We resume the culture cloud tour after a week’s hiatus, because even Dave C needs a break from work and a holiday. Hope you are well rested and relaxed in the run up to Christmas mate!
Language as a part of Culture is foundational. How you organisation expresses itself, the common language, and the delivery of that language, can have a profound effects on its people.
Imagine telling your child every hours for a week ‘You’re a loser’. Within a week that child will believe it and will adopt appropriate behaviours attached to that concept. You will have done incalculable harm.
Critical Thinking and Critical Discourse also touch on Language but that needs another chapter all to itself.
The spoken word is unconscious and what is available to us in the moment, so the sender and receiver are crucial in how this discourse proceeds. Power. Politics, gesture, rituals, attitudes, beliefs all play a part in Language
Linguistics and Para-Linguistics:
Linguistic communication informs the receiver about the intentions of the sender using explicit verbal forms.
Para-linguistic activity is communicative behaviour that is non-linguistic, non-verbal and non-measurable, but nevertheless coded and meaningful. Eg. Ritual, gesture, myth, memes, signs, ceremony, enactments are all para-linguistic
Here is the link to the latest video, enjoy!
Damien Jameson says
Hi Matt. I am a follower of Dr Rob and I find these articles hugely valuable. But could I make one small criticism. Especially when referring to Language and its importance, your article/s should be carefully proofread before being posted. I don’t believe I am being pedantic when I find two typos in the first five lines.
Don’t feel ashamed, I find typos in Rob’s articles constantly.
Worth communicating? Worth communicating well.
Matt Thorne says
Let you in on a secret Damien, sometimes we just put them in on purpose. As long as it doesn’t detract from the central message.
Admin says
I do that a lot at Matt – one way of finding out how carefully people are reading 🙂
Rob Long says
I used to tests out lecturers at Uni by putting a swear word out of context in the text. The best way to avoid the need for moderation is to scale all marks out of 10 from 5-8 and if you already know the student well just give them 7. I rarely had a lecturer pick up the swear word.
The same happens with blogs. Most people don’t read the blog, they read into the blog what they want.
Rob Long says
Damien, thanks for the comment. Errors are one of those things where we compromise with time and perception. I’ve never read a book without errors, in it despite of paying insane money for editors. I’m just happy you read the works and find them helpful. It’s all a matter of perspective too eg there are thousands of errors in the Bible
But it doesn’t seem to stop people reading it.
Matt Thorne says
What a fantastic initiative Sherralynne, and how smart to think ahead and look at the language being used, and consulting before instigating.
So many organisations currently want to move from A to B but forget to have any planning, discuss the narrative and look for byproducts and tradeoff of their decisions.
cCnnot wait to see what you come up with.
Sherralynne Smith says
Thanks for your kind words Matt. I’ve learned so much from you, Craig, Rob, Nippin and others in recent times, which I’m determined to put into practice, for the benefit of others.
Sherralynne Smith says
Thanks for sharing this recording. I’m currently developing a process document about bringing assistance dogs into our workplace(s). I’ll be submitting for review/feedback in the next few days. I’m attempting to use language that demonstrates “care” and uses language that is inclusive and doesn’t stigmatise those who have allergies to dogs, have a genuine fear of dogs. Our organisations are required to work alongside Māori, Pasifica and Whaikaha (means to have strength, to have ability, and to be enabled. It is a strength-based term and includes all disabilities). You can read more about our organisations here https://ohuahumahi.nz/about-the-workforce-development-councils/
Rob Long says
Sherralynne, one of my clients are Guide Dogs Australia. Happy to put you in Touch if they could help. Rob
Sherralynne Smith says
Hi Rob, yes please!