5: Obstacles to Better Communication
- Page ID
- 21984
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)This chapter is designed to reveal some of the major pitfalls in normal communication. Usually your goal is to communicate well. You want to be clear, to be precise, and to get the message across with the proper tone. But not always. There are many reasons for not wanting to directly say what you mean. That birthday present from Aunt Bessie deserves a thank you, but you don't want to tell her that the present itself is useless to you. And when you insert into your history essay the famous remark "History is a pack of tricks played on the dead," you don't intend to be taken literally. However, this chapter explores the logical aspects of good communication when you do want to say what you mean and mean what you say. This goal is not always easy to achieve, as we will see.
- 5.1: Not Realizing What You Are Saying
- This page discusses communication challenges faced by non-native English speakers, illustrated through humorous misunderstandings from signs and menus. It emphasizes the need for clarity in conveying meanings accurately. An exercise invites readers to revise a poorly written car rental brochure, reinforcing the importance of effective written communication skills.
- 5.2: Abusing Rules of Grammar
- This page emphasizes the significance of spelling, grammar, and semantics for effective communication, noting the challenges of English spelling. It introduces the "principle of charity," advocating for clear expression to prevent misunderstandings. Humorous examples of poor writing underscore the necessity for clarity, and the page concludes with an exercise focused on rewriting ambiguous statements.
- 5.3: Over-Using Euphemisms
- This page explores euphemisms, which replace harsh terms to facilitate sensitive communication while potentially deceiving. It contrasts euphemisms with doubletalk, highlighting their impact in political and military contexts. The role of connotations in shaping perception and public opinion through word choice is emphasized. Understanding these nuances is essential for effective communication.
- 5.4: Unintended Innuendo
- This page explores innuendo in communication, highlighting how subtle negative suggestions can alter perceptions. It uses a letter from Anne's parents to exemplify hints at her perceived slowness, and contrasts various recommendation letters to show how tone can change message interpretation. The discussion underscores the impact of positive versus negative language, illustrating the influence of the writer's emotional tone on the recipient's perception.
- 5.5: Disobeying Rules of Discourse
- This page outlines essential discourse rules for effective communication, stressing the importance of understanding the listener's perspective and adhering to conversational expectations. Key principles include clarity, courtesy, honesty, and avoiding irrelevant information. It notes sarcasm as a strategic breach of these rules to convey opposite meanings. The text emphasizes that these norms enhance understanding and interaction in both writing and speaking.
- 5.6: Not Sticking to the Issue and Not Treating It Fairly
- This page outlines essential principles of effective argumentation, highlighting the importance of accepting the burden of proof, identifying core issues in disagreements, and staying focused to avoid distractions. It advocates for fair play and respectful engagement in discussions while providing guidance on constructing effective counterarguments to address opposing views, ultimately promoting constructive dialogue and thoughtful conflict resolution.
- 5.7: Giving Too Many Details
- This page emphasizes that effective communication relies on clarity and conciseness, warning against overwhelming audiences with excessive details. It uses the metaphor of "failing to see the forest for the trees" to illustrate how focusing too much on specifics can obscure the main message. The page advises communicators to prioritize essential information to improve audience understanding.
- 5.8: Re-defining the Issue
- This page examines the complexities of framing issues in debates, particularly the tension between public health and individual freedoms, as seen in smoking and abortion counseling discussions. It highlights how parties manipulate definitions for their advantage, leading to misunderstandings. The text advocates for clear issue definition to enable informed dialogue and decision-making, using examples to stress the necessity of addressing interconnected issues in public policy.
- 5.9: Covering Up the Reasons That Favor Your Opponent
- This page highlights the significance of fairness and truth in reasoning, warning against misrepresenting opposing views. It illustrates this with an analogy of wooden versus brick buildings, showing how selective information can distort perceptions. It points out biases in representation, such as politically influenced newspaper headlines, and underscores the necessity for balanced reasoning.
- 5.10: Review of Major Points
- This page discusses the common failures in effective communication by writers and speakers, highlighting issues like unclear language and poor structure. It introduces the principle of charity for interpreting ambiguous statements and stresses the duty of communicators to substantiate claims and stay on topic. The page distinguishes between fact and opinion while exploring concepts such as burden of proof, fallacies, and counterarguments.
- 5.11: Glossary
- This page covers essential concepts in argumentation and reasoning, focusing on the burden of proof, counterarguments, and common fallacies like avoiding the issue and red herring. It introduces terms such as innuendo and the principle of charity and emphasizes the need to tackle specific issues and beliefs. The principle of shifting the burden of proof is explained, illustrating the interactions between opposing views in debates.
- 5.12: Exercises
- This page discusses exercises in language and reasoning, focusing on enhancing communication through identifying euphemisms, clarifying ambiguity, and analyzing logical consistency. It further examines the death penalty's role as a deterrent and critiques political corruption while urging critical analysis of public arguments.