Week 7- Question 2

Although nonverbal messages are more universal than verbal messages, nonverbals do not always carry the same meanings in other cultures. Can you give examples of some of the nonverbal displays that take on different meanings in other countries? If you have moved around within this country, have you ever encountered regional differences in nonverbal meaning?

At my community college I remember watching a movie about non-verbal messages. It showed all kinds of non-verbal messages from all over the world in different cultures. For, example, the thumbs up in America means good job or “ok,” but in Iranian culture it is an obscene gesture meaning screw you. Next, another gesture that is used to describe a bunny to make babies laugh is when people take both their index fingers and placing them on the side of their head; in Japanese culture this means that they are angry with you. So there are a lot of similar gestures in the world but can mean anything depending on the culture.

Week 7- Question 3

Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed this week that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

The concept I thought that was really interesting was The Kinesic Code II: Facial Expression and Eye Behavior. Facial displays and eye behavior are such big factors in non-verbal communication. According to Trenholm, it states that each culture, certain expressions, are encouraged and reinforced, where as others are discouraged. We learn to neutralize and mask our emotions without facial displays and can intensify or deintensify certain emotions. I think that’s why my boyfriend always says I can tell how your feeling by just looking at your face. Eye behavior serves to maintain social positions and are good indicators of both positive and negative emotions. Also the eyes signal our willingness to relate to one another (Trenholm p.120).

Week 7- Question 1

Because nonverbal messages can be ambiguous, they are open to misinterpretation. Have you ever been wrong about the meaning of someone’s nonverbal message? Describe what happened. How can people increase the accuracy with which they interpret nonverbal message?

Yes, I have been wrong to a lot of peoples meaning of someone’s nonverbal messages. When I was in they eighth grade we had a graduation pool party and I was with all my friends having a good time. But my friend told me to jump off the high diving board. So I did it and when I got out of the pool I didn’t realize that my top had gone up a little while I was coming out of the pool. I didn’t know and my other friend from the other side of the pool starts waving at me and moving her hands to pull my suit up and I thought she said to come her way. So I walked the whole way of the pool with my breast somewhat exposed. I was mortified! But I really played it off well by jumping into the pool and when I came out I made it to the other side without coming up for air. Loll. People need to pay more attention to others and really read their signals before making any next moves. Also, paying attention to your environment, how others are acting, and how the situation is playing out to interpret these messages.

Week 6- Question 3

Pick one concept from the assigned readings, other than what has already been discussed this week, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

The concept I chose is Improving Language Choices. According to Trenholm, We should always remember that talking about something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s real and that meanings are in people, not in words. I have had a lot of experiences where what I have said had been misconstrued and misunderstood plenty of times. Meanings are no means objective and we should all be careful to take context into account both when interpreting others messages and when creating ones own. Although there is no single right way to use language we have to make choices. Choices are based on purposes, audience, and conventions of the discourse we all use.

Week 6- Question 2

Do you agree that men and women use language differently? In what areas?

I do think men and women use language differently. They use different language styles in romantic relationships, parenting styles, and other relationships in general like friends and family.

In most romantic relationships women tend to be more caring, and sharing style when they speak. Women are more willing to be open and voice their feelings to their partner. Men tend to be more the opposite and into showing their emotion through actions. Also, they seem to simplify things opposed to women giving more detailed and more reasons when they talk about things.

Parenting styles are very different in my household growing up. I had a strict dad and my mother is really soft spoken and maternal of course. My dad would talk to us in a firm and demanding way even if he wasn’t necessarily feeling that way. My mother is nice and warm when she talks to us and makes us feel comfortable to talk to her.

Depending on how good of friends you are, men and women tend to speak differently to their closest and not so close friends. From personal experiences, I can adapt really well to people and personalities and figuring out whether how “manly” or “girly” I have to be. Loll. For example, I was with a classmate of mine and his friend; we were talking about sports and some other stories. I tended to use a lot of bad words but still said “awww…” or gasped with an “Oh my goodness” in disgust. On the other hand, with my gal pals, I find myself using “feeling” words and expressing and expanding more on what I would talk about. (there would be a bad word here in there. loll)

Week 6- Question 1

Is it possible to perceive others without, in some way, judging or categorizing them? If so, how? If not, how can we make the judgments we do make, more fair?

I don’t think it’s possible to perceive others without in some way judging or categorizing them. It’s not a bad thing to have initial assumptions and judgments towards people because we use this as a defense mechanism at times. For example, as an extreme, you wouldn’t approach a man in a van trying to bribe you with candy to get in with him.

Having those initial feelings towards someone is natural, but what we do with them after the meeting is a critical part in making them “more fair.” To make them “more fair,” we have them then leave them “at the door” and give the person the benefit of the doubt. We shouldn’t keep the judgments and hold it against the person before they’ve even had time open up to you and show they’re true personality.

I feel that people these days are so judgmental that they lose out on really different, nice, genuine people. Life is too short to not go out in the world and grow with people different than you and get exposed to new things.