Difference between revisions of "Writing for Business Success/Introduction to Business Communication/Communication contexts"
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Maybe we could give an example of references to alcohol. (Or is this too controversial?) This isn't drafting, but here are some ideas... Culture - drinking alcohol may be perceived as fun,sociable or 'manly'; toasting with alcohol at an event may be a sign of respect; but it can be perceived as irresponsible, undignified etc. Experiential - personal experience of addiction in oneself or family members may result in strongly negative attitudes to alcohol; but positive experiences of moderate drinking in a family can set this as a norm of behaviour. Belief - In some religions, drinking alcohol is prohibited, whereas in others it is used as part of religious ceremonies. Values - Some people see alcohol as having a positive effect on society, helping people to relax and socialise; others think it has a damaging effect on society and would feel uncomfortable being involved in its sale or consumption.}} | Maybe we could give an example of references to alcohol. (Or is this too controversial?) This isn't drafting, but here are some ideas... Culture - drinking alcohol may be perceived as fun,sociable or 'manly'; toasting with alcohol at an event may be a sign of respect; but it can be perceived as irresponsible, undignified etc. Experiential - personal experience of addiction in oneself or family members may result in strongly negative attitudes to alcohol; but positive experiences of moderate drinking in a family can set this as a norm of behaviour. Belief - In some religions, drinking alcohol is prohibited, whereas in others it is used as part of religious ceremonies. Values - Some people see alcohol as having a positive effect on society, helping people to relax and socialise; others think it has a damaging effect on society and would feel uncomfortable being involved in its sale or consumption.}} | ||
| − | The meaning of communication, both for the source of the communication and for the receiver, is shaped by the particular experiences that the individual has had in life. These may be experiences from any aspect of life, including education, family, social relationships, and/or health. Any of these elements can shape the meaning of communication for someone, even in a business setting. If we think about the concept of 'time', for example, it is perceived differently in different cultures ''and'' in different contexts. For instance, it may be acceptable in social situations to arrive after the suggested time to meet with friends, but would be considered unprofessional if arriving late for a business appointment. | + | The meaning of communication, both for the source of the communication and for the receiver, is shaped by the particular experiences that the individual has had in life. These may be experiences from any aspect of life, including education, family, social relationships, and/or health. Any of these elements can shape the meaning of communication for someone, even in a business setting. If we think about the concept of 'time', for example, it is perceived differently in different cultures ''and'' in different contexts. For instance, in some cultures, it may be acceptable in social situations to arrive after the suggested time to meet with friends, but would be considered unprofessional if arriving late for a business appointment. |
It is important to remember, then, that different contexts can affect communication, and can sometimes lead to our communication efforts being misunderstood. The context or circumstances surrounding the communication might include the audience, location, cultural beliefs, timing, the choice of words used, and many other factors. | It is important to remember, then, that different contexts can affect communication, and can sometimes lead to our communication efforts being misunderstood. The context or circumstances surrounding the communication might include the audience, location, cultural beliefs, timing, the choice of words used, and many other factors. | ||
Revision as of 21:57, 12 October 2020
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| “ | Without context, a piece of information is just a dot. It floats in your brain with a lot of other dots and doesn't mean a thing. Knowledge is information in context... connecting the dots. | ” |
| —Michael Ventura | ||
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: CG - I like your ideas here, but I think alcohol is a bit of a risky example. Have started drafting something around time...) (: SW - The learning outcome for this course begins 'Analyse how communications are shaped by their cultural, experiential, belief and value contexts...'. However, we don't define 'experiential context' anywhere in the learning materials and the word 'experiential' does not occur anywhere in the Saylor text. Could we add a definition and/or examples of the various contexts listed in the LO here?
NB There is not much on the internet on the concept of 'experiential context', but we could maybe say something like 'The meaning of communication, both for the source of the communication and the receiver, is shaped by the particular experiences that the individual has had in life. These may be experiences from any aspect of life, such as education, family, social relationships or health; any of these experiences can shape the meaning of communication for someone, even in a business setting."
Maybe we could give an example of references to alcohol. (Or is this too controversial?) This isn't drafting, but here are some ideas... Culture - drinking alcohol may be perceived as fun,sociable or 'manly'; toasting with alcohol at an event may be a sign of respect; but it can be perceived as irresponsible, undignified etc. Experiential - personal experience of addiction in oneself or family members may result in strongly negative attitudes to alcohol; but positive experiences of moderate drinking in a family can set this as a norm of behaviour. Belief - In some religions, drinking alcohol is prohibited, whereas in others it is used as part of religious ceremonies. Values - Some people see alcohol as having a positive effect on society, helping people to relax and socialise; others think it has a damaging effect on society and would feel uncomfortable being involved in its sale or consumption.)
The meaning of communication, both for the source of the communication and for the receiver, is shaped by the particular experiences that the individual has had in life. These may be experiences from any aspect of life, including education, family, social relationships, and/or health. Any of these elements can shape the meaning of communication for someone, even in a business setting. If we think about the concept of 'time', for example, it is perceived differently in different cultures and in different contexts. For instance, in some cultures, it may be acceptable in social situations to arrive after the suggested time to meet with friends, but would be considered unprofessional if arriving late for a business appointment.
It is important to remember, then, that different contexts can affect communication, and can sometimes lead to our communication efforts being misunderstood. The context or circumstances surrounding the communication might include the audience, location, cultural beliefs, timing, the choice of words used, and many other factors.
We're going to look at five types of communication context: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Group, Public, and Mass communication. Before you look at the reading below, have a think about what these different communication contexts might be, and how they affect communication choices.
