1.02 What are you saying?

It was the great Lauryn Hill who once said, "...miscommunication leads to complication..."

Miscommunication happens for a variety of reasons: lack of clarity in word choice, poor grammar, insufficient or incomplete wording, poor delivery, etc.

If you've ever assembled furniture from Ikea, you probably understand the importance of clear and succinct communication. In fact, there are a plethora of examples of "communication shipwrecks" that you can read about here. If there is one lesson to take away, it's that poor communication can have tragic consequences.

WhatAreYouSaying.pptx

Review the PowerPoint presentation, paying particular attention to the examples provided on slide 11 and the subsequent explanation of each example.

Now that you understand diction, syntax, and how they contribute to semantics, watch this brief TED talk about how miscommunication happens and how to avoid it.

How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it)Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that he just doesn't seem to grasp why the issue is so important to you? Have you ever presented an idea to a group, and it's met with utter confusion? What's going on here? Katherine Hampsten describes why miscommunication occurs so frequently, and how we can minimize frustration while expressing ourselves better. [Directed by Andrew Foerster, narrated by Addison Anderson].

1.02 Assessment:

What is the difference between syntax, semantics, and diction? (Respond in 3-4 sentences)

Using the example in the "What are You Saying?" Powerpoint, create another example modeling page 11. Include at least three shifts in diction and syntax (in other words, three different sentences) and explain how those changes impact the implied meaning of each sentence.

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