Language Influences Meaning and Perception

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Johnny Agostini Communication Project II CM206 Interpersonal Communication Carol O’Dowd 29 February 2012 Meaning is the heart of communication. Our perceptions and observations of both natural and artificial surroundings shape our style of communication. Additionally, our motives, upbringing, and cultural teachings influence what we see and don’t see. The delivery and usage of language also influences how we communicate our words with one another. In other words, it’s not what you say but rather how you say it. Remember our selection, use of words, and delivery are also being perceived and interpreted by the receiver on the other end of the communication process. For instance, according to Julia Wood, she states, “Communication influences how we perceive people and situations”. (Interpersonal Communications, 2010, pg. 68) To repeat, the observations that we make daily affect our use of words. This in turn, shapes how we perceive others, their behaviors, events, and ourselves. Luckily for us, perception is an ongoing active mental process. To illustrate the point, “Perception is the active process of creating meaning by selecting, organizing, and interpreting, objects, events, situations, and other phenomena”. (Interpersonal Communications, 2010, pg. 68) Admittedly, there are times in which we are physically unaware of the multitudes of information that surrounds us known as phenomena. Almost every day this phenomenon influences both our conscious and subconscious mind. People, advertisements, television and the media bombard us with thousands of subliminal pieces of information hoping to influence our decisions. Therefore, we have to focus on the phenomena that we consider most important to us at that particular moment in time. Indeed, these processes are continuous and interactive; they generally tend to blend into one another and therefore affect each

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