CMN 122 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Charades, The Sender, Intentionality
Hand Movements
● The comprehensive approach is based on the assumption that
○ Studies of just one type of activity may provide an incomplete picture of what is
occurring
● Emblems
○ Have a direct verbal translation
○ The precise meaning is known by most or all members
○ Used with conscious intent to send a particular message
○ The person(s) seeing the emblem usually knows not only the emblem’s message
but also that it was deliberately sent to them
○ The sender usually takes responsibility for moving made that communication
○ People can make emblematic slips
■ Sender does not deliberately choose to make the emblem & may be
unaware that they did
○ Emblems often occur when talking is prevented by external circumstances,
distance, agreement, or organic impairment
■ Ex: between pilot & landing crew
■ Ex: distance between hunters in field
■ Ex: playing charades
○ May repeat a verbalized message w/ emblem
○ Emblems are communicative & interactive acts
○ The origin of emblems is culture - specific learning
○ There are a few emblems that are the same across cultures
■ They are similar because they are in reference to body parts, so can only
be performed in 1 way
● Illustrators
○ Behaviors related on a moment-to-moment basis with speech
○ Illustrator are similar to emblems since they are used w/ awareness &
intentionality
○ Illustrators differ from emblems
■ Many illustrators do NOT have a verbal definition
● Sometimes there is NO agreement on a verbal translation to what
the illustrator is
■ Illustrators do not occur w/o conversation
■ Illustrators are shown ONLY by the sender, NOT the receiver
● In contrast, emblems can be used by both sender & receiver
○ Illustrators depend on mood & problems in verbal communication
■ Rate of illustrator use is less when a person is tired, discouraged, etc.
■ Rate of illustrator use is more when a person is excited, in a dominant
role for a formal situation, or in an informal context (little concern about
what impression they are making)
■ More illustrator use when a person has difficulty finding the right words
and is getting feedback from the listener that they don’t fully understand
Document Summary
The comprehensive approach is based on the assumption that. Studies of just one type of activity may provide an incomplete picture of what is occurring. The precise meaning is known by most or all members. Used with conscious intent to send a particular message. The person(s) seeing the emblem usually knows not only the emblem"s message but also that it was deliberately sent to them. The sender usually takes responsibility for moving made that communication. Sender does not deliberately choose to make the emblem & may be unaware that they did. Emblems often occur when talking is prevented by external circumstances, distance, agreement, or organic impairment. May repeat a verbalized message w/ emblem. The origin of emblems is culture - specific learning. There are a few emblems that are the same across cultures. They are similar because they are in reference to body parts, so can only be performed in 1 way. Behaviors related on a moment-to-moment basis with speech.
