Linguistics of communication - Essay Example

Linguistics The aspect of communication entails two aspects, the verbal and non-verbal. The verbal component of communication involves the use of vocal or sound. Non-verbal aspect of communication entails the use of gaze and facial expressions in communication. A combination of the verbal and non-verbal communication skills makes communication more effective. The partners involved in communication will understand one another better when there is a combination and proper use of both verbal and non-verbal skills.

Gestures and facial expressions hereby play a key role to enhance understanding in any communication. It is hereby important to note the use of gestures in any conversation. Gestures carry an important part in a conversation. Various parts will require gestures to be meaningful. For instance, gestures are used to function as a characterizing expression. A good example is the use of gestures in the content of the deictic expression to show extend, amount or how much. Taking for example ,a kid asking her mother, “Mom, do you love me?

” Obviously, her mother will say yes. Need for use of gestures will come in when the kid asks her mother how much she loves her. The mother will use gestures to show how much she loves the kid. Probably, she will extend the space between her hands when expressing, “I love you [this] much. However, the situation could have been misunderstood if her mother had used another expression. This is because the kid probably is not exposed to the world of sizes and extends, and may not understand the message her mother tries to put across unless she uses the gestures.

The importance of non-verbal behaviors – gestures makes it essential to incorporate such as part of SLA and language teaching. Deploying gestures in learning languages will be essential to solve expression difficulties to those who have problems with verbal expression. This is also a way of solving the first language influence. Understanding gestures will facilitate the effective correlation between gestures and language, hence creating a comprehensive communication forum that can even be applied to effect the learning process.

As suggested by Kendon (1986), there can be an SLA of non-verbal behaviors taught in a class forum. One of the important aspects that should be put in consideration during the incorporation of gestures in learning is their varied nature. In order to improve the learning and understanding of these verbal expressions, it will be important to take a keen study of the aspect of society and community. This will help in understanding how the use of gestures differs from one individual to another.

Just like the spoken L2 production, the SLA of non-verbal behaviors can be hereby come up with a developed system in its own right with its own systematic ties and regularities, which will make the learning of gestures in classroom a bit understandable and meaningful. In conclusion, I concur with Kendon that gestures are important components of speech. Communication cannot be effective without the use of gestures hence they should be incorporated as part of learning. Reference Kendon, A. (1986).

Some reasons for studying gesture. Semiotica 62: 328