Part 1:
This experiment was way too difficult for me to do. I had tried to communicate with my coworker Gabby, yet I feel as though it did not go anywhere. I had no idea how to communicate without writing or drawing. I mainly pointed and shrugged my shoulders. I feel like many of the questions were asked by the person I was communicating with and I could only shake my head yes or no. My partners did not alter their way of communication and I feel it was as though they were used to communicating the way they were communicating with me so they did not change it. I feel that if we were from two different cultures and their culture was used to silent communication they would have the advantage because they would be comfortable conversing with no words because that is how they grew up communicating. The speaking culture would most likely find the non speaking culture weird and many would not even want to communicate with the non speaking culture because that is not the normal way of communicating they are used to and grew up with.
Part 2:
This experiment was difficult for me but not as much as the first one. I communicated with my mom and it was interesting because like my mom, I use my hands and gestures to communicate all the time. I was able to last the whole time, yet I really had to think before I was going to reply and concentrate on not making gestures. My mom was laughing the whole time because she knew how I use gestures to talk just like her. She did not become affected at all because she was not restricted from using gestures like I was. The only way that changed was at the end when she used less gestures then when she began. I refrained from asking questions that had to do with size or shape because I became frustrated. This experiment showed how much we rely on using gestures to get our point across in a conversation- mostly in a conversation that is dealing with specific events or measures that need to be acted out. I feel there are people who find it difficult to read body language because I have friends who do not understand some gestures I make to talk and some even take it the wrong way. An environment that would benefit using no body languages would be a hunting environment where they have to stand still as to not provoke and be detected by prey.
I have to agree with you Ashley . It is easier to communicate with gesture when it is all you know. Hoever i find it funny that you found gesture talking more difficult then communicating without gesture. I ws the other way around. I found communicating with gesture easier. This just shows that we would both have difficulty comunicating with eachother. Great job, i agree with you it would be greaet to have no gesture when you are being hunted , it would be very necessary.
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ReplyDeleteGood description of Part A. Curious as to why you only pointed or shook your head. Often students take on role of a charades player, which allows for an expanded conversation, though still tedious.
ReplyDeleteThe question about cultures was focusing on who would have the advantage in the adaptive sense. Which culture could communicate complex ideas more easily? Not necessarily with each other, but within their own group. Which group would have the adaptive advantage in communication? I agree that the speaking culture would tend to act derogatorily toward the non-speaking culture.
Good discussion of Part B. Yes, there are people who have difficulty reading body language, but can you think of a specific group that has a physiological reason for this disability?
Hunting would be a good place not to use body language but can you think of a scenario where you might not want to READ body language? Can you think of a situation where you might not be able to trust the information you are getting from body language?