement (e.g., "Sorry, I meant…", "Let me rephrase that,", or "What I'm trying to say is…")

Termination

Ending a conversation gracefully (e.g., "It was nice talking!", "I should let you go,", or "Let's wrap up here.")

Topic Control

Strategy that helps keep the discussion focused, organized, and aligned with its purpose (e.g., "Can we focus on the main issue first?")

Surface Level

The actual words we speak and write—accounts for only 10% of the message

Below Surface

Cultural context, attitudes, values, and assumptions that shape true understanding

Underlying Attitude

A speaker's or writer's deeply held, usually revealed through connotative language and tone; reflects an emotional stance

Emotional Stance

Revealed through tone, visuals, and gestures

Assumptions

Unverified beliefs treated as universal truths; clues include phrases like "Everyone knows…", "Of course…", or "These are often stereotypes that shape our understanding"

Multimodal Communication

Communication using multiple modes: Linguistic (words), Visual (images), Aural (sounds), Gestural (body language), and Spatial (arrangement)

Perspective

The way of seeing the world shaped by culture and experience (Ask yourself: Whose voice is heard? Who is missing?)

Cultural Lens

Norms, behavior, and social dynamics

High-Context Communication

Implied meaning is key; deeper meaning relies heavily on context, relationships, and non-verbal clues

Low-Context Communication

Direct and explicit communication; meaning is found directly in the words themselves

Speech Analysis Rhetorical Triangle

A framework consisting of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

Ethos

Credibility and trust

Pathos

Emotional appeal and connection

Logos

Logic and reasoning

3 Levels of Meaning

Literal (surface level), Symbolic (deeper culture of emotional assumptions), and Underlying (hidden attitudes, values, and assumptions)