Symbolic Language

Language is symbolic, and there are many symbols that can be interpreted without someone saying a word. Every culture has their symbols, and when I was reading this part in our text, I could not have agreed more. When I came to US, I immediately noticed, the differences between symbols, and colors. Some things are completely different, especially signs. In the country where I was born there was even more symbols, and many symbols mean luck, or trouble. Yellow flowers were often called the funeral flowers, and odd number of flowers were only given at the funeral, even amounts are usually given for birthday and happy events. There are even acts that are associated with symbols, and people do believe that they bring luck, or opposite. There are multiple ways you can say a name, and you would not be wrong. My name for instance can be said in 5-6 ways, and it would mean completely same name. So it is important to understand symbolic speaking, and also it is tight together with linguistic relativity.

Men and women use language differently?

I absolutely agree that men and women use different language, or use the language differently. Both genders can say the same thing, but mean completely different. If a men was to tell us something mean and inconsiderate, we would take it differently than if we were to hear it from a women, and it all has to do with gender expectations. It is important to understand why men do certain things the way they do, and not try to change that, as well as women. There are things we do because we have been brought up to think certain way, and at many times we do things without even putting a thought to it. Both men and women have to study each gender to be able to communicate without stereotyping each others gender. It is important to realize that certain attitudes are almost built in to the person, and it would take a lot to change an attitude or a way someone uses language.

Perceive others without categorizing or judging...

From my own experience I know that it is hard to not make a judgment or categorize, it is almost an automatic process for the brain. After reading in our text about  improvements we can make to become more mindful, I started seeing why I categorize and judge so quickly. There are steps we must take, and prepare ourselves as a listener, so that we would be able to take in the information without judging unfairly. We need to understand all the necessary steps we must take, and we have to take into consideration that we tend to have scrips, and we can make an assumption before we even hear what the person has to say. And as our textbook states "We tend to believe what we want to believe" (pg.52) is right on the point. When we listen, we must set our brain to hear the speaker, instead of thinking our own thoughts, because initially that is when the judging occurs. So getting back to the original question, I would say that it is possible not to judge if our mind is set up correctly, and if we are educated on the subject of listening, otherwise it is almost impossible.

Week 4~ Pick one concept from Chapter 9, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

Authoritative and Motivational Arguments is what I found interesting, especially the Authoritative ones. This stood out to me, because it is so well used today in our society. Anyone who has knowledge in specific field has the power to change things just by making a statement. The book gives us an example of a surgeon making a statement about certain medicine being bad, but this can apply to about anything, for example fashion. Many people follow big fashion icons on tweeter, and if that icon made a statement that a certain color or brand is most famous today, many and many followers of fashion would strive to get that. We tend to believe the people without checking for facts, because we consider certain people experts. This can be good, and can be bad depending on what is being said. A well knows fashion icon can be making certain trends popular due to a contract he or she signed with the brand. This is how many diet products get sold, if a beautiful famous person makes a commercial and says that she/he lost weight due to a certain product, it will sell fast. Motivational arguments are a bit different, they are based on emotional needs of the audience and it means to make someone do something for the sake of others. Also very important, and also can be done just to make money. It is important to understand these arguments, because this can help us look deeper into someone’s speech or statements.

Week 4~ Pick one concept from Chapter 9, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

Authoritative and Motivational Arguments is what I found interesting, especially the Authoritative ones. This stood out to me, because it is so well used today in our society. Anyone who has knowledge in specific field has the power to change things just by making a statement. The book gives us an example of a surgeon making a statement about certain medicine being bad, but this can apply to about anything, for example fashion. Many people follow big fashion icons on tweeter, and if that icon made a statement that a certain color or brand is most famous today, many and many followers of fashion would strive to get that. We tend to believe the people without checking for facts, because we consider certain people experts. This can be good, and can be bad depending on what is being said. A well knows fashion icon can be making certain trends popular due to a contract he or she signed with the brand. This is how many diet products get sold, if a beautiful famous person makes a commercial and says that she/he lost weight due to a certain product, it will sell fast. Motivational arguments are a bit different, they are based on emotional needs of the audience and it means to make someone do something for the sake of others. Also very important, and also can be done just to make money. It is important to understand these arguments, because this can help us look deeper into someone’s speech or statements.

Week 4~Have you ever been influenced by a speaker? Think of the best speaker you've ever heard. What was it about that speaker that made his or her communication memorable? Think of the worst speaker you've ever heard. What do you remember about his or her message?

My choice for the speaker is Billy Graham. I consider him the best speaker, due to his ability to deliver message. Throughout the history he has given many important speeches, but there is one that stood out the most for me, it was the “Speech to America After 9/11”. His calmness and his wise choice of words was something that the people needed, and his ability to choose the right words for the situation made it so memorable. What made it so memorable was him talking about the US becoming a closer Nation and everyone uniting to help each other. His ability to see the light shine through the darkness heals, and gives peace. In that speech there was many great words that were spoken, that will forever remain in my head.

The worse speaker that I chose is Mayor Kevin Johnson. He is not a bad mayor, but for me he is not a very good speaker because he is always brings too many points all at once. When I listen to him giving a speech I get lost, and he speaks too fast. What I remember from his messages is little, sometimes he says one thing, and then in the next speech he says the opposite. I think that I disliked his speeches when the “Sacramento Kings” arena issues were developing, he was always saying things just to say them, and I always remember that his eye contact is bad in his speeches.

Week 4 ~ Consider a well-known speaker, for example, the current President of the United States. What is this speakers strongest characteristics as a speaker? Is it credibility, attractiveness, power, or all three? In what ways could the speaker build ethos in these areas?

There are many speakers that are famous and big, but the one that I chose is Dr. Laura Schlesinger. There can be many people giving out written speeches that can somewhat influence us, but there is nothing like hearing the answer to your lifetime problem in someones speech. Dr.Laura is a famous radio host, who inspires many man and women to stay faithful and to remember that family is #1. The way she speaks makes me want to listen more and more, her calm tone of voice, her credibility. I can easily say that she has all three, attractiveness, credibility and power. Her power is in the way she speaks, and also in the way she lives. She takes many personal family situations, and looks at what is the best outcome for the family. I respect people that can teach others through their speaking, because the world needs more positive recommendations, and with as many divorces as there are today I think that Dr.Laura should be on every radio station at least half an hour. Many people don't like her for being so straight forward with telling the truth, but it is so needed, and there are not many people who can be honest like her. She is very good at delivering the message, she knows how to talk to specific audience, and that is why so many people find her inspirational and helpful. Many women had found solutions tot heir everyday problems by listening to her words.

Week 3 pragmatic approach

One of the concepts from chapter two that stood out to me was the "Improving Unhealthy Patterns", it is most likely something I can relate to the most. The textbook has a great example of how during an argument we try to correct the person's qualities instead of correcting the communication habits that are unhealthy. I was thinking about some situations and can agree with the book's example that the arguments are completely similar, and in some situations almost the same. When I start to argue for some reason I always start to bring up the negative aspects of the other person's character, instead of just simply working on the argument and that is why many arguments end bad, and after some even friendships can be ruined. What I've learned is a great tip, and to try to accomplish that will be my task during next argument.

Social Constractionist Perspective ~ week 3

We do "build worlds" through communication and the way I see it many families live in that world of their own concept that they built. It is easier to understand my point if I bring an example. I was raised in a Ukrainian traditional Christian home, where we had rules to follow as we were growing up. My dad and my mom were also raised in a similar household rules, and so that is why they raised us like that too. We attended church regularly, read bible, family prayer was a regular thing we did. And some of more cultural things included not wearing a hat if you are inside the building of any sort. When I came to America, I saw the cultural differences and tried to observe the new cultural traditions. It is very easy to become judgmental when we see other people living a completely different life style, and so that is why being open minded helped me understand that every person was raised in their own "world". I got to know many people that were raised very different from the way I was, and whose looks on life differed from mine, and I learned not to judge them for their ways. Now that I have my own family I see the similarity of certain family rules that we had as we were growing up, and it was almost automatically generated in our home. This can cause arguments and ruin our happiness if we don't learn how to treat others equally with respect without comparing their life to ours and judging their ways of living. Peace between cultures is learning to accept the differences, and live happy.

Week3 ~ Pragmatic Perspective

At first when I read the perspective it seemed like it might not be so related to our life, and our communication, but when I started thinking after reading I was surprised that the patterned interaction is something that I use all the time. With people that we see rarely this might not be the case, but what about the everyday people that we spend time with? Yes for me, I totally see how I use the pragmatic perspective when I talk and communicate with my husband for instance. It really becomes a game in certain situations, for instance in an argument. I think about the arguments, and we are similar to the pragmatic model of communication, we take turns in the things we say. And when an argument is happening, we sort of already know the steps to take to fix it all. This also occurs a lot with my son, the conversations repeat over and over, and basically there is a same talk we do if he does something I object or don't allow him to do. When I think about it, this can relate to all my close ones, and this perspective is very often used.

Concept of Arrangement

One of the concepts that caught my attention was Aristotle's arrangement classical theory. It means that the speaker has to arrange his or her ideas for maximum impact. I thought about it, and noticed that even when we are trying to present small plans or ideas that we want to persuade others into agreeing with us, this is completely the way to go. If we just state the idea in the beginning of our statement it might not be as effective as if we were to start presenting the introduction that would lead to the idea itself. I tried to find a simple example from my life to present. Once I tried to convince  mom to re-do all the decorations in her family room and change the colors and pretty much renew everything. I rationally said it to her without details all at once. She immediately said that she was not interested, because that sounded like a lot to do, and it would cost a lot as well. I of course did not give up, I came home and looked at prices online, and worked out a printed plan on prices and ideas, and the time that would have to be put in to implement the plan. I decided to present it to her, and I started my conversation with introduction, about why I am even bringing this up. I did make a great intro about the issues of health, and about the dust collecting in the carpets, and how all the new paint will make it smell fresh and new. Yes with correct arrangement of my presentation, I was able to achieve my goal, and I persuaded her to start the renovation. It makes sense to think and arrange our ideas that we want to share with others, because they are more likely to listen if we have it arranged properly.