ORAL COMM(Listening)

Listening
An analysis of the impressions resulting from concentration where an effort of will is
required (Tucker,1925)

The comprehension of expository materials presented orally in a classroom

situation (Nichols, 1948)

The ability to understand spoken language (Rankin, 1926)

The process of reacting to, interpreting, and relating the spoken language in terms
of past experiences and further course of action (Barbe and Meyers, 1954)

The aural assimilation of spoken symbols in a face-to-face speaker audience

situation, with both oral and visual cues present (Brown and Carlson, 1955)

A definite, usually voluntary, effort to apprehend acoustically (Barbara, 1957).

The selective process of attending to, hearing, understanding, and remembering

aural symbols (Barker, 1971)

A process that takes place when a human organism receives data orally. The
selection and retention of orally received data.

Consists of four connected activities— sensing, interpreting, evaluating, and

responding.

Listening Process
Receiving
Message, specifically the sound waves, are received by the listener in auditory or
visual channels.

only involves hearing and attending to message that was sent

Perceiving

ORAL COMM(Listening) 1
 filters and screens the message or sounds received using his/her frame of
reference or perceptual filter

involves the process of selecting and organizing stimuli

choosing a lens to use in interpreting the sound received

Interpreting
listener makes meaning out of the verbal or non verbal message received

Responding
giving a feedback or response

may be verbal, non-verbal, or both.

voluntary or involuntary

basis to indicate his/her listening skills or lack thereof

Different Types of Listening

Discriminative
Doesn’t actually involve making meaning

distinguishes or recognizing the sounds

direct equivalent of hearing

most basic

Comprehension
- Understanding meaning of sounds.

Discriminative and comprehension are pre requisites for other

types of listening i.e. critical, evaluative, informative, etc.

Critical
trying to listen for the purpose of judging whether it’s truthful or not.

ORAL COMM(Listening) 2
 check if message is erroneous

being able to identify truths from fallacy is a manifestation of this type.

Evaluative
choosing a stand make a stand

makes a judgement about what the other person said

Informative
listening to grasp information

goal of learning

mostly in school or news

Biased
Selective listening

stereotype

you only select what you want to listen to.

influenced by personal beliefs, religion, etc.

Appreciative
for the purpose of enjoyment

music, podcast, etc.

Sympathetic
to know the feelings of others

focus on the feelings of others (identifying)

Emphatic
deeply understand feelings of others (not just know but understand)

go beyond sympathetic listening

put yourself in others’ shoes

ORAL COMM(Listening) 3
 Therapeutic
Trying to make speaker feel better

does something to help speaker

guidance counselor

Dialogic
For the purpose of knowing more about the speaker.

suitor

Relationship
Purpose of knowing more about the speaker deeper; to gain the trust of that
person.

Keys for Effective Listening

Stop talking

control your surroundings

keep an open mind

listen for main points

provide feedback

capitalize on lag time (gap between speaker and listener)

listen between the lines

judge ideas, not appearances

Hold your fire

Take selective notes

Irritating Listeners
Interrupting the speaker

Not looking at the speaker

ORAL COMM(Listening) 4
 Rushing the speaker

showing interest in something other than the topic

Finishing speakers’s thoughts

not responding to the speaker’s request

topping the speaker’s story

forgetting what was talked about previously

asking too many questions about details

Benefits of Listening
You are able to help others

you are able to understand things on a deeper level

you are able to understand more about different cultures

you have more resources to make more informed, rational decisions.

You have the tools to avoid conflicts and reduce problems

you are able to participate in life more because you know more

you can become a more effective listener.

ORAL COMM(Listening) 5