Communication and Discourse: Key Concepts and Forms
Topic 1: Communication Concepts
A lexical family is a set of words that share the same lexeme. Communication is the process by which information is transmitted from one point to another.
Elements of Communication
- Sender: Has the intention of transmitting information, developing a message, and sending it to its recipient.
- Message: The sequence of signs that the sender creates to reach their partner.
- Receiver: Receives and interprets the message.
- Channel: The physical means by which the message travels from sender to receiver.
- Code: A set of rules for combining signs that the sender uses to create the message.
- Situation: Circumstances or events affecting the sender and receiver that condition the interpretation of the message.
Ways of Communicating
Verbal communication uses words to pass on messages, articulating sounds with which linguistic signs are formed. These signs represent objects and facts of reality. By uniting them with the rules of grammar, we create more complex messages with which we express our thoughts. It is primarily oral but can also be written.
Nonverbal communication uses signs that are not linguistic, primarily gestures, colors, or certain sounds.
- Bilateral communication: The recipient of a message may, in turn, become the sender to respond to the message received.
- Unilateral communication: If the change of roles is not possible.
Signs
A sign can be anything perceived by the senses that evokes another object or event with which it bears some relation. There are three types:
- Evidence: Based on a cause-effect relationship between two facts (e.g., limping indicates an injury).
- Icons: Based on the relation of resemblance between two events or objects.
- Symbols: Conventional signs that maintain an arbitrary relationship with the object or event they represent.
Topic 2: Forms of Discourse
Narrative is the verbal reproduction of a series of events (real or imaginary) that someone performs in a particular chronological order.
Description consists of representing the characteristics of something so that the partner may see it in their imagination.
Dialogue is the reproduction of words and thoughts of several people who speak to each other.
Exposition is to present a series of ideas neatly on a subject in order to increase the knowledge and understanding of the partner.
Argumentation is to defend a particular view with the presentation of evidence and reasons with the aim of persuading the interlocutor.
Advertising description intends to convince the reader or listener of the merits of a product with the intention that they buy it.
Topic 3: Character Description
Observation: Look closely at a person and then write down their traits to describe them.
Selection: Choose the most important features for the description.
Management: Order the features to be described.
Drafting: Write the description.
Types of Character Descriptions
- Physical: The author focuses on the external appearance of the character, as it can be seen from the outside.
- Psychological (Ethopoeia): Focuses on the interior of the character.
- Portrait: A complex description that includes both the external and internal description of the character.