"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others."
                                                   ~Anthony Robbins ~

Verbal Communication- involves the sending and recieving of messages
       between and among the participants in the group.  The verbal language is intellectual
       and suitable for transmitting information in a sophisticated manner.

Power of Language- The power of language is a broad term used to describe
      some of the functions language can have.
 
 Influence of language- Language can provide a way to influence people’s behaviors
     and attitudes.  People usually use forms of persuasion and argumentation in order to
     carry out their attempts at influencing people.  The process of persuasion relies on
     facts and logic to accomplish its goals.  Now, facts and logic must change to the
       situation and language will be the basis for that change.

 Depoliticize- In small and large organizational units there does exist an order of power
     or hierarchy.  When a person enacts their influence and control on to a person who
     has to obey, feelings of resentment can occur within the group causing interpersonal
     conflict.

 Persuasion- The process of persuasion is the use of language to persuade, issue an
      order, make a request and so on.  Persuasion is a goal oriented ideal because the
     persuader is attempting to change what the other person is doing or saying.  Although
     nonverbal factors play a role in persuasion, such as physical appearance, the basic
     premise for persuasion is that the proposal has to be in linguistic form.

Ice Breakers- Ice breakers play a very important role in small group
       communication.  The sole purpose of an ice breaker is to get the members of the
      group to relax and participate in group discussions.

 Examples of some Ice Breakers include the following:
 
 What person in your life has most influenced you?
 What is something you want people to remember about you?
 If you could make one wish that would come true, what would it be?
 What is one thing you would like to accomplish in your lifetime?
 Who would you lend $500 no questions asked?
 What is something you want to see before you die?
 Have you ever had something stolen?

Functions of Language- In order for language to accomplish the users goals
      there must be different ways to express their ideas, goals, wants and needs within the
      group.

 Instrumental Function- The instrumental function of language can be used to express
     what a person wants or needs.  “I Want.”

 Regulatory Function- The regulatory function of language can be used to instruct
     somebody or to maintain order within the group.  “Do as I tell you.”

 Interactional Function- The interactional function of language is the exchange of
     dialogue between people within the group.  “Me and You.”
 
 Personal Function- The personal function of language is used to inform someone of
     your intentions within the group.  “Here I come.”
 
 Heristic Function- The heristic function of language is used to question something
     within the group.  "Tell me why.”
 
 Informative Function- The informative function of language is used to relate
     information to the group.  “I have something to say.”

Miscommunication- Miscommunication is a problem that may occur in a group.
      That group must then be able to deal with the miscommunication.  Three types of
      miscommunication are misunderstanding, non-understanding and misinterpretation.

 Misunderstanding- Misunderstanding is when one group member gains an
     interpretation that he/she believes is accurate, but in reality is not the interpretation the
     speaker intended the listener to gain.

 Non-understanding- Non-understanding is when a group member either does not gain
      any interpretation at all, or gains more than one interpretation with no way to choose
     between them.
 
 Misinterpretation- Misinterpretation is when the interpretation of a group member’s
     statement suggests that his/her values and beliefs are different from the other group
     members values and beliefs.  

Examples of Miscommunication- Miscommunication can occur in anything
       that communication is used in.  Some good examples can be found in ads that you
      would find in newspapers and magazines.  Taken from TLARSEN@novell.com.

 Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
 Tired of cleaning yourself?  Let me do it.
 Stock up and save.  Limit: one.
 Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated?  Come here first!
 Wanted.  Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.
 Our experienced Mom will care for your child.  Fenced yard, meals, and smacks
             included.
 Illiterate?  Write today for help.

Miscommunication can also be found in quotes of people in the media.

 “I am a jelly doughnut”- English translation of John F. Kennedy speaking at the 
              Berlin Wall.
 “Nixon has been sitting in the White House while George McGovern has been
              exposing himself to the people of the United States."- Frank Licht, then governor
              of Rhode Island, campaigning for McGovern in 1972.

Misleading Words- Misleading words are used by speakers in order to mislead
      their listeners into believing only a part or none of an actual message.

 Devious Messages- Devious messages require the use of indirectness in order to
      escape from embarrassing questions.  The idea is to satisfy the questioner without
     responding with a yes or no.

 Lying and Evasion- Lying and evasion can be classified as deceptive communication.
      This deceptive communication acts as a way for the speaker to hide their actual
     beliefs or actions.  By using lying and evasion the speaker gains some power over the
     listeners because he/she has obscured the true beliefs or actions.

 Words that Bypass Critical Thought- Words that bypass critical thought are used to
     misdirect attention while at the same time achieving the speaker’s goals.  By using
     these words the speaker can convey his/her message without it being examined.

 Evocative words- Evocative words have the ability to evoke a very precise  
      structure of beliefs, values, or emotions.  These are often loaded words that when
     provide a very strong response in the direction of that person’s beliefs and values.
 
Improving Communication Skills- Improving communication skills is a
      vital part of being a group member.  By improving your communication skills you
      will be able to make it easier for others in the group to interpret your remarks as
      you intended.

 Speak Concisely- When listeners appear bored, or unattentive, you may have talked
     too long.  You should state your ideas as simply and briefly as possible.  When yo
     talk too long it reduces the opportunity for others to speak and causes members to
     tune out the speaker.

 State One Point at a Time- You should not contribute more than one idea at a time.
     A several point speech is out because the group can only discuss one point at a time.
     If you attempt to give all the information on an issue, the group will not be able to
     follow you and respond meaningfully.

 Relate your Statements to Preceding Remarks- A good pattern to follow when in a
     group discussion is as follows, relate your contribution to what has already been said,
     state your idea, develop and support it with evidence, and connect it to the topic or
      phase of the problem being discussed.

Types of Questions- There are two basic types of questions in small group
        communication.
 
 Process Questions- Process questions can help to establish or clarify thought
      processes for a group.
 
 Orientation-Seeking Questions- Orientation seeking questions request information
          and opinions about group goals.  “What is on the agenda for today?”

 Relationship-Clarifying Questions- Relationship clarifying questions ask about interpersonal and
          role relationships among members.  The questioner may ask how members feel toward each other
          and toward the group, and what members want from each other.  “Did anyone feel left out of our
          discussion last time?”

 Procedure-Seeking Questions- Procedure seeking questions ask such things as how to coordinate
         activity of members, what techniques to use for organizing interaction, in what sequence to take up
         items for consideration, how to make a decision, how to outline a problem-solving procedure, or
         simply what to do next.  “How should we organize this discussion?”

 Product Questions- Product questions seek answers that can help a group achieve its
     goals.  

 Fact-Seeking Questions- Fact seeking questions are requests for specific statements of fact.  The
            questioner may ask for an observation of something that occurred, for clarification of a statement, for
             factual statements that were reported elsewhere, or for what some group members said earlier.
             “What does anybody know about the extent of crime in our city?”

 Opinion-Seeking Questions- Opinion seeking questions ask for others’ opinions, interpretations, or
             judgments about the meaning of facts.  “How much do you think it cost to make the movie Titantic?”

 Solution-Seeking Questions- Solution seeking questions ask for a decision about what to do to
             solve a problem.  Such a question often reemphasizes the type of goal or final output of a special
             committee.  “What should we do next?” or “Which person is most qualified to lead our student
             government?”
 
Some Verbal Communication Links.

Improving Verbal Skills
Miscommunication Jokes
Main Page--Communication within Groups and Teams
Home Page