Language and Nonverbal Communication

For this post, you need to respond to the prompts below. This time, you can choose to do that in either a 400-600 word post typed directly into the discussion – so no attachments like a Word document in written form (points WILL be taken off for not meeting the word count requirement). If choosing the written format, you also need to put the word count at the end of your post (for example “523 words”). Or you can utilize a video clip again if you prefer. If you choose to post a video, be sure to speak to the camera and record your responses by answering the following questions clearly in 2-4 minutes total. Please keep to these parameters as failing to do so WILL impact your grade.  Language and words have a lot of power. Language has the power to build and shape relationships and the power to cause misunderstandings and conflict. Some of this can even happen with the basics of how people come to understand each other. This discussion helps you to see some of the ways that even things that seem simple can be understood in different ways. Are there differences in what a word can mean to different people? Is there a wide range of meanings that people can have of everyday words? What might influence a person’s understanding of a word? How might differences in meaning impact how people communicate with each other? Touch is a form of nonverbal communication that is highly affected by social and cultural rules.  What are some of the rules of touch that you perceive?  How are these rules different for men and women?  Do you feel like these different standards are “fair?”  How are the rules for touch different in other cultures?  How comfortable would you be with the rules in some of these other cultures?