Study Notes on Human Communication

Verbal communication is defined as an agreed-upon and rule-governed system of symbols used to share meaning.
Encompasses both spoken and written forms.

Verbal communication is about language, which can be:
- Oral: Spoken language including laughing, crying, coughing, etc.
- Non-oral: Written language and sign language.

Arbitrary: Symbols (words) bear no inherent relationship to what they represent. Example: The word “cat” is agreed upon by speakers.
Ambiguous: Symbols can have multiple meanings based on context. Example: "Apple" could refer to the fruit or a tech company.
Abstract: Symbols are not physical objects. Example: The term “the public” refers to a general group rather than specific individuals.

Communication is structured by rules:
- Phonological Rules: How sounds are combined and pronounced (e.g., the sound of the word "cat").
- Syntactic Rules: The order and structure of words in sentences.
- Semantic Rules: The meaning of words and phrases.
- Pragmatic Rules: The context in which communication occurs, influencing tone and choice of words.

Defining Reality: Through labels and descriptions. Example: Labeling oneself as a “student” or “advocate.”
Organizing Ideas: Creating categories for experiences. Example: Classifying acquaintances as friends, family, colleagues, etc.
Facilitating Thought: Language is a tool for reasoning, memory, and critical thinking.
Shaping Attitudes: Language influences how we perceive the world (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis).

Formality: Spoken communication is generally more informal than written communication.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous:
- Synchronous: Real-time communication (e.g., conversations).
- Asynchronous: Delayed communication (e.g., emails, letters).
Archiving: Written communication is recorded and can be archived, while spoken exchanges tend to be ephemeral.
Privacy: Perceptions of privacy vary; misunderstandings can arise if spoken words are assumed to be private but are recorded (e.g., email implications).

Premise: Language influences thought and worldview. Different languages foster different worldviews.
Contemporary Discussions: Scholars debate the extent to which language drives thought versus thought shape language (e.g., Vicente and Martinez-Manrique discussions).

Verbal communication, encompassing both speech and writing, is a rule-governed system of symbols.
Symbols used in communication are arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract, requiring adherence to rules (phonological, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic).
Advances in technology increasingly blur the distinctions between spoken and written communication.

How do you define yourself using verbal communication?
What impact does technology have on verbal communication?
How does popular culture influence verbal interactions?
Consider your formality in communications via emails and texts.
What contexts require formal speech, and why?
Discuss how verbal communication influences thoughts and vice versa.
Share an example of misinterpretation due to lack of vocal tone in written communication.
Explore how your language usage varies between different audiences (friends, family, professors).

Diverse sources discussing the birth of a language, communication theories, and scholarly articles on verbal communication phenomena.