Effective discussion requires appropriate use of language.
If coordination is to be achieved, people must work to ensure that the
same words
refer to the same referents.
Language and culture are related in often complex ways.
Our languages help shape how we encounter and give meaning to our worlds,
and our
cultures help give meaning to our language behaviors.
Troublesome language problems and misunderstandings
include bypassing, lack of clarity, and emotive words that stigmatize others,
all of
which should be recognized and avoided.
Because you cannot stop sending nonverbal signals, you
cannot not communicate
in the presence of other group members. By their nature, nonverbal signals
are ambiguous. When verbal and nonverbal signals contradict each other,
most perceivers trust their interpretations of the nonverbal rather than
the verbal
signals.
Language and nonverbal signals function jointly. Nonverbal
signals communicate emotion, establish relationships among members, supplement
and clarify verbal expressions, substitute for words, and regulate the
flow of talk.
Interpretation of nonverbal signals is highly culturally
dependent. Major categories of nonverbal signals particularly relevant
to small groups include appearance; spatial relations, seating arrangements,
and distances;
eye contact; facial expressions; body movements and gestures; vocal cues;
time; and touch.
