What You Need to Know About Verbal Communication

What You Need to Know About Verbal Communication

Check off the items as you feel you can do them. Your blue speech book (author Verdeber) has resources in Chapter 2 that will help you with these tasks.

1. I can define verbal communication.

2.I can explain the concept Meanings are in people, not in words.

3. I can define the terms denotation and connotation.

4. I can explain the concept The word is not the thing.

5. I can explain the difference between standard and nonstandard language.

6. I can define the three types of nonstandard language, slang, jargon, and dialect.

7. I can identify examples of the three types of nonstandard language.

8. I can diagram a breakdown that involves verbal communication.

9. I can use what I know about verbal communication to analyze a character in the novel.

10. I can use what I know about verbal communication to discuss the words from the vocab. unit.

Evidence of Learning

1. Definition of verbal communication – write it, say it.

2. What does the comic below tell us about language? (Discuss it, write it)

3. What does the comic below tell us about language?

4. Define the terms standard and nonstandard language.

5. Define the terms jargon, slang, and dialect.

6. Provide an example of jargon, slang, and dialect.

7. Diagram the underlined portion of the following conversation. Pay attention to how the use of language affects the conversation.

Context: Jack is a new student in Christine’s class. Jack is from Wisconsin and has just moved to Illinois.

Jack: (smiling) Hi! Could you tell me where a bubbler is?

Christine: (looking confused) A what? Uh – I think you better ask the teacher. (backing away and looking at him strangely).

Jack: (Thinking to himself) It sure is hard being the new kid. I wonder why she doesn’t like me?

8. Use concepts of verbal communication to analyze a character or situation in the novel. Read the two passages from the novel below and apply the verbal communication concepts we have studied to analyze what is happening as Leper and Gene talk. Leper is speaking to Gene in the first passage. Gene is thinking to himself in the second passage. (Separate sheet of paper)

Chapter 10

“Normal,” he repeated bitterly. “What a stupid-ass word that is. I suppose that’s what you’re thinking about, isn’t it. That’s what you would be thinking about, somebody like you. You’re thinking I’m not normal, aren’t you? I can see what you’re thinking-I see a lot I never saw before”-his voice fell to a querulous whisper-“you’re thinking I’m psycho.

I gathered what the word meant. I hated the sound of it at once. It opened up a world I had not know existed-“mad” or “crazy” or “a screw loose,” those were the familiar words. “Psycho” had a sudden mental-ward reality about it, a systematic, diagnostic sound. It was as though Leper had learned it while in captivity, far from Devon or Vermont or any experience we had in common, as though it were Japanese.

Apply these concepts to the two passages:

• Meanings are in people, not in words.

• The word is not the thing.

• Denotation and Connotation

• Communication Process – semantic noise