Nonverbal Behavior

             I rely on nonverbal behavior more than I thought I did when engaging in conversations with other people. I use my hands a lot when I talk. I have been told also, that my face is animated when I talk. By looking at my face someone can tell I am happy, exited, bored, confused, etc.

            When trying to notice what nonverbal cues are used when I am having a conversation with someone, I noticed I look a lot at the face. When they are looking bored or if they are looking interested tells me a lot, but I also look at the eyes. When someone is looking at their watch in a movie, I know either they do not want to talk about what is being talked about, or they do not have the time to talk. I tend to look at their smile. I always look at if the smile reaches the person’s eyes when they are smiling. That tells me a lot that can also be taken wrong on my part.

            I use my hands a lot when I am talking and have been in conversations where the other person uses their hands a lot. It is very distracting and I usually pay attention to the hands more than I do the conversation. On the other hand, using hands when talking can be helpful in explaining direction, shapes or something else that hands can help describe. When I give directions, using my hands to show where landmarks are and what is across form them helps in understanding where something is. It helps me visualize and I have not had problems getting others to understand directions by doing this so far.

            I am a person who likes my space. I am not a touchy, feely person. When someone is coming too close to me to talk, I tend to step back. It makes me feel somewhat intimidated, defensive and awkward.

            Another nonverbal cue I have relied on is the tone of another person. I think most people can say that the tone of their mother or father’s voice made the decision on whether to ask them something, or bring something up when they were younger. If my mom sounded angry when I was a teenager, there was no way I was asking for an extension on curfew. When she sounded happy or like she was in a good mood, then I would ask my questions, or bring something up like a teacher’s conference or something.

            Tone can also make the difference on the topic of the conversation. If there is a group of friends joking around and one person is sounding offended in any way, you can tell by the tone that maybe the conversation should change. This sometimes also includes facial expressions.

            I do not believe that nonverbal behavior is influenced by gender, but by culture. The way we grow up teaches us how we should act, what is appropriate to talk about, and decides our gender roles. If women were taught to act like men, then our nonverbal behavior would probably be more similar in how we translate it.

Nonverbal Cues

            Among close friends and family, there are many nonverbal cues we use with each other. We use different facial expressions and know exactly what the other person is saying. There are many ways other people interpret who a person is as well. They can do this by the way we dress, if we are friendly or not, how much we smile, the way we walk, and the way we stand, or cross our arms or legs.

            I use facial expressions for many reasons. I use them when a strange person starts talking to me and I do not feel like talking or when a person I do not know starts telling me there life story a little bit too graphically. My facial expressions could be looking at a friend or family member as if, “why is this person telling me this?” Also my facial expressions could show when I am disgusted or, though it sounds mean, I know many people do it, show that I am not interested or bored.

            I have been told that I am very animated with my facial expressions. When I am interested, I show it in my face along with my tone of voice. When I am excited or happy it is also plain to see on my face. When I am angry, people know it.

            With my daughter or any of my nieces or nephews, they know how serious I am by looking at my facial expressions. Sometimes all they need is for me to point without an expression. They know a finger point means to go do what I asked them to do. Whether it was to clean the play room, shower, chores, homework, or go to your room.

            After I have known someone for a while we usually exchange first impressions of each other. First impressions of me by people are usually among the lines of conceited, mean, and that I listen to rap. I do not know where they get conceited from, because I am an average person. People say I am mean before they actually have a conversation with me. I do not understand that because I am always either smiling or laughing. Once they get to know me, they realize I am goofy at times, but at most times, very laid back. I get the music preference part, because a lot of people I know listen to rap, so put me with others who listen to one type of music, it will be assumed that I listen to the same thing, though I do not prefer it. These are just a few more types of nonverbal cues that people get from me that I do not realize I put out there for them to read.

            There are so many more nonverbal cues that I use. I cross my arms when I am listening and for someone who does not know me will probably think something different. Crossing the arms reminds me of someone being stubborn, but I am actually just really listening. Crossing the legs is also one nonverbal cue I use. When I go somewhere where there are people I do not know sitting next to me, I will cross my legs and face the opposite side without thinking.

A language of Many

            People come to the United States from all over the world. The United States consists of many different cultures that speak many different languages, though the main language that we speak is English. Many places all over the world learn English as a second language. They see English as being a language that is used globally. Parents from different countries see the English language as a way for their children to succeed.  

            There are many factors that have helped lead the English language to globalization. Business is one. Many jobs require the knowledge of the language that is used all over the world. English is becoming the language that is used most often within the global business corporations including the government.

            Another factor is the global influence the English language has. English speakers, though spoken a little differently in different regions, cover a lot of the globe. We see a lot of English speakers in Canada, England, and the United States, just to name a few. In places like Puerto Rico, some elementary schools make it mandatory to learn a little English. This is also the case in other countries such as Korea where one of the languages that is most taken to learn in school is English.

            The English language spoken in the United States alone is an example of how the language is different among different regions. Within the United States, we have different meanings for words, different ways of sounding out words; we make up words, like slang, along with grammatical differences in the languages in different areas. In the dictionary there are words, such as bootylicious, that were not in the dictionary a few decades ago. This is proof that the English language is always changing.

            If a language can change as much as it has done in the United States, I can imagine how it can change around the world. “American”, is a part of the English language that is wanted to be learned among many countries. “American” is one way the English language has changed. It is different from that of England’s English, and yet still is a part of the language.

            Because the English language is always changing, in 20, 50, or 100 years from now it can be very different. Looking at all the different ways of speaking one language, there is a possibility that English could be divided. Then again, because so many different countries want to learn English, and have already begun learning it as a second language, it may dominate the world in being the main language being used, with different grammar, ways of sounding out words, and different meanings of words just like we have all over the United States.

            Looking at the evidence of the English language being learned and spoken all over the world, the future points to an English speaking world. It is hard to say where the language will be in 20, 50, or 100 years from now. Especially with a language that is already changing so rapidly. Who knows, it may die out and a language such as Spanish can be dominate or a new language can develop and English can become archaic.

Writing Techniques

It is a long process when it comes to writing for me. I have learned throughout the years many new techniques to improve my writing. Though it may still not be perfect, my writing is a lot better than it used to be. I have learned many ways to improve by going to tutors, through my English professors, and through reading to people.

            The first thing I do is make an outline of the information I think I may use. I come up with what I am going to write about, and then think up main points under the topic. I try to come up with at least two things to write about underneath each main point. I then put everything together into an essay.

            As I am writing I try to cover the assignment demanded of me. I do not organize anything too much until after I have everything in words on paper in essay form. Once everything is on paper, I do my cut and paste or throw away, which is why I write more than needed because I know everything, will not stay the way it is. I look at everything I have and throw away what does not fall under the main point or topic. Sometimes I write something under a different main point that should be somewhere else, so I take it out and put it where it belongs. There have been times where I could also make another main point with a sub point that did not belong. I learned this technique from an English teacher who used to make us cut, with scissors, our essay up in sentences, and put the sentences together in different ways to see how they fit together.

            When everything is written, I do not look at my essay until later in the day or sometimes the next day. I do this because I see what I have written a lot different than when I initially wrote it. As in most of my English classes I revise my first draft and now have a second draft.

            After I have written my revised essay, I read it to someone I know will give me an honest opinion of what they think about it. They usually give me pointers on how I could better my paper, or they tell me they like it. I make whatever revisions needed.

            In an essay written by Linda Flower, called “Writing for an Audience”, many techniques are described. One is to “Analyze your Audience”. Flower talks about the knowledge of the writer and their attitude about what they are writing. She gives many questions of what the reader should know and to be prescriptive because you cannot assume the reader knows what you are talking about. Also our attitude toward the topic may be different of the readers. We have to keep this in mind as to not lose a reader’s interest and to not offend the reader.

            Some people may be naturals at writing. They sit down and put words on paper and it works. I have to go through a process like many people also have to do. You may not think what is written is perfect in the end, but putting the effort into it and using a few techniques, may make it better than you thought it would be.