The Nature of Listening

Hearing vs. Listening

Hearing
Is the physiological process of receiving sound waves.
Sound waves travel through the air and set up vibrations
on the eardrum.
Affected by the laws of physics and the neurophysiology of
the body.

hearing process is beyond the speakers’ control,

except for the ability to adjust speaking volume, seating
arrangement, or conditions in the place before talking.
Listening
is a cognitive process whereby people attach meaning
to aural signals.
There is the sending of the message to the brain for
interpretation.

processes involve: interpretation;

registering impulses; assigning meaningful contexts;
evaluation
 BARRIERS TO GOOD LISTENING
1. Passive Listening
❑ Being lazy listeners; hoping that the speaker will
be exceptionally clear.

2. Drifting thoughts
❑ As listener you can comprehend more than words
than someone can utter.
❑ Can process about 300 to 500 words per minute;
speakers produce about 100 to 150 words per
minute.
3. Time lag
❑ Created in the mind that occupies someone’s
thoughts.

4. Intrusion of the past

❑ Memories of past events can be triggered by a
mere word or a reference to a place.
❑ Nostalgia effect affects our feelings, values, and
attitudes into the speech setting.
5. Self-fulfilling prophecy

Preset ideas can get in the way a good listening.

Avoid this by becoming an active, engaged

listener.
 THE ACT OF LISTENING
⚫ (Bradley , 1991)

1. Receiving
▪ First listening process: seeing and hearing
▪ Seeing- enables us to observe nonverbal forms of
communication.
▪ Hearing- if a person is deaf, listening is prevented.
2. Perceiving
▪ Focusing listener’s attention on the ones we want to
listen to.

3. Interpreting
▪ Once we received and perceived visual and aural
symbols, we then interpret them.
4. Responding
▪ A person responding to the speech
communication exhibits listening by an
organized set of movements.
▪ These responses cause speakers to be
affected.

Two ways of responding:

❑ Internally
❑ Externally
 Guide in Effective Listening
1. Know your Purpose (Wolvin and Coakley, 1982)

a. Appreciative listening or purposeful listening

b. Discriminative listening or active listening
- respond to speakers words and actions
c. Therapeutic Listening
d. Constructive Listening for comprehension
e. Critical Listening
2. Comprehend the message

a. What are the main ideas of the speech?

b. How are the main ideas arranged?
c. What kinds of material support the main
idea?
3. Assess the speech

The Situation:
a. How is the situation affecting the speech and my
understanding of it?
b. How is the physical environment affecting the speaking
and my listening?

The Speaker
a. What do I know the speaker?
b. How believable do I find the speaker?
c. Is the speaker adequately prepared?
The Message
f. How solid are the ideas being
presented?
g. Is sufficient evidence offered?

4. Take good notes

a. Get organize
b. Develop a note-taking scheme that
works for you
 How to be an Active Listener
⚫ (Monroe, 1996)

1. Review what the speaker has said.

2. Relate the message to what you already know.
3. Anticipate what the speaker might say next.

Using the RRA Technique- you can keep your

attention centered on the message.
 ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
OF LISTENERS
1. You should process what the speaker says as
objectively as you can.
2. Listen with an open mind.
3. Give the speaker the benefit of the doubt.
4. You don’t have to boo so loud if you hear something
you dislike or disagree with the speaker.
5. Grant the speaker the right to approach a topic or a
position from a point of view different from you and
your friends.