Vocalics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HutvJgpjDgU

      I watched the first five minuets of Hip Hop Preacher Eric Thomas speak to a class of young students about the secret to success.  As he is teaching, he increases the volume of his voice in order to project it for those in the back to hear him.  Also his pitch becomes higher when gives instruction or direction to the audience.  While listening you can tell that he is very passionate and meaningful about what he is preaching to the students.  The intensity of his voice represents the pain and struggle that he has been through during his days homelessness as well as the fact that it stresses that the audience should take this information. The rate at which he speaks gains momentum when he gives a list of examples.  There are times where he pauses for dramatic effect as if he wants people to soak in and actually understand what he is saying.  Speaking in a softer voice, when he speaks of his past, made me believe that he was trying to relate to the audience and sympathize.  He also becomes louder at times as to emphasize and stress to the students how important it is to become successful.
      His voice comes off a little raspy because of how much strain he is putting on his voice.  He continues to stress the fact that you need hard work ethic in order to get where you want to go.  He often repeats words one after another to restate the importance and have the listeners focus their attention on what he is saying.  From his tone of voice you can also tell the type of attitude he has.  He is speaking from experience of having nothing and becoming successful.  His voice affects the listeners to help motivate and inspire them to accomplish their set goals.  After listening to his sermon, i understand that entering that seminar with any other type of vocalics, many would not have taken him so seriously.  The intensity that he kept throughout his sermon allowed those to interpret and be moved.

Your Face Says It All!

For this week's blog post I decided to interview a close friend of mine.  We had already been conversing about how my spring break went.  When it finally came time for me to ask her about her break, she suddenly let out an exhale while rolling her eyes.  This quickly gave me the impression that her week may not had been as pleasant as mine.  She starts off telling me how there was drama as usual between her and her mother.  While explaining to me what the argument was about, I noticed how a sense of anger and stress came across her face.  She was slouched back against the wall.  Her eyebrows were angled downward and were mostly tense. Slightly she had shown teeth when mentioning how enraged her mother had made her over the pettiest things. When I asked her if "anything good happened?", Her face eagerly lit up with excitement as she exclaimed to me the best part of her whole break.  Her eyebrows were now highly arched and a large smile suddenly appeared on her face.  She swiftly sprang up and was no longer leaning against the wall.  Slapping her hands against her thighs quickly, she revealed the fact that her sister gave birth to a baby girl.  As I saw her stare at the picture of her new born niece for a few moments, I recognized the proud feeling she had that she was now an Aunt.  After that moment, she started to sum up just about all that went on during her spring break.  She continued to explain how she rarely got a chance to go to sleep because of the school work she still had to do for professors.  This was easy to believe because I could see the tiredness in her face.   Her eyes and eyebrows were lowered and she wasn't looking directly at me, she looked out of it.  Another exhale was later released as if it was huge relief to be back at school.  From paying close attention to my friend's facial expressions and body language, it wasn't difficult to make judgement on how her spring break went.

Watching From A Distance

For my People Watch i chose to watch in the library. I came across two people sitting at a table.  They seem to be a couple having issues.  As i sit at one of the computers from a distance i could see both of them have expressions of a serious face.  They both were sitting distant from each other as if there were tention between the two.  There was a space of about two people in between. When you usually see a couple they are in each others intimate zone.  The boy seemed to have a face of anger because his eye brows are tense and the eye contact was sustained. His hand gestures were strong and you can tell he meant what he was saying.  His body language was powerful as if he was in charge of her.  He sat up straight on the edge of his chair and his whole body was facing hers.
At the same time the girl sat a few paces away. She sat forward leaning on the table with one hand holding her head.  From this i observed that she was maybe stressed out or in deep thought about what the boy was scolding her for.  Her eyes were not fixed on him they looked lower to the floor.  It seemed as if she were a child being yelled at by her parents.  Her body was facing him but her shoulders were in, the body language from her i was getting was that she was in trouble for something she did wrong.  At one point she reached over to touch the boy's hand and he snatches his hand back as if he doesn't want her to touch him.  When they were leaving the boy got up without her and started walking like he was storming off, he stopped and waited for her to follow. While walking she stayed a couple paces behind him as he walked ahead.  What i got from this is that he was mad at the girl but still showed he cared for her by waiting. The both of their body language gave off the intention that they both were having an argument.

Proxemics... Nothing but space and opportunity

There isn't really an exciting role behind my room. because i was the baby in the family i was just given the smallest room. however, i still make it work  to my best interest.  Upon entering my room there are a few things that stand out about how a person will perceive or behave in this setting or environment.  The first thing someone should notice about my room is the wall paper border that surrounds the walls. From this it is a dead give away that tells you two things about me, that i am into sports, and my favorite team is the dallas cowboys. seems kind of childish i know right but my mother made it clear it wouldn't  be changing after she did it .  The next thing that would catch someones eye about my room is the full size comfy bed that clearly explains how big i am on when it comes to sleep it gives the room a stress free relaxing feeling.  That is why you don't really see a work space within my room because i don't wish to clash work in a stress free environment.  Bringing work into my room would start to affect my work status causing me to feel lazy or tired because of how the room is set up.  I expect many to see while observing that my room is in tip top shape and order letting the viewers understand that being neat is a characteristic of mine. The shoes are put away, the bed is made, and there are no dirty clothes hanging around.  From this picture my room has a welcoming atmosphere, nothing is hidden or secretive. how the room is set up, everything is right in clear view.  Taking a glance of my dresser tops, you might find some interesting things about me. There sit many photographs of my family and i, letting one know how important they are to me along with a stereo, my iPod and headphones.  Music is the one attribute that finishes off my room.  Take a walk around my room, and you might just get to know me.

While listening to others I am always told that one of the best ways that I communicate nonverbally is that I make good I contact. I try to make sure that I do not look away too often which will help let the person who I am speaking with know that I am really interested. I sit up in a straight position and turn my body towards them which helps prove that I am tuning everything else out and they have my undivided attention. I believe that good or bad nonverbal communication skills will define the outcome of a relationship with a person. A nonverbal gesture I would need to work on is I am told when I ‘m lying that I tend to crack a smile or say a certain word which gives me away. Using my hands more when speaking is another nonverbal action that I need to work on. I think to others nonverbally that I do a good job communicating, I know I can read many other’s actions very well. Often I try not to leave anyone with a bad impression that would make them feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I catch myself giving wrong signals by either making continuous eye contact or sitting too close next to someone. I usually wait and read signals from other people before I choose what to do. My reactions are based off of what their nonverbal actions are sending. One impression I would want to leave with someone is that I’m a comforting and welcoming person.