Paraverbal communication: essence and means
In the process of communication, the spoken word is never neutral, and is often even more important than the content of the message. The meaning of a statement may change depending on what intonation, rhythm, timbre, phrasal and logical stress were used to convey it. All these sound elements of information transmission are called paralinguistic means. Researchers identify the following acoustic means that accompany, complement and replace speech sounds: tempo, pitch, volume, speed, timbre, rhythm, pauses, intonation, sighs, groans, coughing, etc.
Voice characteristics are among the most important factors in the perception of others, since speech tones affect the meaning of a statement, signal emotions, a person’s state, his confidence or uncertainty, etc. Therefore, along with verbal and nonverbal means of communication, paraverbal means - a set of sound signals that accompany oral speech, introducing additional meanings into it . An example of this kind is intonation, signaling the interrogative nature of the sentence, sarcasm, disgust, humor, etc. In other words, with paraverbal communication, a certain part of the information is transmitted through vocal tones, which are given a certain meaning in different languages.
Although individual characteristics of the voice cannot serve as a reliable indicator of a person’s personal qualities, nevertheless, in the process of communication one should remember the important feature of perceiving a person by voice. Listeners tend to assign higher merits to people with more perfect-sounding speech (pleasant timbre, intonation), attribute to them not only high intellectual and psychological qualities (charm, intelligence, friendliness), but also significantly higher partner and business qualities (competence, reliability, confidence, etc.).
Using your voice you can convey basic emotions - fear, anger, joy, surprise and emotional states - goodwill, anxiety, confidence, interest. For example, the emotion of sadness is expressed by a slow rise and fall in the strength and pitch of the voice, increased duration of syllables, and a drop in the strength and sonority of the voice. Fast speech evokes the idea of an active, energetic person, while a low, dull voice is associated with a purposeful, strong-willed, decisive person, etc.
The purpose of paraverbal communication is to evoke in the partner the appropriate emotions, sensations, and experiences that are necessary to achieve certain goals and intentions. Such results are usually achieved with the help of paraverbal means of communication, which include: prosody - rate of speech, timbre, pitch and volume of the voice; extralinguistics - pauses, coughs, sighs, laughter and crying (i.e. sounds that we reproduce with our voices).
The following characteristics of the human voice are the means to achieve effective communication:
- speed of speech, which can be very slow, slightly slow, fast and very fast. The degree of perception of the speaker by communication partners depends on the speed of speech. A lively, lively manner of speaking, a fast pace of speech indicate the impulsiveness of the interlocutor, his confidence in his abilities. On the contrary, a calm, slow manner of speech indicates equanimity, prudence, good mood of the interlocutor, and the richness of his feelings. Noticeable fluctuations in speech rate reveal a lack of balance, uncertainty, and slight excitability. It is believed that the normal speech rate of a person is 140-150 words per minute;
- the volume of speech, which is an expression of a person’s feelings. In terms of volume, a person’s speech varies in the range from very quiet to screaming. Loud speech usually indicates a sincere motivation or arrogance and complacency, while quiet speech indicates restraint, modesty, tact or a lack of vitality, weakness of a person. Noticeable changes in volume indicate emotion and excitement in the interlocutor. As communication practice shows, the lack of logical arguments contributes to the increased emotionality of speech in other cases. In normal communication situations, you should speak at a normal volume, since a calm and respectable voice relieves tension and arouses interest in communication;
- articulation. Clear and distinct pronunciation of words indicates the speaker’s internal discipline and his need for clarity. Unclear, vague pronunciation speaks of compliance, uncertainty, and lethargy of will;
- pitch of voice. Voices also differ in their ability to influence other people. The pitch of the voice depends on the age, gender and individual personality characteristics of a person. Women and children have shorter and thinner vocal cords than men, so their voice pitch is about an octave higher. Falsetto is often characteristic of a person whose thinking and speech are based more on the intellect. A chesty voice is a sign of increased natural emotionality. A high, shrill voice is a sign of fear and excitement;
- speech mode. Rhythmic speaking means richness of feelings, balance, good mood. Strictly cyclical speaking indicates a strong awareness of what is being experienced, tension of will, discipline, and pedantry. An angular, abrupt manner of speech serves as an expression of sober, purposeful thinking.
Thus, paraverbal communication is based on the tonal and timbre features of language and their use in culture. On this basis, quiet and loud cultures can be distinguished.
For example, in Europe, Americans are criticized for speaking too loudly. This trait of theirs is born of the fact that very often for sociable Americans it does not matter whether their speech is listened to or not. It is much more important for them to show their competence and openness. In contrast, the British have a completely different point of view: they believe that they should not interfere in matters other than their own. Therefore, they have a particularly developed ability to direct their speech directly to the desired partner and at the same time take into account not only the noise level, but also the distance.
Paradoxically, silence plays a very important role in communication. In different cultures, the idea of how much silence is necessary for adequate communication has its own national specifics.
For example, Americans cannot stand long pauses and always try to fill them with talking. Therefore, when foreign journalists or businessmen travel to the United States to obtain the necessary information, they are instructed: take long pauses and the Americans will tell you everything themselves.
In intercultural communication, the intonation of verbal communication is important, which often determines the meaning and content of the transmitted information.
For example, in European languages, significant information is highlighted using contrastive stress. In South Asian languages, it is the other way around: new information is communicated more quietly than what is already known. In some Arab and African cultures, speaking volume is used as a means of regulating the speaker-listener role reversal. In European cultures, speaking loudly and simultaneously means an argument or quarrel.
The culturally specific features of paraverbal communication are also reflected in the speed of speech.
For example, Finns speak relatively slowly and with long pauses. This linguistic feature gave them the image of people who think for a long time and act slowly. In the culture of North American Indians, pauses lasting several minutes within one speech message are considered normal. Fast-speaking cultures are represented by speakers of Romance languages (French, Romanians, Moldovans, Gypsies), who practically do not pause between segments of speech. According to this indicator, Germans occupy a middle position, but speaking speed is higher in Berlin and lower in northern Germany.
Another means of paraverbal communication is the manner of speech: in some cultures they speak a lot, while in others they speak laconicly and in few words. In a number of cultures, the content of what is said is often of secondary importance.
For example, in the language and literature of the Arabs, the content and meaning of what is said are not the main thing. There, preference is given to wordplay. Different words can be used with the same meaning. Arabs love to express the same idea in different words.
Paraverbal communication and its impact on intercultural communication.
Along with verbal and nonverbal means of communication, paraverbal means are also used in communication, which are a set of sound signals that accompany oral speech, adding additional meaning to it. An example of this kind is intonation, which signals to us the interrogative nature of a sentence, sarcasm, disgust, humor, etc. That is, in paraverbal communication, information is transmitted through voice tones, which are given a certain meaning in different languages. Therefore, the spoken word is never neutral. The way we speak is sometimes more important than the content of the message.
The following characteristics of the human voice are the means to achieve effective communication.
* Speech speed. A lively, lively manner of speaking and a fast pace of speech indicate the impulsiveness of the interlocutor and his confidence in his abilities. And, on the contrary, a calm, slow manner of speech indicates the equanimity, prudence, and thoroughness of the speaker. Noticeable fluctuations in speech rate reveal a person’s lack of balance, uncertainty, and slight excitability.
* Volume. High volume of speech is usually associated with sincere motives or arrogance and complacency. While low volume indicates restraint, modesty, tact or lack of vitality, weakness of a person. Noticeable changes in volume indicate emotion and excitement in the interlocutor. As communication practice shows, the lack of logical arguments contributes to the increased emotionality of speech in other cases.
* Articulation. Clear and distinct pronunciation of words indicates the speaker’s internal discipline and his need for clarity. Unclear, vague pronunciation indicates compliance, uncertainty, and lethargy of will.
*Voice pitch. Falsetto is often characteristic of a person whose thinking and speech are based more on the intellect. A chesty voice is a sign of increased natural emotionality. A high, shrill voice is a sign of fear and excitement.
* Speech mode. Rhythmic speaking means richness of feelings, balance, good mood. Strictly cyclical speaking shows a strong awareness of what is being experienced, tension of will, discipline, and pedantry. An angular, abrupt manner of speech serves as an expression of sober, purposeful thinking.
The purpose of paraverbal communication is to evoke in a partner certain emotions, sensations, experiences that are necessary to achieve certain goals and intentions. Such results are usually achieved with the help of paraverbal means of communication, which include: prosody - this is the rate of speech, timbre, pitch and volume of the voice; extralinguistics are pauses, coughs, sighs, laughter and crying (that is, sounds that we reproduce with our voices).
Paraverbal communication is based on the tonal and timbre features of language and their use in culture. On this basis, quiet and loud cultures can be distinguished. In Europe, for example, Americans are criticized for speaking too loudly. This trait of theirs is caused by the fact that very often for sociable Americans it does not matter whether their speech is listened to or not. It is much more important for them to show their competence and openness. In contrast, the British have a completely different point of view: they believe that they should not interfere in matters other than their own. Therefore, they have a particularly developed ability to direct their speech directly to the desired partner and at the same time take into account not only the noise level, but also the distance.
Culture-specific features of paraverbal communication are also expressed in speech speed. For example, Finns speak relatively slowly and with long pauses. This linguistic feature gave them the image of people who think for a long time and act slowly. Fast-speaking cultures include speakers of Romance languages (French, Romanians, Moldovans, Gypsies). Germans rank in the middle on this score, although speaking speed is higher in Berlin and lower in northern Germany.
The next means of paraverbal communication is the manner, on the one hand, of speaking verbosely, and on the other, concisely, without using too many words. In many cultures, the content of what is said is often of secondary importance. This manner is highly valued among the Arabs, in whose language and literature the content and meaning of what is said is not the main thing. There, preference is given to wordplay. Different words can be used with the same meaning. Arabs love to express the same idea in different words.
9. The concept of culture and its basic definitions.
Intercultural communication, like any other scientific field, carries out its research using a number of concepts and categories that reveal the content and specific features of the processes and problems being studied in their subject area. The central place among them is occupied by the concept of “culture”. To get the most general idea of what culture is, it is necessary first of all to turn to the etymology of the term denoting this complex phenomenon.
In modern humanities, the concept of “culture” belongs to the category of fundamental ones. It is difficult to imagine a more widespread term, which appears in many meanings not only in everyday language, but also in various sciences.
The variety of definitions gives rise to the desire to organize them, subsuming them under various classifications, among which the following can be distinguished:
• sociological, when culture is understood as a factor in the organization of social life, as a set of ideas, principles, social institutions that ensure the collective life of people. An example of such an understanding would be the following definition: “Culture is that which defines the social aspect of the human personality in terms of learned and acquired behavior. Culture is dynamic, as is the individual who has adopted this culture, and both of them (both the individual and the culture) change under the influence of circumstances and time”;
• historical, when the emphasis is on the fact that culture is a product of the history of society and develops through the transfer of human experience from generation to generation, for example: “Culture is the result of joint life activity, and the main components of culture are a clearly defined group of people and a specific history of their existence . Culture defines the ways in which different societies standardize and canonize approved norms of behavior, as well as the ways in which society expresses rejection of inappropriate behavior patterns";
• normative, according to which the content of culture consists of norms and rules regulating people's lives. For example, in the dictionary “Culturology. XX century" culture is presented as "a set of artificial orders and objects created by people in addition to natural, learned forms of human behavior and activity, acquired knowledge, images of self-knowledge and symbolic designations of the surrounding world." This class also includes the definition of culture as “a system of knowledge and norms for perception, representation, evaluation and action. It is a system of socially learned behavior patterns that serves to interact people with the world around them. It develops over time and constantly, albeit slowly, evolves”;
• psychological, which are based on the relationship between culture and the psychology of human behavior and see in it the socially determined features of the human psyche, for example: “Culture is a way of life, the context in which we exist, think, feel and communicate with each other. This is the “glue” that binds a group of people together. This is a program laid down from early childhood that controls the behavior of people in society and helps to understand what is expected of them and what will happen if these expectations are not met. Culture can be defined as the ideas, customs, skills, methods and techniques that characterize a given group of people during a given period of time";
• didactic, considering culture as a set of qualities that a person receives in the process of learning and which are not inherited genetically, for example: “Culture consists of ideals, values and ideas about life that are inherent in people and determine their behavior. Culture is brought up and acquired from childhood and passed on from generation to generation”;
• anthropological, who see the main meaning of culture in activity and understand it as “the totality of the results of the activities of human society in all spheres of life and all factors (ideas, beliefs, customs, traditions) that make up and determine the way of life of a nation, class, group of people in a certain period of time". With this approach to understanding culture, it summarizes the values, norms and symbol systems of any society, which are reflected in the thinking, ideas, perceptions and behavioral characteristics of its carriers.
One of the most common definitions of culture in modern Western cultural anthropology belongs to A. Kroeber and K. Kluckhohn, who argue that “...culture can be defined as all types of activities, and not physiological results (products of human individuals that are not absolutely reflexive or instinctive -mi). This further means, in the language of biology and physiology, that culture consists of conditioned reflex and learned activities, as well as their derivative products. In turn, the idea of learning brings us back to what is socially transmitted, i.e. transmitted by tradition, acquired by man as a member of society.”
Characteristics of culture:
• culture is a universal phenomenon of human life, therefore there is not a single human community or social group without its inherent culture;
• culture is a product of the joint life activity of people;
• culture finds its expression in values, rules, customs, traditions;
• culture is not inherited genetically, but is acquired through learning;
• humanity is not a single social collective; different populations of people have created different ethnic, regional, and social cultures;
• culture is dynamic, it is capable of self-development and self-renewal, the constant generation of new forms and methods
• satisfying the interests and needs of people adapting culture to the changing conditions of their existence;
• culture is the result of the collective life of people, but its carriers are individuals;
• culture functions as the basis for self-identification of society and its members, awareness by its bearers of their group and individual selves, distinction between “us” and “strangers” in interaction with other cultures and peoples.
The noted diversity of definitions, interpretations, meanings and methodological approaches is probably quite natural, since it is due to the fact that culture is an extremely complex and multifaceted phenomenon that expresses all aspects of human existence. For this reason, culture is studied by many sciences - semiotics, sociology, history, anthropology, axiology, linguistics, ethnology, etc. Each of the sciences singles out one of its sides or parts as the subject of its study, approaches its study with its own methods and methods, formulating your own understanding and definition of culture.
Paraverbal characteristics of speech
Human voice much more informative than we think. What does it tell us? interlocutor's voice? And he is able to talk about a lot of things, even if we do not see the interlocutor.Firstly, about the age of the speaker. This happens if the voice is old, mumbled, ringing, breaking, childish, grumpy.
About health (both physical and mental), when his speech or voice is weak, cold, hysterical, lifeless, tired, colorless, slurred, goondy, nasal, hoarse, hoarse, dull, lively, ragged, smoky, ringing, cheerful.
The voice also informs us about the attitude towards the interlocutor : rude, insinuating, friendly, impudent, angry, familiar, surprised, friendly, angry, ingratiating, indifferent, mentoring, impudent, mocking, crafty, sarcastic.
About self-esteem : self-confident, familiar, ingratiating, arrogant, bossy, timid, trembling, fearful, flattering.
About the hierarchy of the speaker: strict, stern, bossy, pleading, ingratiating.
About the state of mind, emotions : lifeless, angry, dissatisfied, whiny, calm, upset, indifferent, upset, trembling, extinct, fallen, crushed, amazed.
Often the voice can also speak about the nationality and regional origin of the speaker. After all, we are all familiar with the Caucasian accent, the northern “Okanye”, the accent of a German or American speaking Russian, etc. A specialist can even determine over the phone that he is dealing not with a native Muscovite, but with a visitor.
Finally, there are many definitions that characterize the purely acoustic features of the speaker's voice and tone . These are: dull, velvety, trembling, chesty, hoarse, monotonous, bassy, melodic, sonorous, strong, dull, breaking, well-placed, hoarse, goondy, torn, clear.
It is not surprising that some definitions for the speaker’s voice and tone appear more than once - after all, the same definition carries several units of information. So, for example, a “grumpy voice” speaks of mood, hierarchy, and to some extent, the age of the speaker, and, in addition, carries some information about the acoustic characteristics of the voice , which is unlikely to be ringing, melodious and pleasant. This definition even gives us some idea of the character and mental characteristics of a person.
That's why WHAT they say is not always important, but HOW they say it is always important.
