CATA 101 - Fundamentals of Communication

Dr. Lee McGaan  

  Office:  WH 308  (ph. 309-457-2155);  email lee@monmouthcollege.edu
  Home:  418 North Sunny Lane (ph. 309-734-5431, cell 309-333-5447)

Fall 2016 Office Hours:   MWF:  9:30 - 10am, 11am - Noon & 1 -2pm TTh:  2-3pm & by apt.  |  copyright (c) by Lee McGaan, 2006-2016

Description Syllabus Class Notes Assignments +

Verbal Codes

Language is a shared system of symbols that permits “sharing” meaning.

 

Semiotics is the study of “Signs.”

A sign is something that stands for (represents) something else.  A sign is composed of two parts:

 

The SIGNIFIER – the tangible portion of the sign

The SIGNIFIED – the concept or idea represented

 

Types of Signs

1.      Icon - the relation between the signifier and the signified is resemblance

2.      Index - the relation between the signifier and the signified is “point toward,associated with

3.      symbol - the relation between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary

 

Other Semiotic terms: 

 

semantics - The relationship of signs or symbols to their meanings,

syntactics - The relationship and arrangement of signs or symbols to each other (e.g. grammar)

pragmatics - the relationship of signs to their users and their behavior

denotation - the literal or dictionary meaning of a word

connotation - the emotional implications and associations of a word

 

 

Levels of language use (Rules Theory)

1.      Speech Act – an uninterupted message

2.      Episode - a series of speech acts all following the same set of “rules”

3.      Relationship - the sum of all episodes that can occur between two (or more) people

4.      Life Script - an individual’s general approach to relationships and episodes over time

5.      Cultural Pattern - kind, frequency and range of episodes and relationships available to people within a culture.

Key Terms Describing of Verbal Communication

 

colloquialisms

metatalk

cliches

euphemisms

slang

taboo (profanity, etc.)

jargon

regionalisms

"street language"

sexist/racist language

Verbal Communication Skills

Check Perceptions
Paraphrase
Define Terms
Be Concrete
Dating
Indexing

Differentiate between Observation and Inference


Functions of Verbal Communication - "Language shapes perception."

1.      To Influence

a.      alter perception (create boundaries) – Language affects the way we see the world.

b.      connect events and objects (name and transmit patterns) – Language is a kind of knowledge

 

2.      To Relate

a.      create self from others - Note connections to language in the chapter on perception and identity

b.      social coordination (predict others minds and actions)

 

         Language makes us human!!

Last updated 10/20/2010