Listening Attitudes Principles Skills Chapter 4 Objectives After

Listening: Attitudes, Principles, & Skills Chapter 4 Objectives After completing this chapter, you will become more aware of: • The mental processes involved in listening comprehension • The function of inner speech in listening comprehension • The ways in which listeners can positively influence the creation of shared meanings • The ways in which listeners can improve their comprehension

The Goal of Understanding Complete understanding between two people is an elusive goal. Not only are meanings personal and unique, but there is the possibility that senders are purposefully unclear or receivers purposefully misunderstand what is said. The meanings we assign are approximate.

Language & Thought Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis The language people use to describe their world is directly related to their patterns of thought about that world. Language not only develops as a result of cultural needs, it also determines the way in which a group of people perceives their environment.

Inner Speech Knowledge of inner speech helps you monitor your listening behavior so that you can better select and implement specific strategies to accomplish your listening goals. Four characteristics of Inner Speech: • Egocentric • Silent • Compressed syntax • Semantic embeddedness

Types of Questions • Open • Closed • Leading • Probing

Let the Speaker Finish • Monitor your behavior—determine when you are most likely to interrupt • Listen to understand, not to refute • Solicit help from your friends if you don’t recognize the times you interrupt

Note Taking Reminders • It demonstrates you value the speaker’s ideas • It is situational • It is learned • It is helpful to prepare to take notes • It is often good to let the speaker know you are taking notes

Patterns of Organization • • • Chronological Toical Spatial Orderof importance or complexity Problem-solution

Understanding when Communication is Mediated Characteristics: • • • Fast Fragmented Unplanned Extensive use of abbreviations Often ambiguous language Limited vocabulary