Contemporary Public Speaking - Assignment Example

Reflective Journal (Communication) Name: Institution: Reflective Journal (Communication) Question 1 Some of the environmental cues to take into consideration in order to perfect communication include physical distance, socio-psychological dimension, and the cultural dimension. Physical distance will reflect the level of closeness between two communicating individuals or groups. Socio psychological dimension refers to the level of friendliness formality or seriousness of a situation, which will affect the nature of communication (Ricci, 2012). Cultural dimension affects certain verbal and non-verbal cues, which may range from one group of people to another. Question 2 The communicator has a responsibility of relaying messages to the audience in the best way possible. As such, they must be able to speak with sincerity and passion, using both verbal and non-verbal communication to appeal to audience. The audience also has a responsibility to decode messages they receive from a speaker. In order to acquire the full range of message being conveyed, they must be able to pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues related to messages. Question 3 Thought influences the use of language through enabling a speaker to not only selects the right words but also to convey it with emotion, which enables people to pay closer attention. A careful thought process will allow a speaker to become more articulate, thus pulling down a speech barrier caused by repetition and misunderstandings (Ricci, 2012). Thinking through concepts and ideas also allows speakers to form their own opinions, which helps them avoid instances of plagiarism. Question 4 Language affects self-concept through enabling people to utilize a wider range of vocabulary to provide descriptions of them, others, places, and objects. Through effective use of language, people are not only able to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others, but are also able to communicate to others confidently, and in a way that is perfectly understood. Question 5 The article selected is from the Guardian titled Omar Mateen described himself as 'Islamic soldier' in 911 calls to police. Ackerman (2016) provides a report on the description of the Orlando nightclub killer as described by the police investigators. The headline serves as a good statement for the article as it provides a brief highlight of what the reader is to expect before they start reading. The main points are provided in a clear and concise manner and the article ends with a strong concluding statement. Throughout the entire article, the reader has remained objective as a means of refraining from being biased. Question 6 There is often little reason for the use of double speak today. The use of double speak is often associated with deception, deliberate ambiguity, and use of concocted jargon unfamiliar to the audience (Iftakhar, 2013). As such, speakers who use double speak in their communication often appear to be manipulative and untrustworthy. For instance, a person may say, “ethnic cleansing” instead of genocide. Question 7 URL: http://www.effective-public-speaking.com/signposting/menu.php The use of signposts is an effective communication tool, which allows the audience to focus more on a particular message being delivered. The signposts are often in the form of words or phrases, which give listeners an opportunity to know what to expect in the moments that follow. For instance, a speaker may introduce an unfamiliar topic and use words such as ‘expand’ or ‘elaborate’ to indicate that they will provide further information concerning the topic. A signpost such as “turn to” shows that the speaker wishes the audience to focus on a topic that is different from the one being discussed. Question 8 URL: http://www.livescience.com/32387-what-is-antimatter.html The article focusing on antimatter has included unfamiliar words and phrases for which the author provides explanations. Some of the unfamiliar words include antiprotons, antigravity, and positrons. The author has used words such as “To better understand…” to indicate a deeper elaboration of the words. Question 9 Self concept has influenced my understanding through enabling me to determine the types of conversation I can be able to carry out efficiently. I have been able to select topics of interest or importance to my personal life, which help me to engage with more efficiently and purposefully with listeners and speakers. Through understanding of my personal characteristics and personality, I have been able to better understand others as well. Question 10 The self fulfilling prophecy is a phenomenon in which an event occurs through an individual’s expectations. The self fulfilling prophecy often holds that either these events are a result of an individual’s behavior consciously or inadvertently, which causes these events to occur. Question 11 The process of perception may either limit or expand our views in certain areas of interest. For instance, through exposure, a person’s views may be more open to ideas and concepts, which may provide opportunities to advance. The process of perception is more of a matter of choice, where people will choose to become more open minded to ideas or develop a sense of intolerance towards views different from their own. Question 12 Recognizing the difference between facts and opinions is an effective form of listening which allows people to receive the right type of information. However, it is often difficult to distinguish the two if they are not carefully framed by a speaker. Relying on reason and common sense will allow a listener to decode inconsistent messages being delivered to them. However, a disadvantage is that the listener may often ignore their intuition through too much dependence on logical thinking. Question 13 Internal thoughts may often cause a form of psychological noise, which hinders a listener from effectively receiving information. I have been able to reduce psychological noise by focusing on the importance of the information I am about to receive (Iftakhar, 2013). Through psychological compartmentalization, it has been easier to put other mental issues aside to allow a steady flow of information. Question 14 Some of the normative professor student communication includes an appropriate level of formality. This allows the two parties to remain both professional, focus on the specific academic topics of interest, and refrain from losing sight of key objectives. Question 15 The intended audience will have a significant impact on language as well as style of delivery for the speaker. For instance, if a speaker wishes to provide some form of instruction as to the sitting positions to people who speak English fluently, the use of words will be sufficient to communicate a message (Faculty of Business, Government & Law, n.d). However, if the speaker is delivering the same message to people who do not understand English perfectly, he or she may need to utilize graphic illustrations and even translation to other languages. Question 16 The sales letter has been intended for the Eastern culture. As such, aside from the main message being produced in English, there exists a direct translation of the words to allow non-English speakers a chance to receive the message. The message is tailored to appeal to the specific culture through use of more conservative and less colorful words. Question 17 Effective introduction of a new product involves use of a more specific approach, which identifies specific issues, and how the product will help in solving the issue. It is important for the speaker to provide specific characteristics of the product or service, which will serve to attract and maintain the attention of speakers. Question 18 Product: Software application Companies: Apple, Microsoft, and Samsung. The software application allows people to connect to mobile phones and computers, which are provided by the three companies. As such, the companies serve as a bridge between the products as well as consumers. Question 19 A short resume often allows hiring managers to peruse through important points of a candidate. However, a longer resume would be justified if the company has specifically asked for elaborate details concerning educational or professional backgrounds. Question 20 A speaker can be able to prepare a speech for diverse audience through examining some of their characteristics. For instance, a speaker will be better able to communicate his or her message through finding out socio-cultural backgrounds. Question 21 The rhetorical situation in communication consists of an issue, audience, and a set of constraints often presented as challenges to be overcome. It is important to consider a rhetorical situation, as it provides both listeners and speakers to effectively analyze situations during the communication process. Question 22 For middle school children, the topic of tattoos will be through simplistic explanations of why people tattoo, why they should wait until they are adults to do so. However, for students in college, the topic may include more technical subtopics such as health implications and socio-cultural history of tattooing. Question 23 Organization of a presentation will involve a high degree of ethical considerations. This is especially so when a speaker is addressing a more formal crowd than simply speaking casually. For instance, ethical considerations will involve being able to utilize the right terminologies which refrain from offending the audience (Faculty of Business, Government & Law, n.d). In addition, it is important to evaluate the level of language proficiency within the context and utilize the most appropriate terminologies and phrases, which enhance understanding. Question 24 URL: https://prezi.com/d-gtbclqsvzl/gloria-steinem-an-address-to-the-women-of-america-july-10/ Gloria Steinem’s Address to the Women of America was a speech delivered in 1971, which outlines some of the social issues facing America, including racism, social class stratification, misogyny, and gender biasness (St. Pierre, 2015). The speaker uses a timely approach during introduction to provide the audience with perspective and introduce the issue at hand. The speaker develops the speech using carefully arranged ideas and points. The speaker is also clear and concise with the message she delivers. The word choices have been carefully selected to communicate and persuade listeners. The speaker has also used correctness in terms of grammatical punctuation and language accuracy (Root, 2016). Question 25 Technology: The mobile phone Sample topic outline will be as follows Introduction and Definition Characteristics of the mobile phone Specific uses and applications of the mobile phone How the phone has affected my personal lifestyle Economic, social, and cultural implications Advantages and Disadvantages Evaluation and conclusion References Ackerman, S. (2016). Omar Mateen described himself as 'Islamic soldier' in 911 calls to police. The Guardian. Faculty of Business, Government & Law. Contemporary public speaking 1st Ed. University of Canberra. n.d. Iftakhar, S. (2013). Teaching Speaking Through Public Speaking Course. Stamford J Eng, 7(0). http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sje.v7i0.14473 Ricci, T. (2012). Public Speaking: Know your audience. ASME.org Root, G. (2016). Six elements of organizational structure. Chronicles. St Pierre, L. (2015). Gloria Steinem; An address to the women of America. Prezi.com. Read More