3.1 Introduction to Verbal Communication and Listening
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to
- Articulate how language develops and affects meaning
- Discuss strategies for improving verbal communication and word choice
- Describe the listening process and barriers to effective listening
- Identifying effective listening strategies
- Describe active listening and its benefits
- Discuss how language, listening, and culture affect one another
Chapter Overview
In this chapter, we will learn about the relationship between language and meaning, how we come to know the content and rules of verbal communication, the functions of language, how to use words well, and the relationship between language and culture. Along with language, we will also discuss listening, which is the primary means through which we learn new information. The act of listening is important to our relationships with others, and listening to what others say about us helps us develop an accurate self-concept. This can help us more strategically communicate our identity needs in order to project to others our desired self. Overall, improving our language and listening skills can help us be better students, better relational partners, and more successful professionals.
Attribution
Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been reproduced or adapted from the following resource:
University of Minnesota. (2016). Communication in the real world: An introduction to communication studies. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, except where otherwise noted.
