1. Elements of Communication
Chapter 2 – pages 24-49

2. Key Terms Channel Connotative meaning Context Denotative meaning
Feedback
Noise
Nonverbal messages
Perception
Slang
Verbal messages

3. DON’T WORRY THIS IS ONLY 31 SLIDES AND WILL ONLY TAKE MULTIPLE DAYS! 
PS: Do you like how I used the word “only” to make it seem like less work?
PPS: Language is a powerful tool.

4. Essential Elements of Communication
Verbal messages
Nonverbal messages
Perception
Channel
Feedback
Context

5. Verbal messages Messages that use words
Spoken or written
Includes choice of words and order of words
“Can you tell me how to get to the movie theater?”
“The AMC, where do I find it?”

6. Verbal Messages (cont)
To communicate effectively, a person must select the most precise words to get his or her ideas across.

7. Who’s on first?
Listen to the following Abbot and Costello comedy sketch, and see if you can identify the names of the baseball players for the following positions-
1st Base
Left Field
Catcher
2nd Base
Center field
Shortstop
3rd base
Pitcher

8. Verbal Messages (cont)
When choosing which words to use, a speaker must consider the denotative meaning and connotative meaning.
Denotative = dictionary definition
Connotative = emotional response to words (usually positive or negative)
EXAMPLES?

9. Connotative Meanings
Some connotative meanings are shared by a culture or society
Consider this: Capitalism and democracy from American perspective
Consider this: Capitalism and democracy from _______ perspective

10. Connotative Meanings (cont)
Some connotative meanings vary by individuals
How do the connotative meanings of the word rose vary in these examples?
When Marissa was young, her father worked nights and rarely could make it to her dance recitals. When he could attend, he always bought her a bouquet of roses and took her to dinner to celebrate. These are some of her favorite childhood memories of her father.

11. Connotative Meanings (cont)
How do the connotative meanings of the word rose vary in these examples?
When Arianna was 8, she was in the hospital because of a head concussion. The doctors gave her many shots, and put her in many terrifying machines during the three days she was there. Many of her family members sent her roses and get-well cards. Now, when she sees a rose, she thinks about the shots and the machines in the hospital.

12. Language Evolves Language changes over time
Wet
Salt
Other examples?
Slang is informal language unique to a group
Slang changes frequently
Most difficult for non-members to understand

13. Language Evolves (cont)
New speakers bring elements of old language and add to the new
(Semi-) common words added to American English-also called loanwords
Zombie (African)
Tsunami (Japanese)
Attorney (French)
Literature (French)
Ghetto (Italian)
Information from

14. Nonverbal messages Messages without words
How do you create messages without words?
Appearance
Facial expressions
Eye contact, posture
Gestures
Voice

15. Non-verbal activity: Pantomime & Charades & Gestures
Act out an activity in front of the class and see what we can convey and interpret with only body language.

16. Individual Perceptions
Perception – process of giving meaning to information you learn through your five senses
2 steps
Something affects your senses
You interpret and explain sensation

17. Tone changes - Individual Perceptions
You hear a friend say, “It’s about time you showed up.”
He sounds like he is growling
You interpret – _________
He smiles as he says it
You interpret – ___________

18. Individual Perceptions
Each person perceives differently – You look “sick” or _______
Person A hears a joke
Person B hears an insult
Three major factors influence perception
Physical differences
Past Experiences
Present situation

19. Perception!
Using only your body language and how you perceive the ball, pass the ball around the room imagining it is:
100 lb weight
Balloon
Hot potato
Puppy
Newborn baby

20. What did this activity teach you about perception?
DAY 3 NOTES – CH 2
What did this activity teach you about perception?
What are the two steps to perception?
What are the three things that influence it?

21. Individual Perceptions
Physical differences
People’s senses differ
Near-sighted/far-sighted
Past experiences
Cultural knowledge, things that you have done
Present situation
How you feel mentally and physically

22. Channels of Communication
Channel – the way that a message is communicated
You say something (sound)
Your facial expressions (sight)
Your smell (smell) {Did you remember your deodorant today? People receive messages from this}
Giving someone a hug (touch)
We rarely use taste to communicate – so don’t go licking strangers!

23. Channels of Communication
People often place greater emphasis on one channel over another
Noise – anything that interferes with a listener’s ability to receive a message

24. Channels of Communication
Examples of noise (Internal vs. External)
Daydreaming
Actual noise from TV, radio, etc
Reading/writing a text while someone is speaking
A headache
Boredom
Uncomfortable environment

25. Activities
Role-play various stereotypical non-verbal messages that you associate with the following people. How does each person walk or stand?
Who do you think this person is trying to be?
Mr. Sanders notes (Pg. 48)

26. Feedback
Feedback = the messages that a listener sends a speaker about how the communication is being perceived
Feedback is verbal and nonverbal
Feedback can be positive or negative

27. Feedback Positive feedback Negative feedback
Tells the speaker that the message is being communicated clearly
Negative feedback
Tells speaker that the message is unclear

28. Feedback
Effective communicators respond and adapt to the feedback they receive
Positive feedback -> explain less, move through material more quickly
Negative feedback -> explain more, slow down
Feedback differs by culture
Some cultures find it rude to make eye contact, for example

29. Feedback Self-Feedback
Being aware of your behavior, and adjusting your actions
Examples: Feel like you’re talking too much

30. Context The setting and people that surround a message
Helps reveal message’s real meaning
Setting – how does the time, location, and occasion affect the message?
Dad has been working late this week, and not getting enough sleep. He comes home really late one night and yells at your younger brother for not tying his shoes, even though your brother doesn’t know how to tie his shoes. The time and the occasion help you to understand that Dad is upset because it’s late and he’s tired, not because he’s really mad at your brother.

31. Context People are part of context
Who you are talking to, and who is around when you are talking, will influence what you say and how you say it.
In what situations do actions speak louder than words?