Oral Communication: Skills, Choices, and Consequences

330 Pages·2011·5.64 MB·English

by  Kathryn Sue Young

Third Edition
ORAL COMMUNICATION
Skills, Choices, and Consequences
Kathryn Sue Young
Professor and Chair, Mansfield University
Howard Paul Travis
Emeritus, Mansfield University
WAVELAND
PRESS, INC.
Long Grove, Illinois
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Copyright © 2012 by Waveland Press, Inc.
10-digit ISBN 1-57766-745-X
13-digit ISBN 978-1-57766-745-2
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Printed in the United States of America
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Authors
KATHRYN SUE YOUNG has taught at the college level for over 25 years at
The Pennsylvania State University, Clarion University, and the Univer-
sity of Central Arkansas. She is currently a full professor and depart-
ment chair at Mansfield University. She wrote Group Discussion: A
Practical Guide to Participation and Leadership, 4th edition, with Wood,
Phillips, and Pedersen, which is also available in a Korean translation.
She co-authored Communicating Nonverbally: A Practical Guide to Pre-
senting Yourself More Effectively, and Business and Professional Communi-
cation: A Practical Guide to Workplace Effectiveness with Howard Paul
Travis. She has published numerous articles, including an article in a
joint American–Russian publication, and has presented numerous
papers at national conferences. She is active in the community, sharing
her expertise in parliamentary procedure.
HOWARD TRAVIS taught at the university level for 37 years. His former
students work nationally and globally in media as on-air talent, writers,
producers, directors, technicians, sales executives, lawyers, public rela-
tions/promotion practitioners, media managers, and media CEOs. He
retired early from his teaching career in 2002. Mansfield University of
Pennsylvania awarded him professor emeritus status, and he holds the
rank of Honorary Professor of Communication, Volgograd State Uni-
versity, Volgograd, Russia.
iii
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Acknowledgments
Inspiration challenges the human spirit to achieve the impossible.
My willingness to take risks and do new things reflects the enthusiasm
of unique people who crossed my path on life’s journey.
The idea for this book came from Dr. Kathryn Sue Young, a former
colleague. An innocent phone call to discuss a book idea led to a joyful
collaboration. Her enthusiasm, intelligence, and patience made the
writing process tons of fun. Thank you, Sue!
The book also allowed me to reconnect with friends and Montclair
State alumni who shared my enthusiasm for this project. Their profes-
sional experience and thoughts are used as sidebars throughout the
text. It’s comforting to know so many corporate executives are inter-
ested in sharing what they have learned with future generations. Their
lives continue to inspire me and make me glad to be alive.
Finally, teachers who open the door to information, imagination,
professional discipline and global culture are remarkable gifts. Edward
Stasheff, Zelma Weisfeld, Ralph Herbert, and Frederic W. Ziv were
inspirational gifts to me. Thank you. Each one enriched my life and my
academic career.
—Howard Paul Travis
Together, we would like to express a debt of gratitude to Bia Ber-
num, Assistant Professor of Communication, Mansfield University of
Pennsylvania, for creating, developing, and writing a professional and
innovative online instructor’s manual for our book. In addition, she
provided a criteria example in the reflective thinking section, the rea-
sonable goals list in persuasive speaking, and innovative terms and
concepts such as a “key” for organization. When we moved on to the
second edition, she continued to supply unique examples from her
classroom experiences for us to use. She also provided the new infor-
mation in the second edition about the feedback and self-disclosure
continuums in the Johari Window and the addition of the categories of
bullying, delaying, and withdrawing in the conflict-resolution model.
She is a valued colleague and extremely creative teacher.
v
vi Acknowledgments
Holly Pieper, Assistant Professor of Communication, Mansfield
University of Pennsylvania, also gave us thoughtful insights and sug-
gested new sections, such as preparing for the interview, that greatly
enhanced the second edition. We would like to thank the professors
who wrote to Waveland Press with suggestions for changes as well. The
thoughtful editing and insightful commentary about the first edition
by Raymond R. Ozley provided us with excellent guidance.
For the third edition, we would like to express our deepest gratitude
to Michael Southard, who worked diligently to find the newest and
most up-to-date materials for us to include in the new edition. In addi-
tion, Tom Walton and Lori Norin at University of Arkansas Fort Smith
provided feedback that helped us to reshape some of the concepts.
—Kathryn Sue Young and Howard Paul Travis
First and foremost, this book is dedicated to all of my students, who
continue to inspire me. I thank you for being in the classroom, for
engaging with the material, and for continuing to teach me about com-
munication and the world. Without you, I couldn’t do the job I love.
Second, this book is dedicated to the people who have guided me to
this profession or believed in me and mentored me. To Gerald M. Phil-
lips, who educated, encouraged, and challenged me; to Arlie Parks, who
guided me to graduate school; to Julia Wood, Douglas Pedersen, and
Nancy Phillips, who gave me my first opportunity to write a book; to
Herman Cohen, who always treated me as though I had something
important to say; to all of my professors at Penn State University who
taught me how to think and instilled a love of this field; and to Carol
Rowe and the editors at Waveland Press, who continue to teach me
about writing effectively—I am eternally grateful.
Third, this book is dedicated to the people who give me strength in
my life: my husband, daughters, my parents, my friends—you all know
who you are.
Finally, I dedicate this book to my coauthor, Howard P. Travis. This
project is a great journey, and the synergy we experience is tremendous.
—Kathryn Sue Young
Professional Contributors Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the professional men and
women who enthusiastically supported the development of the book.
They share their thoughts with you as encouragement to pursue your
dream. Your dream lies in the future, and you must walk forward. Your
present and past experiences are your history. Learn from them, but
never take your eyes off your dream.
Acknowledgments vii
Mandy Aikens, Director of NCAA Compliance and Academic Account-
ability Program Director, Nyack College
Julie Allen, Senior Human Resources Specialist, The Summit Federal
Credit Union
Vincent Andaloro, President and Founder, Latin-Pak Direct Marketing
T. W. Anderson, Adolescent Therapist
Anonymous (a member of the professional staff at a large museum)
Maureen C. Baker, President, Highland Ventures, Inc.
Jim Benson, President, Vision Quest Productions
Helene B., Lead Programmer Analyst
Bia Bernum, Assistant Professor, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Robert Buchanan, Producer, NBC News/Dateline
Lori L. Burrows, Commission Legal Advisor, Arkansas Public Service
Commission. Former Peace Corps Volunteer (1999–2001), Pohnpei
State, Federated States of Micronesia
Greg Chesterton, former undergraduate student, The Pennsylvania
State University
Robert H. Christie, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications,
The New York Times Company
Carrie L. Clarke, stay-at-home parent
Kathleen Corrigan, Legal Clearances, Grey Global Group
Emilee Danielson, Assistant Dean of Students, Shippensburg University
Jana Polsky Deneroff, Writer/Producer, Creative Services, CBS/West-
wood One Radio Networks
Dean De Peri, Director, Human Resources, CIGNA HealthCare
Christina DeVries, Senior Account Manager, Spotlight Payroll Inc.
Angela Dickson, Marketing Manager for the American Architectural
Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
Edward Gallardo, Playwright
Allynn Gooen, International Performance Artist
Dr. Aparna G. Hebbani, Lecturer, School of Journalism and Communi-
cation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Lisa Hanasono, Assistant Professor, Bowling Green State University
Hyun Mook Kim, former international student, Mansfield University
Sarah Loher, graduate, Mansfield University
Alysa Lucas, Assistant Professor, Mansfield University
Barry McCauliff, Account Executive, The Investment Center
Cami McCormick, Network Correspondent, CBS Network Radio News
Dr. Larry Miller, Professor Emeritus, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
viii Acknowledgments
Roberta J. Miller, Casework Supervisor, Retired
Wes Moon, Interior Designer
John W. Nichols, Executive Director, The Art Museum Partnership
Raymond R. Ozley, Lecturer, University of Montevallo
Eric Schmidt, nontraditional student, graduate, Mansfield University
Michael Southard, graduate, Mansfield University
Gene R. Sower, Vice President, Production, West Glen Communica-
tions, Inc.
David P. Strus, Law Enforcement Officer, Nutley, New Jersey
Tracy Synowsky, stay-at-home parent
Lance Walden, Northwest Regional Radio Promotions, Universal
Republic Records
Raymond Weaver, New Programs Educator, Cornell Cooperative Exten-
sion, former secondary English teacher, Ilsan, South Korea.
Robert C. Weigand, Senior Manager, Project Planning and Administra-
tion, ABC
Corey D. Welch, Operations Supervisor, Arkansas Student Loan Authority
Stacy Wolfe, Internal Sales/ Manufacturing, Seaboard International
Contents
Preface xiii
one
Communicating for Life 1
Communication Basics 2
Why Is Communication Important? 3
Communication Process 4
Types of Communication 11
Basic Communication Principles 13
Adapting 14
Summary 15
Key Words 15 Discussion/Activities 16
two
Perception 17
The Perceptual Process 17
Perception Management 21
Varying Perceptions 22
Stereotyping 23
Fact versus Inference 25
Attributing Meaning 27
Perception Checking 28
Perception Related to Self-Concept 30
Perception Related to Self-Esteem 32
Summary 33
Key Words 34 Discussion/Activities 34
three
Language 35
Symbols 36
Denotative and Connotative Meanings 40
Content and Relationship Levels of Meaning 43
The Influence of Language 44
ix