Aha! 3

So from working on the midterm I answered the question “Explain how symbols influence communication.  Discuss and provide examples of action language (reflexive actions, conventional signals, appearance, physical attributes, gestures, roles, groups, and space.)” I read through this chapter for class but I didn’t really explore the chapter to deeply or think about all that much after I read it but for the midterm I dug in to the chapter again an found it amazing. It inspired me to do right an aha blog about it. In this blog I will be using pictures of me for examples of the 8 different styles of action language.

Reflexive actions: nonverbal cue beyond voluntary control.

So thing of things like blinking with you gets something in your eye, shivering when you are cold, or the motion to gulp or swallow. These actions are things that we never learned to do but we do them out of reflex. In movies and TV they are used to communicate with the audience without having to work in dialog. It helps set the mood or put the view in the seen

        (motion of gulp or swallowing)

conventional signals: signs that are agreed upon by society or a culture that is normally enforced by law.

I talked about this one quite a bit in my fist blog post about visual symbols in my life.

(Gas gauge)

Appearance:  the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public.

Physical attributes: refers to the outward phenotype or look of human beings

Roles: the rights, obligations, and expected behaviorpatterns associated with a particular social 

status.

Groups: any collection or assemblage of persons or things; cluster;

(This picture combines appearance (suits), physical attributes (strong jaw lines), Roles (clearly we are all bosses), Groups (self explanatory))

In this action language I combine it with physical attributes, roles, and groups. We use this to group with others like ourselves; attract a mate, or compliant physical attributes. To do this we tend to use clothes and body shaping to change our appearance. We even use our appearance to establish roles inside groups. A combination of all of these symbols to help use communicate how we have defined ourselves

Gestures: a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, orface that is 

expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc.

Space: territory and personal

(Gestures (the "mean" face I have on) and Space (clearly getting into my personal space)

The use of gestures and need for space (territory and personal) are the lost forms of action language. Gestures can be involuntary or intentional to prove a point. This can play right into space that all humans need to have. Gestures can tell others to stay way (a mean face or a growl) or beckon a mate to come closer (bedroom eyes or kissy lips). Hall, the author of the silent language, believes that the majority of human history has to do with space. Weather its taking land or keeping what we have safe from outsiders.