CH.

5
VERBAL MESSAGES

Done by: Mrs. Maram Miralam

:PowerPoint™ Presentations prepared by
Naomi Young
University of California, San Diego
:LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Use language to best achieve your purposes

 Express confirmation when appropriate

 Use verbal messages more effectively

?WHAT IS VERBAL MESSAGES
 ….are sent with words, can be written or
oral .

 it is very important to study V Msgs.

Why????
:PRINCIPLES OF VERBAL MESSAGES

1. Meanings are in people not in words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OLfU7b_iyE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY tttaaaataaa

 Bypassing:
Common pattern miscommunication:
- two people use different words with the
same meaning
- two people use the same words but have
different meanings for those words.
PRINCIPLES OF VERBAL MESSAGES
2. Language is denotative and connotative

 Denotation—Dictionary definition or meaning.

 Connotation—emotional meaning specific to the

individual .
 Snarl words—highly negative words
 Purr words—highly positive words
PRINCIPLES OF VERBAL MESSAGES
 3.Meanings depend on context:
-Culture teaches ways of using verbal messages
as acceptable or not acceptable

4.Messages vary in politeness

 Polite messages reflect positively on the other person and respect the other
person’s right to be independent.

 Politeness and Directness

 Direct messages are less polite than Indirect messages???

?Why
 GROUP ACTIVITY 1
 Explain the statement, “Meanings are in people, not in
words.”

 Can a word be both denotative and connotative? What do

these terms mean? Do you use more denotative language
or connotative language?

 What are indirect messages? Why do people use them?

Why don’t people say what they really mean? Do you
think you say what you really mean?
DISCONFIRMATION AND
CONFIRMATION
 Disconfirmation
--ignore someone’s presence
as well as that person’s
message.

 Rejection
--disagree with the person

 Confirmation
--- acknowledge the presence
of the other person and our
acceptance of this person.
 ACTIVITY GAME: READY, SET, RESPOND
 Professor A questions student B about her attendance. Student B replies that an
extenuating circumstance necessitated the absences. Professor A responds with _____.

 Person A starts to tell person B that he is no longer interested in marrying her. Person A
begins by saying, “I think that we need to start a new life, you know, we can not
continue with all theses fights.” Person B responds with _____.

 Parent A indicates to college daughter that she is not spending enough time at home.
Daughter responds with _____.

 Employer A wishes to share the results of an evaluation with employee B. A calls B into
the office and says, “This evaluation is the first of many, I’m sure.” Employee B
responds with _____.

 Friend A has just had a horrible day and calls friend B to talk about the evening. Friend B
is just about to leave the house when the phone rings. Friend B responds with _____.
 
 
ACTIVITY
 Identify any confirmation/disconfirmation patterns you
may have developed that may impair your relationships?

 How can your knowledge of confirmation and

disconfirmation allow you to better understand your own
communication style?
 USING VERBAL MESSAGES
… EFFECTIVELY
A. Language Symbolizes Reality
(Partially)
 Intensional orientation
View people….. according to their Label, leads to evaluation

 Extensional orientation
Look first at actual people..then their labels

 Allness
Forgetting that language only symbolizes a portion of reality not the
whole.