The Role of Communication in Society

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Event
Communication theories
Analysis
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

In everyday communication, there is a lot to be learned and discovered. The field in itself provides the necessary knowledge for those who try to get to understanding of the science of communication. Nonetheless, people should try to discover more of what they already know about this topic.

In general communication, several concepts of communication come to the fore. This is in most cases related to the context with which this communication occurs, the relationship between the individuals or the hierarchical standings between the characters.

Under the above mentioned categories, there are several contexts to which communication can occur. These are: Intrapersonal Communication which to a great extent entails persuasion, Small or Centered communication, Organizational Communication, Intercultural Communication and Mass Communication (Littlejohn & Foss 2007).

The present dwells upon one instance of communication that was observed at a shopping mall. The instance will be analyzed in accordance with the theories listed above. The paper will also highlight the effects of nonverbal cues generated from the communication, the messages that were relayed using paralanguage.

Other forces that may play a huge part in the delivery of information from one party to the other, such as noise, will also be considered. Finally, the paper deals with the listening skills and their ability to influence general communication. An analysis of the event in relation to the theories stated above is paramount, before drawing the conclusion on the case.

Event

The event mentioned earlier occurred in a mall. None of the employees at the mall or the clients were informed since it was important that they did not feel the pressure of being observed. Besides, a record of people conversing in their natural settings was necessary.

Three people in the mall were chosen. Two of them were trying to bargain for the commodity they were purchasing which included a pair of sunglasses from a shop in the mall. They were haggling over the price. At first, the shop attendant was adamant that he would not reduce the price.

This prompted them to start arguing with the clients claiming that it was much cheaper than the price he was offering for the sunglasses. They raised their voices in protest, trying to put on a brave face while doing so. The attendant almost ignored them trying to sort the other customers who had come to be served.

One of them then changed the tone, looked at the attendant straight in the face and asked him to lower his price on the commodity. She reiterated that they really needed it but they were limited by the money they had. She also spoke of using it out in some holiday outing, in a pleading tone and a facial expression that was full of emotions.

The attendant looked at her surprised, dropped his shoulders and relented with a sigh. The customers then hugged and laughed happily over this as the attendant was smiling, he served them and off they went.

Communication theories

In the context of the conversation, there is evidence of the practicality of the theories that are used. The perspective to which the present research is derived is the situational perspective, according to which communication is between two people in the context that is the market or the shop (Littlejohn & Foss 2007).

Relational perspective is also in play here, to which the sender and receiver share information together in a given setting to create meaning in a simultaneous manner. The last of these is functional or strategic communication, whereby they both intend to meet a strategic objective or goal in their interaction and that is to sell the goggles for the seller, and to buy the goggles by the buyer. Therefore, there are three theories that are at play.

Analysis

It is possible to claim that several factors come to play in an effective communicative set- up. The approaches mentioned above help to analyze the chosen instance. Admittedly, while analyzing any communication event it is important to take into account the setting.

Therefore, situational perspective is very important. Of course, the basis of any effective communication is analyzed in term of relational approach. This approach is about the analysis of the roles of the sender and the receiver of information.

Strategic communication approach presupposes analysis of the aims and goals of the receiver and the sender. In the above context nonverbal communication has also played a key role (Mehrabian 2007). The emotions revealed by the customer prompted the attendant to relent.

Conclusion

Communication is the key to the delivery of any given piece of information is a process. Emotions, a part of paralanguage, go a long way to persuade the listener of one’s needful state, and in the bigger picture also show the status quo in a given set- up. The choice of words to great extent influences the decisions people intend to make, as such it is imperative that people pay attention to all these factors since they constitute effective communication.

Reference List

Littlejohn, SW & Foss, KA 2007, Theories of human communication, Cengage Learning, Belmont.

Mehrabian, A 2007, Nonverbal communication, Transaction Publishers, New Jersey.

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