I can definitely say that I "code switch" my communication with different cultures and communities. As a Black woman, I identify with the Black culture and community and adpat my behavior to the accepted cultural mannerisms and behavior for given situations. I tend to uae low-language, slang, profanity and illustrators that are very eccentric and culturally appropriate to my background.
However, how I communicate with members of my community is much different than my communication with other cultures. When I code switch with other cultures, I use "proper english" or high language, limited illustrators, and generally acceptablel cultural illustrators that are not percieved as aggressive or too eccentric. As an African-American, I am constantly trying to remain cognizant of how I portray myself on the general public. With many stereotypes that are portrayed through the media of African-Americans, I definitely do my best to not live up to thise perceptions through my behavior in public where I am not familiar.
I find it easier to communicate with other minorities, however, due to unspoken feelings of being the "other" in Eurocentric culture and the conversations are more lax, playful, and personal. When talking to more White Americans, the need to be more formal and politically correct is apparent in my verbal and nonverbal cues and language.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Communication and Television
Earlier this week I begam watching "Friends". I have never been a fan if the popular show until recently and figured with all their drama and hilarious adventures, watching "Friends" to evaluate the communication and nonverbal cues would be interesting.
Watching the show without the sound on was a bit weird and aside from taking me in a time warp to the age of silent movies, it was a bit of a challenge to really understand what they were saying EXACTLY but due their facial expressions, mannerisms, hand gestures, and location of scenes, I could infer whether the situation was serious or not. The nonverbal codes, emblems, and intermediacy assisted in me deciphering information as to which character had a role in what scene.
With the volume back on, I was actually impressed with myself that I was relatively correct. This was the episode where Racheal found out Joey cheated on her when they were on a break and everyone was in Monica's bedroom eavsdropping. There was a lot of euphemisms, connotation, slang, etc (low language). A lot of the language was fueled by emotion and not semantics. It was interesting that although I was not spot on on the precise language utilized but how each situation based on the nonverbal cues was emotionally driven and who played roles of importance on each scene.
Watching the show without the sound on was a bit weird and aside from taking me in a time warp to the age of silent movies, it was a bit of a challenge to really understand what they were saying EXACTLY but due their facial expressions, mannerisms, hand gestures, and location of scenes, I could infer whether the situation was serious or not. The nonverbal codes, emblems, and intermediacy assisted in me deciphering information as to which character had a role in what scene.
With the volume back on, I was actually impressed with myself that I was relatively correct. This was the episode where Racheal found out Joey cheated on her when they were on a break and everyone was in Monica's bedroom eavsdropping. There was a lot of euphemisms, connotation, slang, etc (low language). A lot of the language was fueled by emotion and not semantics. It was interesting that although I was not spot on on the precise language utilized but how each situation based on the nonverbal cues was emotionally driven and who played roles of importance on each scene.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Best Communicator
Happy New Year and welcome to the start of a new semester!
The question posed this week asked who would I like to emulate aa far as being a great communicator and why. This question is simple and the person that immediately came to mind was my uncle, Henry Taylor. My uncle is the president of a major health organization in Illinois and well-known throughout health care within the midwest. For over 20 years, my uncle had dedicated his life's work to bringing underserved communities of color access to affordable, quality health care.
With my uncle being one of the only few administrators of color on staff, there have been personal and professional challenges that he has encountered that has lead him to not only grow professionally but personally as well. One thing he has learned is to communicate effectively will all sorts of audiences whether it be a diagruntled patient or a corporate stakeholder. My uncle uses reflective listening-repeating what the other person says as an affirmative or a question/statement. He also is conscious of his body language, tone, and environment to which he is speaking to his audience-his main priority making sure his message is clear and delivered in a amicable way that is percieved in a safe enviornment that is non-threatening. My uncle also uses various forms of exchange where it is not always a transactionary dialouge or internal but a dialouge that is ankle to have multiple viewpoints and perspectives that lend hand to decison making.
Overall, my uncle is one of the best communicators I know. Personally, I try to embody those traits in my personal and professional life to better convey my thoughts and relay more than just message but a perspective that has the ability to inspire and persuade.
The question posed this week asked who would I like to emulate aa far as being a great communicator and why. This question is simple and the person that immediately came to mind was my uncle, Henry Taylor. My uncle is the president of a major health organization in Illinois and well-known throughout health care within the midwest. For over 20 years, my uncle had dedicated his life's work to bringing underserved communities of color access to affordable, quality health care.
With my uncle being one of the only few administrators of color on staff, there have been personal and professional challenges that he has encountered that has lead him to not only grow professionally but personally as well. One thing he has learned is to communicate effectively will all sorts of audiences whether it be a diagruntled patient or a corporate stakeholder. My uncle uses reflective listening-repeating what the other person says as an affirmative or a question/statement. He also is conscious of his body language, tone, and environment to which he is speaking to his audience-his main priority making sure his message is clear and delivered in a amicable way that is percieved in a safe enviornment that is non-threatening. My uncle also uses various forms of exchange where it is not always a transactionary dialouge or internal but a dialouge that is ankle to have multiple viewpoints and perspectives that lend hand to decison making.
Overall, my uncle is one of the best communicators I know. Personally, I try to embody those traits in my personal and professional life to better convey my thoughts and relay more than just message but a perspective that has the ability to inspire and persuade.
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