(Human) Communication LI 2013 Nathalie F. Martin

Table of Content Communication: Jakobson’s model Nonverbal communication Languages Objectives: Understand the intricacies of nonverbal communication. Learn a bit of terminology needed to speak of the world’s languages References: A Concise Introduction to Linguistics (Rowe & Levine, 2012) (Chapter 1: The Nature of Communication) Qu’est-ce que la langue? (Leclerc, 1989)

Communication Definition Jakobson’s Communication process

Communication Communication is a behaviour, or the transmission of information, that affects the behaviour of others. When a living organism (or machine) communicates it sends messages about itself or its environment. The message is placed into a code. Humans have a highly elaborate code called language.

Communication What is communication? 1 a the process or act of communicating; b the exchanging or imparting of ideas and information, etc. 2 a piece of information, a letter or a message. 3 social contact. 4 (communications) the various electronic processes by which information is conveyed from one person or place to another, especially by means of wires, cables or radio waves. 5 (communications) the science and activity of transmitting information, etc. http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?title=21st&query=

Communication Who? To whom? What? How? Sender (ex: speaker) Receiver Thoughts, opinions or information How? Verbal (language) or nonverbal communication

Communication Process (Jakobson) Topic of reference Context Information Sender Message Receiver Channel EXAMPLES: Commercial Website Kanzi - computer Air Code Languages: English, French, etc.

Communication The communication process of coding and decoding will depend on a number of factors: Culture Presuppositions Prior information Subjective interpretation Experience

Nonverbal Communication Some Types of nonverbal communication: Kinesics Proxemics

Nonverbal Communication Spoken word: 7% Body posture, gestures, facial expressions: 38% Voice tone and inflection: 55%

Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is the act of imparting or interchanging thoughts, posture, opinions or information without the use of words, using gestures, sign language, facial expressions and body language.

Nonverbal & Cultural Misunderstanding Pointing: finger, eyes, chin or head ... even lips (Shoshone Indians)! Miscommunication: Yes-no: shaking head ... Greece & Turkey (opposite of what we do)

Types of Nonverbal Communication Kinesics : involves muscles or body movement: Hand gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, head nods, etc. Interpretive dance Flirting Touching

Types of Nonverbal Communication Proxemics : how people perceive and use space. Standing patterns (intimate, personal, public) Sitting (side by side, face to face) Privacy Classroom

Lets communicate! Proxemics: Kinesics: Standing: 2 feet away, 1 foot away, 4 feet away … Sitting: side by side, face to face, angled Which would be better for counselling? Friends? Lovers? Crossing legs Kinesics: Eye contact: Avoid eye contact, sustain eye contact Touch shoulder, head, hand

Languages Language, languages & Speech Distinction between: Languages Dialects

Language Language 1 any formalized system of communication, especially one that uses sounds or written symbols which the majority of a particular community will readily understand. 2 the speech and writing of a particular nation or social group. 3 the faculty of speech.

Language, Language and Speech FRENCH ENGLISH “Language” Language/ability The innate ability to learn and produce language/code. Natural, universal and innate ability (amongst humans). “Langue” Language/code A code or system, used by consensus. Ex: different languages (French, English, Spanish, Greek, etc.). Collective (used within a language group, speakers of the language) “Parole” Speech The individual act of speaking (Concrete use of the language/code). Ex: “Please stop the bus!” Individual.

According to you, why could these stats Be debatable? The world’s Languages According to you, why could these stats Be debatable? Geographic distribution of the world’s languages Living Languages Percentage Americas 1,013 15% Africa 2,058 30% Europe 230 3% Asia 2,197 32% The Pacific 1,311 19% TOTAL 6,809 (Source: Ethnologue (1996), www.ethnologue.org)

Languages Across the World Top 10 languages by first language population: 1) Chinese (Mandarin) 873 014 000 (+178 000 000 L2 speakers) 2) Spanish 322 029 000 (+60 000 000 L2 speakers) 3) English 309 352 000 (+200 000 000 L2 speakers) 4) Hindi 180 764 000 5) Portuguese 177 457 000 6) Bengali 171 070 000 7) Russian 145 031 000 (+110 000 000 L2 speakers) 8) Japanese 122 434 000 9) German 95 393 000 (...) 17) French 64 858 000 (+50 000 000 L2 speakers) Contemporary Linguistic Analysis: chapter 8 (O’Grady, 2009; p. 289)

Galaxy of Languages (Calvet, 1999) Hyper-central Language Super-central Language Central Language Peripheral Language

Gravitational Model (Calvet, 1999) Hyper-central Language Super-central Language Central Language Peripheral Language

Dialects Dialect: A regional or social variety of a language characterized by it’s own phonological, syntactic, or lexical properties. We will use the term « Variety » in this class instead of speaking of dialects.

Pidgin Pidgin: A variety that emerges when speakers of a different language are brought together in a stable situation requiring intergroup communication; it has no native speakers and generally is considered to have a reduced grammatical system.

Creole Creole: A variety that arises as the native language of the children of members of a pidgin speech community.

Blood Diamond (Leonardo Dicaprio) Creole or Pidgin? Blood Diamond (Leonardo Dicaprio) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP5ILgKxapI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QTfxGMe_Y