Communicative Competence

By Varanasi Bhaskara Rao

Starting with ‘Say What You Mean’ as Introduction the Author emphasises on clarity and coherence in communication.  He deals with various aspects of oral and written communication like choice and arrangement of words, style and tone of utterances.  Complex concepts are conveyed in simple diction with apt acronyms and memories.  He has presented critical ideas in the form of acronymnemonics (acronyms used as mnemonics, a memory aid). This book deals with the much neglected diction in oral and written communication.
    The book is aimed as ADEPT program. The acronym stands for Appreciation, Demonstration, Experimentation, Practice and Transfer. There are five steps to build one’s communicative competence. All living beings need to communicate to meet their necessities. But a professional who wants to make a successful career must have extraordinary ability to communicate with competence and clarity.
    The books helps in the first two vital steps – appreciation and demonstration. It also designed for teaching – learning. The author has brought many ideas and put them together which is rarely found in the books on soft skills. To some extent, the book will serve as reference material for those who have limited or no access to such material.
Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Oral Communication 3. Written Communication
About the Author:
Mr. Varanasi Bhasker Rao is a versatile personality, with three decades of operational banking experience and of customer relationship management.  He has been teaching communication skills to bank professionals and students for over two decades. 
    He has been conducting seminars and workshops in Hyderabad ever since his retirement as Senior Faculty and Chief Manager (Training), Bank of Baroda.  In order to reach wider audience he has been publishing books as support print material for all those who take responsibility for their own growth and development.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BSP BOOKS
• Release date: Oct 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9789383635443

Book preview

V

Preface

COMMUNICATING WITHOUT TEARS

Reading a book is an art no less than writing one. There are some gifted writers who can write delightfully on a common subject and arrest the reader’s attention. But books on grammar or on how to write a book could make for labored reading. In this book, on written and oral communication, I have tried to make it as less tedious as possible. That is about writing.

Not all people are good at speaking ; that is, to have the facility of conveying what they have in their mind. It implies a thinking mind. One should have something to say. But, we are communicating most of the time. You don’t have to be a great writer to communicate. Even animals do communicate among themselves. A dog wags its tail when it is happy. There are varying skills for communication — as varied as human finger prints.

It has been discovered that dolphins navigate with the aid of sound. Bats do the same in the air. This is of great importance to submarines. A lot of research is going on to enhance the performence of submarines operating under water. Radar principle is based on the bats’ echolocation. In the jungle certain birds make it their business to alert other denizens of the forest to dangers, like the presence of a Tiger. The bird call is a type of communication. The cave man painted his caves with pictures of Bison, etc. That too is a form of communication.

The book is aimed as ADEPT program. The acronym stands for Appreciation, Demonstration, Experimentation, Practice and Transfer. There are five steps to build one’scommunicative competence. Dictionary defines competence as "sufficiency of means to meet one’s needs’. All living beings need to communicate with each other to meet their necessities. But a professional who wants to make a successful career must have an extraordinary ability to communicate with competence and clarity.

Give us the tools, we will finish the job, said Winston Churchill at a crucial period of world war II. See how effective the message is. America acted on the appeal. That is a masterly way of communicating. It is not for nothing that he got the Nobel prize for literature.

Appreciation : Read the book to appreciate. Appreciation means awareness and acceptance of ideas presented to improve one’s capacity systematically. The ideas are presented through the written word in the form of acronyms, and illustrations. Appreciation depends on motivation to learn.

With the given desire to grow the young need a design - models to improve and emulate. There are 4 Ms for selflearning ; Motivation, Model, Memory and Methodical practice.

That brings us to the second step Demonstration, the how of it. Role plays, real life models and video films are good for the purpose of demonstration in the class room. In a book it can be achieved through study of cases, real life or make - believe. A number of cases are included in the book in the running text and discussed. A case is a powerful instrument for analysis and description in a class. In the case of a book, the learner has to study the case and think. Although I tried to discuss the case some what, each case has more potential than what I provided cursorily. The reader can wear his own ‘glasses’ to see through in the light of his own experience and situation. What the reader misses is the visuals — characters interacting with body language, the ambience in which they take place. The reader may observe and view video and TV shows with the concepts presented in their mind. Soon they will see them differently, with focus on learning. The reader, reading reflectively, must summon his imagination.

The third and fourth steps are Experimentation and Practice - rehearsals. Like in cricket or tennis one must have rigorous practice sessions - net practice, wall practice, and other fitness exercises. Competence also means fitness. Communicative competence demands fitness exercises. Practice makes us perfect which is what competence. There is confidence in competence. The communicative competence is a versatile skill, with knowledge. It is competence in the use of English language. It should be appropriate to the context or the situation. Audience and purpose are important elements of the context. Understanding the process helps in systematic process.

Finally the content - what to say and what not to say. Because of versatility of situations the last step Transfer today situations become significant. There are choices and selection involved in transfer.

The books helps in the first two vital steps - appreciation and demonstration. It is embellished with acronyms or mnemonics. They serve as aids to memory. The chosen word itself conveys meaning which serves as a slogan. Teaching is the best form of learning. Every teacher can become a student, and vice versa.

This book is designed for teaching - learning. The acronyms, cases and caricatures can come handy for any one to share with others and learn from. For life long learning I find socialization, sharing and learning is one of the best modes. The contents of this book can be a source material for discussion, debate, and dialogue. These genres are also included in the chapters on oral communication.

The first chapter titled introduction throws up number of ideas from literature and social-psychology to stimulate the readers’ curiosity. It is an unusual mixture.

In the second section you will find the various ‘elements’ so mixed in the process of communication presented in a novel manner. Communication, be it reading, writing, speaking, and listening - is a process not well understood. The student gets number of ideas dealt with rapidity for the purpose of appreciation. The reader may reflectively read them and compare with his own experiences. Finally a few definitions are summarized, again for reflection on Communication and Communication skills. I have not differentiated between soft skills and hard skills in this book as both are equally important for communication.

In the second chapter oral communication is broken up into ABCDEF - Address, (Public Speaking), both in introduction and in this chapter I have used several case studies drawn from literature, drama, and scripts of training films to give a concrete shape to abstract ideas, so that, it will have a demonstration effect. The learner will compare them with his or her own life situation. A case has more potential that what I explained. One can look at them with a different pair of glasses and make more sense. Discerning reader take this to his advantage.

The last chapter on written communication is the most important section. Writing is thinking on paper. If you follow the elements of good penmanship you will improve your thinking - creatively and critically. This is a practical guide mean for keeping as one keeps a dictionary or a good grammar book on current English.

I have brought many ideas and put them together which are rarely found in the books on soft skills. Although India has distinct advantages of English language, of late, except those who had good schooling many people who are otherwise technically competent, knowledgeable in their own discipline and domain are unable to write in standard English. With the result the reader or the user of material is unable to make sense and act on the text.

By no means exhaustive, this chapter will be a good beginning for appreciating the need to work hard to improve the ability to communicate in good and simple and error free English. It demands lot of practice in writing. To some extent the book will serve as reference material for those who have limited or no access to such material.

Author

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Prologue :

Say What You Mean - Diction & Dictionary

‘If the language is not correct, what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, what ought to be done remains undone’.

What Confucius said sums up the importance of written communication in Chinese language, has been described in a pithy and compact statement in the translation.

When I first came across the word pithy, I referred to my dictionary. I always enjoyed referring to dictionary, for it enhanced my word power. That was long ago. Later, when I wanted to use the world ‘pithy’, I referred to the dictionary again. My pocket dictionary tells me that it means terse, concise, consisting of pith. What is pith ? It is a noun meaning ‘tissue in stems and branches of certain plants; essential part. What does ‘terse mean? Is it the same as concise? To clear my doubt, I referred to my Websters. It gave me a number of synonyms with various other subtle differences in meaning.

• Concise : implies the stating of much in few words, by removing all superfluous elaborations.

• Terse : adds to this the connotation of polished smoothness (terse style).

• Laconic : on the other hand, suggests brevity to the point of curtness or ambiguity, (‘wait and see’).

• Succinct : implies clarity but compactness in the briefest possible number of words

• Pithy : suggests forcefullness and wit resulting from compactness (pithy axioms).

The underlined words need explanation.

• Brief : emphasizes compactness, conciseness (but never incomplete).

• Compact : closely packed (compact disc) usually implies neatness and order in the arrangement of parts.

• Wit : implies ability to perceive and express in quick, sharp, spontaneous, often, sarcastic remarks that delight all. Confucius statement is an axiom, pithy, compact and succinct. I see in it wit that delighted me. It is, no doubt, quick, sharp, and must have been spontaneous as poetic utterances always are. Is there a sarcasm? I think he was making fun of the people who expect results without saying what they mean!

I referred to dictionary and culled out many words which act as vehicles of thought. But to understand the above axiom there is no need to refer to the dictionary at all. It was said in simple language. You can be pithy without being bombastic. ‘Say what you mean is all about choice of words, arrangement, style, and tone of saying and meaning.

Not only Confucius, but several other personalities are known for their apt and spontaneous comments.

Gandhiji described Cripp’s proposals as a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank.

When Hitler threatened to wring the neck of England like a chicken, Chirchill commented, some chicken, some necks.

Terseness at its best !

Know Thy Audience-Choice of Words What a Pity?

Mis-understanding goes on unabated.

Vocabulary of five year old Macaiday was much larger than his older servant.

The above is a mixture of fact and fiction created to illustrate a point.

1.1.1 Babel and Bedlam

Babel and Bedlam is an apt phrase to denote confusion and noise. Babel was the tower built with the intention of reaching heaven by those humans who spoke the same language. God cursed them and made them speak different languages so that they could not understand one another. As a result, the people were unable to go on with their task. ‘The Lord Scattered them abroad’.

Bedlam was a lunatic asylum where lucidity was the main casualty. Lunatic asylum is a place of cacophony and noise.

‘What ought to be done remained undone’ because of confusion and noise.

At times, our work places give rise to ‘babel and bedlam’. We may be speaking the same language and yet not convey what we mean. That could be deliberate as Hamlet chose to do. Or it may be because of lack of clarity and coherence in our wording and arrangement of words. At other times it is the style and tone of our utterances that make the place babel and bedlam - create confussion.

Methodical Madness

Polonius:…. what do you read, my lord ? Hamlet: Words, words, words.

Polonius: What is the matter, my lord?

Hamlet: Between who ?

Polonius: I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

Hamlet: Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams : all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward.

Polonius: [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. Will you walk out of the air, my lord ?

Hamlet: Into my grave?

Polonius: Indeed, that is out o’ the air. [Aside]. How pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness

Methodical Madness

that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered off. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.

Hamlet: You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal; except my life, except my life, except my life.

Polonius: Fare you well, my lord.

Hamlet : These tedious old fools!

How pregnant so prosperously be delivered off - by Shakespeare !

There is another reason why we say one thing when we mean another. The lack of forthrightness is because of fear of causing embarrassment to our colleagues or fear of threat from the superiors. With the results we are vague, ambiguous, incomplete, appearing nice. There is a way out : Be BOLD.

Fear is a survival strategy built in the animal to deal with the dangers from outside. It makes them run away or standup and fight. And it is fear that prepares the body eithr for flight or fight. Man retained the animal instinct, in spite of the changes brought forth by evolution. Dangers are more perceived than real. We see danger where none exists. We may mistake a rope for a snake and run or beat ‘it’ with a stick.

There are some who are born scared and others born bold. To become bold the scary child must be helped; otherwise it remains a scary one throughout its life. Gandhiji was initially timid. He grew to become the boldest man. He was helped by his religion, metaphyics, beliefs, values, and ethics. Because he was bold he could say what he meant with fearlessness.

1.1.2 Be BOLD

All the elements of BOLD diction are present in the following excerpts

‘One of the first developments in Gandhi’s campaign brought him straight to the head of Transvaal Government, General Jan Smuts. Gandhi had already developed the essentials of his later styles, and it is easy to imagine him sitting before this able Boer soldier and informing him :

Years later Smuts admitted - not without humour : that this is exactly what Gandhi did. By his courage, by his determination, by his refusal to take unfair advantage, but especially by his endless capacity to stick it out without yielding and without retaliation. Gandhi managed at last to win the General’s respect and friendship and one by one the laws most offensive to the Indians were repealed.’

However Direct Speech could have a change of MOOD : Misplaced emphasis; Offensive to the listener; Opposite effect it might have; Doubtful meaning may be drawn by the listener. Care should be taken to do repair work if necessary.

Years later Gandhi had a difference of opinion with Tagore when they corresponded thus :

When the bird is awakened by the dawn, it does not only think of food. Its wings respond to the tale of the sky… A new humanity has sent on its call.

Let India reply in her own way.

- Tagore

Those birds had their day’s food and soared with rested wings in whose vein new blood had flown the previous night. But I have had the pain of watching birds who for want of strength could not be coaxed even into a flutter of their wings.

- Gandhi

He is not a passionate orator; his manner is calm and serene and he appeals particularly to the intelligence. But his serenity places the subject he discusses in the clearest light. The inflexions of his voice are not varied, but they are intensely sincere.

He never makes any gestures with his arms, in fact he rarely even moves a finger. But his luminous words, expressed in terse, concise sentences, carry conviction. He never abandons a subject before he felt that he has made it perfectly clear.

- Joseph J.Doke

Telegram from Mr. Gandhi, to His Excellency the Viceroy, dated the 29th December, 1931.

I was unprepared on landing yesterday