HSS 2102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Interpersonal Communication, Nonverbal Communication, Robin Lakoff

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: HSS 2102
• Professor: Tien Nguyen

Document Summary

Humans do not share the remarkable sensory skills of many animals, but they can speak. The ability to learn words and to combine, invent, and give meaning to new words makes humans unique among animals. We are the only species whose anatomy allows for speech and complex language development. Human language: a system of arbitrary signs and symbols used to communicate thoughts and feelings. Every language spoken on this planet is a system: an interrelated collection of words and rules employed to construct and express messages that generate meaning. All languages impose a grammar that arranges words in a meaningful way. Career paths can be affected by the ability to communicate in a professional manner. Well-chosen words are at the center of effective communication, whether you are chatting with a friend, leading a group, addressing an audience, or writing a novel.