Small Group Communication

1
Small Group Communication

• Chapter 5
• Verbal Nonverbal Communication
• In Groups

2
Verbal Communication

• How you use words in our language
• Denotation content
• Connotation context
• Beware abstractions can cause confusion

3

• 1. Diego is middle-aged.
• 2. Mary makes an excellent salary.
• 3. John is a heavy smoker.
• 4. Mike has a very good grade point average.
• 5. Ky bought an expensive car.
• 6. Linda has many friends.
• 7. Suyan applied to several colleges.
• 8. Hong reads quite a few books each year.
• 9. Leticia wants the project report on her desk
  soon.
• 10. Bob makes an excellent salary.

4
Team Talk

• The nature of the language that group members use
  as they work together
• Dimensions Figure 5.2 page 125
• Beware
• Bypassing
• Offensive language
• Jargon

5
Adapting to Differences

• Language gender
• Language culture
• People judge others by their speech
• Upward mobility and social aspirations influence
  whether people change their speech to accepted
  norms
• General American speech is most accepted by the
  majority of the American culture
• People should be aware of these prejudices and
  attempt to look beyond the surface

6
Improving Verbal Communication

• Improve your vocabulary
• Use I, you, and we language
• Use appropriate grammar

7
Importance of Nonverbal Communication

• the behavioral elements of messages other than
  the actual words spoken
• Personal appearance
• Facial expression
• Vocal expression
• Physical expression
• Environment
• Arrangement of space
• Perceptions of personal space

8
Creating a Supportive Climate

• Figure 5.5 page 142
• Evaluation vs. description
• Control vs. problem orientation
• Strategy vs. spontaneity
• Neutrality vs. empathy
• Superiority vs. equality
• Certainty vs. provisionalism