Writing for Business Success/Delivering your message/Principles of Verbal Communication
Read Chapter 2.3 in Business Communication for Success. Language shapes our experience of reality and worldviews, or personal frames of reference. This reading describes the rules of syntax, semantics, and context that govern language, and how they vary across situational, social, and cultural contexts. For example, different denotative and connotative word meanings make communicating effectively in the same language a challenge. Across languages, cultures, and generations, challenges can multiply. Expanding our frames of reference is difficult. Yet, considering ‘other’ worldviews is necessary to communicate effectively with audiences who have different experiences than one’s own. This reading advises use of concrete language terms, descriptive examples, and critical reflection to increase communication effectiveness.
Recommended: Do the two chapter exercises, which ask you to practice writing English sentences with correct and incorrect syntax, and different denotative and connotative meanings. Reflect: The second exercise asks you whether you associate meaning with the car someone drives, and if so, what you think it says about them. What biases, if any, pop up? On a similar track, what meaning, if any, would you associate with the smartphone or laptop someone owns? And, do biases pop up?
Writing Self-Asssessment Learning Aid-2
Revisit the Center for Plain Language website. Earlier in the course, you were invited to explore their plain language checklist to assess your writing experiences in this course. With what you know now, try applying their Write Better 5-step checklist to your own writing practice. You can find the Write Better checklist under the Tools tab on the Center For Plain Language website. This checklist includes criteria for assessing audiences, tone, information design, credible testing, and usability guidelines, as well as the basic requirements.
Respond to these reflection questions in your learning journal: Where are your learning strengths? Which areas interest you most? What is your biggest challenge?
