March 8-14 (question 3)

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed this week, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

As I read through chapter 5 I came across the topic of body movement and gesture. I believe this is one of the most universal nonverbal codes that are bodies perform. Whether we lean in towards someone or move away, our body movements can display many types of emotions. Posture can signal interest or disinterest, willingness to get involved or desire to keep one’s distance, (115). We can all tell a lot about us just by our posture and body movements. The study of body movements and the example the book gave about how inmates analyzed regular people walking down the streets and classifying them as “muggable” or “not muggable” was also very interesting. I just think it’s fascinating how much our body movements and gestures lets others know so much about ourselves. Sometimes it can work against us, like the example of the prison inmates, and sometimes it can work for us when trying to give a nonverbal message to a friend across the room.

March 8-14 (question 2)

2). Although nonverbal messages are more universal than verbal messages, nonverbal do not always carry the same meanings in other cultures. Can you give examples of some of the nonverbal displays that take on different meanings in other countries? If you have moved around within this country, have you ever encountered regional differences in nonverbal meaning?

There are many nonverbal displays that take on different meanings in other countries. For example, “thumbs up” in the United States means “awesome” or “good job”. In other countries, like the middle east, might interpret a “thumbs up” gesture as obscene or disrespectful. Another example of a nonverbal display seen different in another country is the “v” sign or the “peace” gesture. I took an Intercultural communication class before and learned that this nonverbal gesture can be interpreted in other countries like South Africa as an insult. I haven’t moved much but I have heard that some nonverbal signs ca be misinterpreted as gang signs. There are different fraternities, sororities, and many other organizations that proudly display the organization or club with certain hand gestures. I also know that depending from what city your from, there are certain hand gestures that people show that lets everyone know where they are from. Some of it can be gang related and other gestures are just representing the city their from. There are tons of nonverbal gestures that one can display that can insult another when traveling to a different city or country. It is important to be mindful and be careful to not insult others. 

March 8-14 (question 1)

1). Because nonverbal messages can be ambiguous, they are open to misinterpretation. Have you ever been wrong about the meaning of someones nonverbal message? Describe what happened. How can people increase the accuracy with which they interpret nonverbal message?

Absolutely! I’ve been wrong with analyzing someone’s nonverbal communication, especially when I first met my girlfriend. It was difficult to analyze whether she liked me at the time because of her nonverbal communication. Since we had class together, I would sometimes sit next to her and try to spark a conversation with her. One day, she walked into class late. There were three seats open and one next to me. She scanned the area and picked a seat that was closest to the entrance door. As she scanned the room for the seat, she also looked confused and squinched both eyes while choosing her seat. By then, I thought to myself that she wasn’t interested in me. A couple of weeks passed by and I run into her outside of class. From then I learned that she wears prescription glasses and asked why I hadn’t sat next to her in class. I learned that I should not assume that every nonverbal communication act is intentional and that I should check for other interpretations to increase accuracy. 

March 1-7 ( question 2 )

2). Do you agree that men and women use language differently? In what areas?

I agree that many men and women use language differently. From the day we’re born gender differences and expectations make us communicate differently. Thats not to say that all men and women use language differently then one another because some people from the same sex can use the same. From the time men begin to grow up, they have been already encouraged to interact in large, hierarchically structured groups where teasing often accompany boys play, (91). These experiences, in my opinion, influence how men use language with one another in many social situations. Men learn to use language to display masculinity. This also is true for women to. Women also learn to display stereotypical gender identities such as being feminine. When in a stressful situation, women recognize that stressing is connected with being feminine. This can influence the way women use language differently then men.  

1) Thinking through communication, page 91

March 1-7 (question 1)

1). Is it possible to perceive others without, in some way, judging or categorizing them? If so, how? If not, how can we make the judgments we do make, more fair?

Absolutely! It is possible to perceive others without judging them or categorizing them. Do most people categorize and judge others without even knowing the other person? People do this all the time. I must say that it is difficult for the average person to not judge someone they know little about. Some can argue that automatic processing can be both beneficial to an individual but also do harm. If a woman is walking down a residential street in the middle of the night, then sees and individual approaching her wearing an all black hooded sweater, with a baseball cap, and black leather gloves on. Most women would admit they would be frightened and cross the street to avoid walking next to the mysterious individual on the sidewalk. Mindless processing makes people who have gone through a similar situation, act in defense; even though the mysterious man had no intentions of doing harm. It is possible to not judge others simply by becoming more mindful. “ When we act mindfully, we actively think about the world, creating new understandings rather then relying on old, (54).”  

March 1-7 (question 3) 

Pick one concept from the assigned readings, other than what has already been discussed this week, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it. 

One concept I found interesting is the theory of Linguistic relativity.  The book, Thinking Through Communication, states that people from different language communities perceive the world differently. Some concepts and ideas that are easily expressed in one language can be very difficult to translate into another, (75). An example between language and thought is how the Spanish language has three ways of saying “you”.   English speakers who only are familiar with one language don’t think about relationships in the same way Spanish speakers do. When I’m speaking to an older family member, I address them by stating the polite “you” as apposed to when I’m speaking to a close friend. Linguistic relativity shows me how I, being that I speak Spanish, perceive the world a little different then English speakers. The concept of Linguistic relativity was one of my favorite concepts from chapter 4.