Demonstrative Communication Paper
Andrea Dunn Individual Assignment week 2 BCOM/275 Version 1 Tim Wolfe October 30, 2011 Demonstrative communication dates way back before birth as well as before our parents were born and will continue to be of great importance throughout history this paper will attempt to explain how it involves both listening and responding, can be effective or ineffective, positive or negative for the sender and receiver. Non- verbal cues are used in everyday interactions and can often times speak louder than verbal communication.
Think back to childhood how momma’s eye contact was understood nothing had to be said and what she wanted was done just by the look she gave. How about in school the raising of hands to answer a question/ask a question? teachers understand these gestures. The same is true in business managers and employees communicate frequently through expectations; for instance the time clock employees want to be paid so they punch the clock. Managers want to acknowledge punctual employees so they review time sheets generated from time clocks.
In essence demonstrative communication is of great importance and is an essential part of communication. Listening to music can involve demonstrative communication the receiver (the listener) hears the music and responds to the sender by body motions such as dancing, bobbing of feet, snapping fingers, tapping feet and so forth these movements help the sender to understand that the music is being enjoyed. Let’s look at a lawyer by the name of Belli whom effectively used demonstrative communication by using visual aids and demonstrative materials in the court room. Consider this excerpt from Visual Materials with a point; Belli used scale models to check clearance distances on highway accidents, he even brought a patient who weighed four hundred pounds up to the second floor of a courtroom by means of an outdoor lift because he could not be brought in through a first floor entrance all in an effort to show by actual presence what he could not describe verbally. ” (pg. 16). The forms of demonstrative communication/materials which Belli (the sender) used had a positive effect on the jurors (the receivers) because they were able to understand at a profound level. If not careful there are instances where the use of demonstrative communication can be ineffective.
A commentary not dated gave some “practical tips and tactics for maximizing and leveraging demonstrative exhibits” let’s examine number 14 from the commentary it states; “Know your audience” Daniel & Lance (n. d). Having no prior knowledge of the audience you plan to address could prove to be ineffective. For instance the audience of a traffic police is all drivers including bicyclists. A non-verbal cue when interpreted correctly helps traffic to be directed smoothly avoiding accidents. The examples used throughout this paper are just a few instances to describe demonstrative communication.
There are much more examples not shown here the point is what is understood physically (facial expressions, tone of voice, sense of touch, sense of smell, and body motions) don’t have to be said. Closing thoughts showing an awareness of non-verbal cues will have a winning effect with communication. Learn to pay attention to facial expressions it will give a better chance of figuring out the meaning behind the message the sender attempts to send through words. Your eye contact can help to gain trust; as not properly knowing when to use touch can cause barriers to trust.
Demonstrative communication dates way back before birth as well as before our parents were born and will continue to be of great importance throughout history. Let’s put more thought into non-verbal cues to heighten understanding and cooperation amongst one another. Senders and receivers are in tuned with the communication process by “determining what they hope to achieve, Identifying the key points, considering the reaction, determining what channel to use, deliverance, ensure the message was received and understood, receive and interpret the response to the message, then decide f further communication is necessary” bcom275 r1 (2011). Communication is an essential part of life; knowledge of the correct use of demonstrative communication will go further than words could express and barriers will be lifted so listening and responding will no longer be a mystery and communication will be more effective and positive vs. ineffective and negative.
References Bcom275_r1_the communication process Retrieved from OLS at Phoenix Daniel Wolfe and Lance, J. (n. d). Commentary: Tactics, ethical considerations in Leveraging demonstrations. Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, Retrieved from Ebscohost Palzer, E. (1962). Visual Materials with a point. Today’s speech, 10(2), 15-27, Retrieved From Ebscohost
