public.wsu.edu/public.wsu.edu/~taflinge/~taflinge/com101/com101/
com101home.htmlcom101home.htmlGo here for syllabus Go here for syllabus and other class and other class
materialsmaterials
CommunicationCommunication
Transmission of a Transmission of a message from a source message from a source
to a receiverto a receiver
Model of CommunicationModel of Communication
SENDER RECEIVER
SENDERRECEIVER
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
ChannelsChannels
ChemicallyChemically
By pheremonesBy pheremones
VisuallyVisually
Visual communicationVisual communication
AurallyAurally
Sounds are used by many creaturesSounds are used by many creatures DolphinsDolphins WhalesWhales BirdsBirds MonkeysMonkeys ApesApes PeoplePeople
TalkingTalking
A definition of A definition of talkingtalking
The intricate The intricate manipulation of oral manipulation of oral
sound to convey sound to convey meaningmeaning
All kinds of animals All kinds of animals manipulate sound to manipulate sound to
convey meaning.convey meaning.Are they talking?Are they talking?
A question of vocabularyA question of vocabulary
Birds have about 35 “words”Birds have about 35 “words” Monkeys about 50 “words”Monkeys about 50 “words” Chimps about 300 “words”Chimps about 300 “words” Humans (in English alone) about Humans (in English alone) about
750,000 words750,000 wordsWhy this huge difference?
Why Why communicate at communicate at
all?all?To make connections To make connections with other members with other members
of your speciesof your species
The greater the The greater the need for need for
connection, the connection, the greater the greater the vocabularyvocabulary
What needs?What needs?
First, self-First, self-protection, also protection, also
known as known as survivalsurvival
Two ways to do Two ways to do thatthat
First, Safety in NumbersFirst, Safety in Numbers
Be the biggest badass in Be the biggest badass in the neighborhoodthe neighborhood
Homonids had neither Homonids had neither numbers nor natural numbers nor natural
weaponsweapons
Human AncestorsHuman Ancestors
Humans Humans cooperatecooperate
Other homonids don’t Other homonids don’t cooperatecooperate
Hunters cooperateHunters cooperate
Second need -- Second need -- reproductionreproduction
Third Need – Third Need – to bind the group to bind the group
together together
SENDER RECEIVER
SENDERRECEIVER
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
Two kinds of definitions Two kinds of definitions
DenotativeDenotative The dictionary definition of the wordThe dictionary definition of the word Usually has a concrete referentUsually has a concrete referent
ConnotativeConnotative The personal definition of the wordThe personal definition of the word
What the word means to the individualWhat the word means to the individual Often has a strong emotional elementOften has a strong emotional element Often an abstraction rather than Often an abstraction rather than
concreteconcrete