Different Ways of Communicating

• Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures? If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?

Yes, I find that whenever I am in the presence of members of the dominant culture ( wealthy. powerful and influential people) I strive to ensure that my speech is perfectly structured. I do this because I think that they are perfect and I do not want to appear lesser than them in anyway.I also find that when I communicate with my peers and younger groups of people I am my speech is more casual, because I have found that younger people respond better to casual rather than formal speech especially in informal settings. I have come to realise that we are great actors in life and so we adjust to suit the occasion and the circumstance.The way we communicate is also affected by the way we perceive things to be. 

Since I have started this course, I have learned that the different language we use in different relationships is often affected by unique communication climates. O'Hair and Wiemann (2012) talk about language reflecting context. In other words we use language that suits the people we are around, where we are, our cultural context and our experiences with language. We find the most suitable language to meet the demands of a given relationship, situation, or cultural environment. 

Non-Verbal Communication




The show I chose to watch is a comedy series, My wife and kids.

With the sound off
  
 What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

I assumed that the characters- The children and their father are very affectionate towards each other. Every time they are about to leave or enter the room, they hug and kiss their dad. I also assumed that the father was a romantic since he kept ordering his wife bouquets upon bouquets of flowers and she smiled and hug him every time one was delivered.

 What are they feeling and expressing based on the non-verbal behavior you are observing?

Everyone of the characters seemed happy to be in the company of each other. They were very affectionate towards each other.

With the sound turned on.

What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

I assumed that the characters were big on expressing affection. However, I realized that the father was bribing the children with money to have them express affection towards him every time they left the room and his wife was not very pleased with all the flowers and extra attention her husband was paying her.

Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

Yes I believe that my assumptions would have been more correct if I was familiar with the characters. I have found that it becomes easier to read the non-verbal communication of others when they are very familiar to me.

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                     Competent Communication

Mrs McBean, my professor on the Bachelor degree program is the most competent communicator I have met. She is eloquent, never raises her tone even when she is being stern, listens attentively without interrupting whenever a matter is brought to her and what I admired most is her ability to always present a calm image and communicate effectively even when things were not what they should be and also her honesty. She keeps her communication positive no matter what it is. She makes her students feel worthy because she is fair. I always refer to her as my model teacher. 
I have always admired her ability to communicate so effectively and hope to achieve that level some day.