Having a proper understanding of the conversion process is crucial for interpersonal communication. The conversation I had with my friend was about career paths that one can choose upon graduation. The issue we encountered was connected to the inability to listen to each other’s arguments because our perspectives differed significantly. This paper aims to examine the implications of comprehending conversations and discuss barriers and strategies for improving them.
Firstly, several barriers exist between listening and understanding the topic that is discussed. The primary issue is the lack of attention to what is being said, which results in an inability to process information and comprehend the topic. Next, language differences such as accents or the use of jargon can affect one’s ability to perceive information. Finally, cultural differences that influence attitudes towards things can be a problem as well. In the conversation described above, the process of understanding language broke down due to a difference in cultural background and the use of slang.
Different types of attention have a critical meaning for conversations because they allow individuals to focus their attention on a specific issue, depending on circumstances. Hargie (2017) states that there are four primary types of attention – sustained, which allows performing one task for long periods, selective that assists in choosing one crucial component among many. In addition, the alternating type helps to switch between different elements while divided attention can be used to work on two tasks. By using these models, a person can dedicate effort towards careful listening through sustained attention and then process information and respond by switching to other kinds.
Psycholinguistics aids the conversations because it examines the connection between psychology and approaches to communication. More specifically, this field of science focuses on language and strategies for acquiring and perceiving it. Thus, psycholinguistics played an essential role in my conversation because the linguistic differences obstructed an appropriate understanding of the discussed issue. In future discussions, I would dedicate more attention to specific barriers that hinder one from listening and comprehending. For instance, I would ask to clarify a particular word or a phrase that I did not apprehend. However, these processes differ in language production and writing. In the modern world, digital communication allows one to dedicate more time to thinking through the arguments or locating the information that would help explain the uncertainties. In face-to-face communication, people need to voice concerns or ask for a more detailed explanation, which can be difficult for some individuals. In addition, in such conversations, it is crucial to memorize the information that the other person provides.
Memory helps conversations be cohesive because by using it, people recall facts and specific details, which ensure that they are engaged in a meaningful discussion. Hargie (2017) states that working memory is especially crucial because it enables people to store information for small periods of time and retrieve it easily. Thus, this aids one in remembering the implications of a specific topic and arguments provided by another individual, which helps create a cohesive dialog.
Overall, in the conversation described in the introduction to this paper, several barriers obstructed my friend and me from understanding each other. The process of interpersonal communication is complex and comprises attention, knowledge of language differences or cultural implications, and the use of working memory. In addition, different types of attention help one comprehend information and voice arguments by shifting focus from one task to the other.
Reference
Hargie, O. (2017). Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory, and practice (6th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.