Dusit Thani College

Principles of Communication

Arj. Zeph Norrish

Principles of Communication

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Communication

Objectives

Following this class you will be able to:• Describe language as a mechanism of communication

• Describe developments in the study of language

• Understand and use a range of linguistic terms

• Discuss relationships between language and culture

• Consider implications for the Hospitality Industry

1.4 The Definition of Language

The word ‘language’ can have different meanings:

• The concept of collecting and sending of information

• A system for those concepts; like French, English, Thai

• A formal system of rules of grammar

• A mechanism for communication

• A system for cooperation

• The infinite set of utterances for finite elements; animals don’t have this ability

World Languages

http://people.umass.edu/~nconstan/201/Language%20Families%20World%20Map.png

World Languages

http://www.everytongue.com/list1-on-line-recordings.htm

1.5 The Study of Language

• Linguistics, has been developing into a science for more than 2000 years…

…from Pāṇini’s ‘Sanskrit’…

…to Sibawayh’s ‘Al-kitab fi al-nahw’…

…to Plato’s ‘Cratylus dialogue’

1.6 Language and Its Parts

• Language has three parts: signs, meanings, and codes and is analyzed through the following studies:

• Semiotics = how signs and meanings are used• Syntax = the grammar rules of a system• Semantics = meaning of the signs, words,

phrases

• Specific signs are assigned to show those meanings easier…

1.6 Language and Its Parts

• Phonology studies how we create meaning

• Phonetics studies how we form sounds

• Those sounds are phonemes, or syllables:• Vowels• Consonants

Phonetics for English Consonants (IPA)

Phonetics for Thai Consonants (IPA)

Phonemes - Vowel Sounds

Long vowel sounds

a e i o u

b a tbilabial plosive dental plosive/ æ /

Short vowel soundsuse single vowels

use combinations of vowels

n i c e/ aɪ /

Phonemes - Vowel Sounds

Long vowel soundsuse combinations of vowels

n i c e

r i c e

r i d eAlternative spellings:(same sound)

f r i e d

f i g h t

h e i g h t c r y

/ aɪ /

Quick Game

On the sheet provided:

1. Write as many words as you can using the LONG VOWEL sound provided.

2. Think of different ways to spell the sound and write as many words using these spelling

3. For a bonus point, write a sentence using as many of these words as you can

Fay and Jane play on the same day.Nope! I won’t throw the toad!Eve needs to see the team.The cute blue goose flew to the moon.

Considerations / Restrictions

We have seen many vowel and consonant combinations (phonemes).

However, the construction of English does provide limitations.

For example:

/ŋ/, as in sing, occurs only at the end of a syllable, never at the beginning such as in Thai ( ngu – snake – งู�, or ngoen – money – เงู�น)

/h/ occurs only before vowels and at the beginning of a syllable, never at the end (a few languages, such as Arabic, or Romanian allow /h/ syllable-finally)

tough dough coughAnomalies

bow bow

1.6 Language and Its Parts

• Morphemes are meaningful elements in a language.

They can either be FREE or BOUND.

If they are FREE, they are called WORDS.

If they are BOUND, they are called AFFIXES.

Two types:

PREFIX

SUFFIX

Positioned BEFORE a word

Positioned AFTER a word

satisfydis

satisfying

COMBINATIONS satisfyingdis

1.6 Language and Its Parts• The rules for this use of morphemes is called

morphology…

• Syntax then gives rules for using multiple morphologic forms in a statement structure.

WORDAFFIXES(suffixes)

1.6 Language and Its Parts Grammar is the study of the SYSTEM of languages.

We then use word classes (or parts of speech) for those grammar rules… such as nouns (the subject of a statement) and verbs (the action).

It provides RULES for combining MORPHEMES to create further meaning, through PHRASES and SENTENCES.

Sally runs.

subject predicate (verb)intransitive (no object)

Sally throws a ball.

subject verbtransitive (has object)

object

1.6 Language and Its Parts

“the way that words and phrases are put together to form sentences in a language; the rules of grammar for this”

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

Syntax

Determiner:‘used to qualify nouns’e.g., the, a, his, your, two, etc.

Syntax Activity

You will be given a complete sentence structure .

You must identify/position the ‘syntactic’ components.Using the shaded vocab cards, create a meaningful sentence.

Noun Phrase(subject)

Sentence

Noun Phrase(subject)

Verb Phrase(predicate)

DETDeterminer

NNoun

VVerb

NPNoun Phrase

PPPrepositional Phrase

ADVAdverb

The father saw his son instantly

DETDeterminer

NNoun

PREPPreposition

NPNoun Phrase

at

DETDeterminer

NNoun

the market

Syntax Activity

1.7 Language and Culture

• Language and culture are very closely intertwined.• We perceive only what our language allows us.• Our language controls our world view.• Speakers of different languages have different world views.

• Studies of language and culture consider:• Socio-linguistics• Ethno-linguistics• Linguistic Anthropology

1.7 Language and Culture

Humans use language as a way of signaling identitywith one cultural group and difference from others.

Languages do not differ only in pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar but also ‘speaking cultures’.

Language practice can be used based on cultural norms:

social class gender age rankeducation ‘kinship’

1.7 Language and Culture

They connect for speech and behavior, like…

• Formal Conversation (“Yes, I would like some water.”)

• Informal Conversation (“Yeah, gimme some water.”)

• Slang (“Yo! I’m dyin of thirst o’er ere!”)

• Hierarchy Vocabulary (“Nong Wit” or “Pee Wit”)

• Gender (“Krup” or “Ka”)

Communication must be adapted in order to be understood.

1.7 Language and Culture

The Hospitality Industry

provides for

MORE LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

exposure and experience

than ANY other!

So, it is ESSENTIAL

that YOU

MAXIMISE YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Summary

• Describe language as a mechanism of communication

• Describe developments in the study of language

• Understand and use a range of linguistic terms

• Discuss relationships between language and culture

• Consider implications for the Hospitality Industry

Today you have learned how to:

BREAK!

• Now, take a 30-minute break and then return to the class to work on your hand-out.

Take a break!

Handout Review

• You will now be given a handout with comprehension questions.

• Use the book and the notes you’ve taken to answer the questions as best as possible.

• You have 45-minutes to complete the handouts and return them to the instructor at the end of class.

HOMEWORK!

Read Unit 2 and complete sections 2.1 Key Vocabulary and Chapter 2 Review: Case Study.