Question

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

Paralanguage is the meaning conveyed by how something is said. Oral

communication is what is said. This is the distinguishing feature that makes

paralanguage different from oral language and also indicates their inseparability. It is

impossible to have paralanguage without oral communication. It is almost like the

relationship between computer software and hardwares, there is no use of one without

the other.

Paralanguage is one of the most powerful complementing media that oral

communication possesses over the written. How a particular message is said is to a

great extent its measure of importance. In some ways, we may call it the ‘highlighter’

of oral messages, since it uses certain physical aspects of language articulation to

emphasize the central focus of the message. The features of paralanguage are: Voice

(volume variation, pitch variation, speed of speaking and pauses), Word stress,

Inflections and Non-fluencies. To see what role they play in this nonverbal medium,

let us take up an important paralinguistic feature ‘voice’.

Voice: When the phone rings and we take the call, a voice says ‘Hello’. What are the

first few things we learn about the caller apart from the meaning of the five-letter

word ‘Hello’? You will be surprised by how much you can actually learn from the

paralanguage of the message. First, you will be able to make out the gender of the

caller; second, whether it is an identifiable or familiar voice; third, if unfamiliar, from

the way the word is spoken, you may be able to assume the socio-linguistic or

educational background of the person. Now, none of these meanings are actually

‘contained’ in the word ‘Hello’. These are all derived from the paralinguistic voice

associate and not the oral communication itself. It is also true that without the voice it

is impossible to communicate orally. This then is the relationship that exists between

the two where paralanguage helps to add further meaning to the oral communication.

Paralanguage is, as the name suggests, ‘like’ language. It does not use words as such.

It is basically the vocalization of words.

1a What is the difference between Paralanguage and Oral communication? 2

1b “Paralanguage is one of the most powerful complementing media that oral

communication possesses over the written.” Discuss. 3

1c What details can you make out when you hear the word ‘Hello’ on the phone? 3

1d What are the features of voice? 2

1e Make sentences of your own with the following words/phrases from the passage: 5

i distinguishing features ii inseparability iii complementing

iv familiar v derived

1f Give opposites of the following words: 5

i oral (para 1)

ii different (para 1)

iii powerful (para 2)

iv importance (para 2)

v true (para 3)

Answer 1

Answer:

1a)paralanguage is the meaning conveyed by how something is said. Oral communication is what is said.

1b) how a particular message is said is to a great extent its measure of importance. In some ways, we may call it the 'highlighter' of oral messages since it uses certain physical aspects of language articulation to emphasize the central focus of the message.

1c) First, we will be able to make out the gender of the caller, second, whether is it an identifiable or familiar voice, Third, if unfamiliar ,from the way the word is spoken,you may be able to assume the socio-linguistic or educational background of the person.

1f) oral:written

different: conveyed

powerful:weak

importance:insgnificance

true:false