Chapter 3: Paralanguage Flavors the Verbal Mesage

Objectives

1. Identify the role of paralanguage in spoken messages

2. Explain the differences between content and intent in speaking

3. Apply practice tips for improving vocal qualities.

Objectives

4. Describe and apply emphatic listening techniques

5. Identify appropriate and effective communication styles for each circle of your communication network.

6. Explain how language and paralanguage tools are adjusted to fit a variety of communication situations

Spoken Language – Words Plus Voice

• Your voice adds the tone that makes words meaningful

• Your voice is part of your image• Your voice is an instrument that

reflects your personality• Speech communication tools: words

and voice (pitch, rate, volume, timbre, and diction)

Paralanguage Reveals the Speakers Intent

• Words carry the content while paralanguages reveals the intent of a message.

• When words do not match paralanguage cues, the mixed messages cause confusion.

• When there are mix messages, listeners tend to rely on the paralanguage cues.

Paralanguage Reveals the Speakers Intent

• Paralanguage consists of vocal sound (pitch, rate, volume, timbre, and diction), and non-verbal codes transmitted through facial expressions, body movement, eye movement and proximity

• Paralanguage reveals the true intent of the speakers.

Paralanguage Reveals the Speakers Intent

Voice Qualities Accompany Verbal messages

• Pitch

Voice Instrument

Bass String Bass

Baritone - Tenor Cello

Alto/Contralto - Mezzo Soprano Viola

Soprano Violin

Voice Qualities Accompany Verbal messages

Pitch• Pitch is the variation in relative vibration frequency• The variation of pitch patterns adds interest in a conversation.• Pitch could indicate a variety of speaker emotion: contempt, indifference, grief, anger, anxiety, sadness, or happiness.

Voice Qualities Accompany Verbal messages

Rate• Rate refers to the pace/speed of the speech delivery• Speakers speak in phrases not word by word.• Focus on the important ideas, tossing off unimportant words, and using effective pauses of different lenght.

Voice Qualities Accompany Verbal messages

Volume/Intensity• It refers to the degree of loudness in the speech delivery• It reveals the speaker’s emotion.• Too soft indicates hesitant, fearful, or unprepared.• Too loud indicates excitement, anger, or need for attention

Voice Qualities Accompany Verbal messages

Timbre

• It refers to the distinctive qualities and tone that make your voice unique

• It reveals the speaker’s mood, physical condition, or emotional response to events.

Voice Qualities Accompany Verbal messages

Diction• It refers to the clarity of your speech sounds• Poor diction refers to articulation errors and pronunciation errors.• Dysfunctional clues refers to filler words which indicate nervousness or lack of preparation

Listening for Intent

• It involves zeroing in on the unspoken words/non-verbal code.

• Empathy is the ability to perceive another’s point of view and to sense what others are feeling.

• Empathy listening refers to the quality of paying attention when the speaker’s unspoken message is more important than the words.

Your Communication Network

• Deep personel Sharing.• Close friendships• Business and School Communication• Casual Encounters• Strangers

Your Communication Network

Choosing Appropriate Communication

• Informal situations: casual, slang and relaxed comments

• Business situations: clear reporting language, careful inferences, cautious judgement.

• Formal situations: standard English and limited topic and personel views