Communication Themes: Grammar, Miscommunication, and Persuasion

This essay analyzes various aspects of communication based on video lectures and compares them with Meyer's ideas. The first theme discusses the importance of grammar in communication, highlighting the debate between descriptivism and prescriptivism. The second theme focuses on miscommunication, emphasizing the complexity of human communication and ways to avoid misunderstandings through active listening. The third theme explores rhetoric and its role in effective communication and persuasion, referencing Aristotle's types of rhetoric and persuasive appeals like pathos, logos, and ethos. The final theme examines the power of simple words in conveying messages effectively, arguing that simplicity is often more impactful than complex vocabulary. The essay connects these themes to Meyer's concepts, illustrating how effective communication involves understanding the audience, choosing the right approach, and using language thoughtfully to create a positive impact.

Communication
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Table of Contents
Theme 1.......................................................................................................................................................2
Theme 2.......................................................................................................................................................2
Theme 3.......................................................................................................................................................3
Theme 4.......................................................................................................................................................4
References...................................................................................................................................................5

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Theme 1
The video “Does grammar matter?” by Andreea S. Calude provides the importance of
using correct and incorrect grammar while communicating in English. The main theme of the
video is grammar, where according to linguistics, grammar is determined to be a set of words
together to form clauses and phrases. It states that in English the term subject normally comes
first, followed by the verb and then the object. While in Japanese and other languages the order
is subject, object, and verb. The idea presented in the video related to the theme grammar has a
connection with the idea of Meyer as both focuses on communication without any grammatical
mistakes. The video provides examples of how to use correct grammar while communicating
with others. Moreover, Noun is considered as the parent of grammar. There exists an ongoing
debate between two possessions popularly known as descriptivism and prescriptivism (Calude).
Prescriptmist states that any language must follow consistent rules. Whereas, descriptivist
believes that adoption and variation are the necessary and natural part of a language.
It connects with the idea of Meyer in the CMNS course as both provide information
about history where the English language was preferred by every individual. However, as people
became more interconnected with each other, different language came into existence to have
wider communication (Bygate, 381). Thus, language is considered to be a complex factor that
has been contributed by speakers, listeners, readers, writers, descriptivist and prescriptivist.
Theme 2
The video “How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it)” by Katherine
Hampsten provides knowledge of how miscommunication occurs and how to avoid it. The main
theme of the video is miscommunication that leads to confusion, misunderstanding and various
other problems. The video presents the fact that human communication is determined to be
incredibly complex. Miscommunication could be avoided if a person understands the basic
aspects while communicating with others. It video presents similar ideas as presented by Meyer
in the CMNS course where trends mission model views communication as a message that moves
from one person to another same as someone is walking away or tossing a ball. Whereas, the
transactional model recognizes different challenges of communication. The model clearly states
communication helps in receiving appropriate feedback.

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Based on Meyer’s idea related to communication it has been observed that different
person share their feelings with one another through communication. Meanwhile, if the
communication process is not executed properly, then several issues may arise. Communication
takes place between two or more person based on race, religion, ethnicity and many more aspects
(Hampsten). Sometimes such type of communication turns into miscommunication that could be
avoided by adopting simple practices that would help a person to learn fundamental aspects of
better communication. It becomes essential to understand the difference between active listening
and passive hearing. It is also necessary to listen carefully to others opinion and take time to
understand others. Thus, the idea provided in the video is similar to the idea of Meyer.
Theme 3
From the video “How to use rhetoric to get what you want” presented by Camille
A.Langston, it is understood that how the art of effective writing and speaking can help in
achieving the desires of a person. According to Aristotle, rhetoric is referred to as the art of
seeing the available resources of inducement. Today rhetoric is applied to various forms of
communication. Rhetoric speech can be of three types: i) Forensics (judicial rhetoric) which can
establishes decisions that have taken in the past, ii) Epideictic (Demonstrative rhetoric) which
can make proclamation about the present situation and iii) Symbouleutikon (deliberative
rhetoric) which focuses on the future. According to Junior Martin Luther King, there will be a
day when people will be judged by their character and will not be judged by their skin color.
Persuasive appeals are of three type’s pathos, logos and ethos (Buz, 3910). Convincing audience
of a person’s credibility and demonstrating disinterest is referred to as ethos. Using reason and
logic by researching and viewing statistics to convince the audience is referred to as logos.
It focuses on the content and structure of the speech. Speakers can manipulate the
audience by proving them wrong information. Pathos is referred to as motion. Pathos might be
sometimes irrational and unpredictable (Langston). It can motivate people to have peace but it
could also enforce people to have war. Proper knowledge about the audience, knowing their
purpose and understanding the right time and place helps speakers to understand which tool of
rhetoric should be used. Meyer’s writing about communication is found to be purely relevant
from the above mentioned explanations.

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Theme 4
The video “The power of simple words” presented by Terin Izil, reveals the
understanding that although using fancy words can be used by someone to show off their
intelligence and how strong their vocabulary is but those complicated fancy words are not always
the best medium to explain. For conveying a message that will be easy to understand the best
way is to use simple punchy line. A small shift in our thinking pattern, our style of
communication and our habits can undo some patterns that existed for a long time. It needs to be
understood that living life in a different way for achieving different results does not change the
behavior of a person. Feeling of a person is considered to be vital while communicating with
others.
According to Meyer, one could make a positive impact on the life of others with our
behavior and words. Even though those words are handful it can be helpful. The illustrations,
metaphors and stories from the video can help the viewers to understand the concept in a deep
(Izil). Developing some small habits can sometimes makes huge difference. Artful and complex
sentences can be impressive but simplicity is significant and more helpful. It is important for
people to remain calm and simple in order to execute their concerned work processes. There are
various factors in the communication process, which needs to be considered while talking with
someone.

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References
Buz, Esteban. "Speakers adapt speech based on percieved miscommunication." The Journal of
the Acoustical Society of America 141.5 (2017): 3910-3910.
Bygate, Martin. "Sources, developments and directions of task-based language teaching." The
language learning journal44.4 (2016): 381-400.
Calude, Andreea S. "Does Grammar Matter?." YouTube. N.p., 2019. Web. 9 Feb. 2019.
Hampsten, Katherine. "How Miscommunication Happens (And How To Avoid It)." YouTube.
N.p., 2019. Web. 9 Feb. 2019.
Izil, Terin. "The Power Of Simple Words." YouTube. N.p., 2019. Web. 9 Feb. 2019.
Langston, Camille A. "How To Use Rhetoric To Get What You Want." YouTube. N.p., 2019.
Web. 9 Feb. 2019.