Ch. 6 Summary - Designing Messages with Words

Chapter six is titled “Designing Messages with Words”. It is about verbal messages and how to be a better verbal communicator. Verbal communication is the use of any linguistic symbols - spoken, sign, or written - to accomplish message goals. So basically the majority of all communication. Everyone has a different verbal style, which is a person’s particular choice of words, phrase or sentence arrangements and the formality of expression they use. There are nine different verbal styles for different situations and purposes. All verbal communications are defined within a set of speech rules that people follow. There are grammatical rules, talking and interaction rules, social rules and semantical rules. If someone works in a specialized field or profession, they may use jargon, which is the specialized language in that field that denotes technical knowledge. Sometimes, language can be used in a limited way which opens the door for miscommunication and confusion. Some of these language limiters are, abstraction, bypassing, fact inference, misused words, euphemisms and adjective cramming. People also sometimes suffer from communication apprehension or CA. This is feeling anxious or uneasy when about to communicate with someone verbally. This can happen anytime, when about to speak to a large group of people or when about to speak to your boss perhaps. The factors that can lead to CA are, introversion, alienation, low self-esteem, cultural divergence, poor communication skills and communication incompetence. The author states that the key to reducing CA is preparation. I myself get very anxious when I have to speak in front of audiences. But I have noticed the more prepared I am, the less severe my anxiety. The author also talks about persuasion and how it is the process of attempting to influence people’s behavior, attitudes or beliefs. And an argument is the vehicle to do that through reasoning. For an argument to be persuasive, it must have reasons, evidence, behind it. Deductive reasoning goes from general to specific while inductive reasoning goes from specific to general. Ethos, pathos and logos are the Greek terms that describe the appeals one may use to get others to agree with them. Ethos is ethics, pathos is emotion and logos is logic. Overall, the chapter taught me to be a better communicator by choosing my words carefully and to flexible with my speaking style depending on the audience.