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Paralanguage - Non Verbal
Communication
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Definitions: Features that accompany speech and
contribute to communication but are not considered part of the language
system
The nonverbal voice qualities, modifiers, and sounds which we use
consciously or unconsciously supporting or contradicting the linguistic,
kinesics, or proxemic messages either simultaneously or alternating with
them
How something is said rather than what is said
Vocal Cues
General Information: Paralanguage is part of nonverbal
communication. Paralinguistics are what accompany your words to make
up its true meaning. Research on the tone of voice emerged in 1951 by
George Trager and Henry Lee Smith and was followed with research of other
aspects of paralanguage.
We all know that what you say can have several different meanings
depending on how you say it. |
Take the notion of
sarcasm, for instance. If someone says something with a sarcastic tone, it
makes the meaning of what has been said be the complete opposite of what
the words actually mean.
Paralanguage can be a
confusing factor in intercultural communication. For example,
Europeans interpret the loudness of Americans to aggressive behavior,
while Americans might think the British are secretive because they talk
quietly. Talking speed and the amount of silence in conversations also
differ among cultures.
For instance, the Japanese
are comfortable having several pauses in their conversations, while
Americans and many Arabic people are uncomfortable with any silence.
Ingredients of Paralanguage:
Voice Qualities:
pitch range
vocal lip control
articulation control
rhythm control
resonance
tempo
Vocal Characteristics:
laughing, crying, whispering, snoring, yelling, moaning, groaning,
yawning, whining, sucking, sneezing, sighing, belches, hiccups
Remember that these characteristics are the vocal aspects of these
actions, so imagine that these pictures are making noises.
Voice Qualifiers:
intensity (overloud, over soft)
pitch height
extent
Vocal Segregates: examples:
"uh"
"um"
"uh-huh"
silent pauses
Messages in the Voice:
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Phrases have different messages depending on what parts we
emphasize. For instance, take the sentence; shes giving this money to me.
She is giving this money to me.
SHE is the one giving the money, nobody else.
She is giving this money to me.
She is GIVING, not lending.
She is giving this money to me.
MONEY is being exchanged, not anything else.
She is giving this money to me.
I am getting the money, nobody else.
The voice is used to infer personality traits.
An increased rate of speaking generally infers that the individual is
more animated and extroverted.
A flatness in the tone of voice generally indicates more withdrawn and
masculine characteristics.
A nasal sound in one's voice is generally thought of to be undesirable. |
The voice is also used to
infer emotional states.
Feeling Loudness Pitch Timbre Rate Enunciation
Anger Loud High Blaring Fast clipped
Joy Loud High Moderately Blaring Fast Somewhat Clipped
Sadness Soft Low Resonant Slow Slurred
Bibliography: Web Sources:
http://www.doleos.demon.co.uk/net.speak/chapter3.html http://ic.intermundo.net/faq/paralinguistics.shtml
http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/nvc/nvc6.html
Book Sources:
Kendon, Adam; Harris, Richard M.; and Key, Mary Ritchie. Organization of
Behavior in Face-to-Face Interaction. Mouton & Co., 1975.
Key, Mary Ritchie. Paralanguage and Kinesics (Nonverbal Communication).
Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1975.
Knapp, Mark L. Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction. Holt,
Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1972.
Rosenfeld, Lawrence B. and Civikly, Jean M. With Words Unspoken the
Nonverbal Experience. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1976.
Trenholm, Sarah and Jensen, Arthur. Interpersonal Communication.
Wadsworth, Inc., 1988.
Webster's College Dictionary. "Paralanguage." New York: Random House,
1996.
Contributing Writer: Viki Shah Masters in Mass
Communication and Journalism
viki_j_shah@yahoo.com
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