Personally, I feel that Mr. Bean can be a classic example of hwo non-verbal cues convery messages. As we are know,Mr. Bean does not speak at all , or his speech is always make to the minimal, but he can be understood! ( okay, I do not deny that half the time is he misunderstood! )
This is one of the many episodes of the animated Mr. Bean.
Firstly, I would like to disclaim that I am not a fan of the animated Mr. Bean, so I am not really sure of when it is showed. However, according to the person who uploaded it, it is 24 Sep 09.
This is a short video about a burglary involving Mr. Bean.
As most of you would have know Mr. Bean is of the classic example of how non-verbal cues can allow communication. Basically, almost all Mr. Bean shows do not require verbal cues.
In this video, example, the character of Mr Bean is being portrayed as a miser. He wears a set of old suit, with patches of cloth stitched on it , showing hat he spends very little, and his car is a very old model car, this supports the fact that he is very thrifty. He is also portrayed as witty, with his invention as a replacement of the actual device right in the front of his car. The baddies in this video are with scars, fierce looking, and masked, these are the prototypes of bad guys.
Next, in the last scene of the videos also proves the famous saying,” a picture speaks a thousand words.” With the neighbor (old lady with face mask), and the two baddies standing near the chest full of gold, they are no doubt the burglars who stole the chest of gold, to the police who just arrived. This is because they are all masked, the police followed the trace of gold coin and seeing them all standing near the chest with Mr. Bean being tied to a chair, they are truly the suspects to the police.
This video has indeed showed us the fact that how powerful non-verbal cues are. Without any words spoken, we are able to understand the whole video correctly (I supposed). The director made use of a few types of non-verbal communications, example:
1 Objectics, through Mr. Bean’s property convey to audience what kind of person he is.
2 Oculesics, through the characters’ eyes to express out the burglar’s anger, Mr. Bean’s anger and neighbor’s irritation.
3 Physical appearances, the way Mr. Bean, the neighbor and the baddies are being portrayed. Even the police, who was being attacked, is showed by having a big plaster on his fore head.
We can see how simple things like our appearance can allow one to interpret us in many ways, mostly positive or negative. Some items like the eye mask can be interpreted as you are concern about how you look or you are up to no good that is why you are wearing a mask. However, most non-verbal cues are very subjective. Although is not necessary that you may get the actual message that the person is trying to send, when in doubt, I feel that one should clarify with the person, especially if the person is someone that you have to work with frequently. In this manner, wrong interpretation can be corrected and also help to reduce possible miscommunications.
So, be careful of your non-verbal cues because it might result in wrong interpretations and misunderstandings.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Save Our Vowels
Save Our Vowels
an article published in the September 2009 issue of Reader Digest pages 36-37.
BY Nury Vittachi.
It is an article that describes, and explains journalist point of view of many words form or short forms which "takes away" vowels and yet can be understood. In this particular article he includes several incidents of his actual experiences of "missing" vowels.
Firstly, I apologize for not being able to find this particular article online for you. However, if any of you owes a current issue of Reader's Digest (Sep 2009), I would recommend you to read this article which is pretty interesting, and very engaging.
Initially the writer mentioned about a text message that he received through his phone " Mt @ 3rd st crnr @12 , QT. " For those sms mania, I am pretty sure you would have guessed what it meant. Yes, that is quite similar to what the writer's colleague has interpreted," An attractive young woman wants to meet you at the corner of Third Street at noon." However, to his dismay, the fact was that the text message is from an insurance agent who calls Quentin. Now, you seethe writer's concern?
As mentioned in the article, there increasing number of such incidents happening everyday! Have you realise that the brand Reebok has suddenly gone missing? No, it has not! It just rename, RBK. There are many everyday examples like, KFC, Ng , Sng, etc., which no longer consist of vowels!
This is a reflection of how language influenced and impact us. As we all know that language is the primary tool for direct communication. When words start missing vowels miscommunication will arise!
A word itself can already be interpreted into many various meaning . Taking the word "drive" for example, as a verb, it already has 13 different meanings!(according to dictionary.com) Due to this fact, people from different backgrounds may interpret the word very differently, like drive, can mean hitting a ball during golf for a golfer,or simply mean the act of driving to a driver. Imagine this conversation:
Driver: I was moody, so i went to have a drive.
Golfer: really! how far did it go?!
Driver: well... to the nearest convenience store.
Golfer: WOW! you should teach me that!
Driver: erm... don't you have a driving license?
Just simply one word alone definitely is able to cause some misunderstandings between people. The driver was feeling puzzled through out the conversation as driving to the nearest convenience store definitely mean nothing to him except maybe a street, or two away? But, to the Golfer, it was definitely a very far distance for him to achieve.
Since past just a word alone is able to cause much misunderstanding, for now , what about words without vowels? I am sure more misunderstandings and problem would arise. Just like the word drive, if it is to be written without vowels would most likely be, dr or dv. Problems arise when one interpreted it as drive, the other as doctor or maybe even as DVD?!
However, many would argue, u r cn st rd ths y bther abt wrds w/o vwls?
I feel that there is a need to make sure that our vowels still remain in WORDS. Perhaps in a more formal scenario, but, at the same time try be more precise about what you are trying to get across, regardless of the fact with or without vowels, in order to minimise any possible miscommunication.
an article published in the September 2009 issue of Reader Digest pages 36-37.
BY Nury Vittachi.
It is an article that describes, and explains journalist point of view of many words form or short forms which "takes away" vowels and yet can be understood. In this particular article he includes several incidents of his actual experiences of "missing" vowels.
Firstly, I apologize for not being able to find this particular article online for you. However, if any of you owes a current issue of Reader's Digest (Sep 2009), I would recommend you to read this article which is pretty interesting, and very engaging.
Initially the writer mentioned about a text message that he received through his phone " Mt @ 3rd st crnr @12 , QT. " For those sms mania, I am pretty sure you would have guessed what it meant. Yes, that is quite similar to what the writer's colleague has interpreted," An attractive young woman wants to meet you at the corner of Third Street at noon." However, to his dismay, the fact was that the text message is from an insurance agent who calls Quentin. Now, you seethe writer's concern?
As mentioned in the article, there increasing number of such incidents happening everyday! Have you realise that the brand Reebok has suddenly gone missing? No, it has not! It just rename, RBK. There are many everyday examples like, KFC, Ng , Sng, etc., which no longer consist of vowels!
This is a reflection of how language influenced and impact us. As we all know that language is the primary tool for direct communication. When words start missing vowels miscommunication will arise!
A word itself can already be interpreted into many various meaning . Taking the word "drive" for example, as a verb, it already has 13 different meanings!(according to dictionary.com) Due to this fact, people from different backgrounds may interpret the word very differently, like drive, can mean hitting a ball during golf for a golfer,or simply mean the act of driving to a driver. Imagine this conversation:
Driver: I was moody, so i went to have a drive.
Golfer: really! how far did it go?!
Driver: well... to the nearest convenience store.
Golfer: WOW! you should teach me that!
Driver: erm... don't you have a driving license?
Just simply one word alone definitely is able to cause some misunderstandings between people. The driver was feeling puzzled through out the conversation as driving to the nearest convenience store definitely mean nothing to him except maybe a street, or two away? But, to the Golfer, it was definitely a very far distance for him to achieve.
Since past just a word alone is able to cause much misunderstanding, for now , what about words without vowels? I am sure more misunderstandings and problem would arise. Just like the word drive, if it is to be written without vowels would most likely be, dr or dv. Problems arise when one interpreted it as drive, the other as doctor or maybe even as DVD?!
However, many would argue, u r cn st rd ths y bther abt wrds w/o vwls?
I feel that there is a need to make sure that our vowels still remain in WORDS. Perhaps in a more formal scenario, but, at the same time try be more precise about what you are trying to get across, regardless of the fact with or without vowels, in order to minimise any possible miscommunication.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I Love You, Beth Cooper.
I Love You, Beth Cooper is a recently featured comedy movie in Singapore.
Here is a short synopsis on it :
"I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER chronicles the story of a nerdy valedictorian who
proclaims his love for the hottest and most popular girl in school – Beth Cooper
– during his graduation speech. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up at his
door that very night and decides to show him the best night of his life. "
(http://www.cathay.com.sg/cineplexes/movies.html?type=now-showing)
I would like to discuss about the two main characters, Beth n Dennis, in the movie.
Let us take a look at how Beth is being perceived by Dennis.
To Dennis, Beth is the dream girl, head of cheer leading, beautiful and curvy. However, after witnessing Beth kissing a cashier for a dozen beer at a convenience store , his dream was shattered.
This is pretty common in reality, as often people who we thought they are are actually much different from their true self. Frequently, we see the things or the people that we like as being almost flawless. the comments we make about the thing or person are positive and what our subconscious desire it to be. Similarly, in the movie, Dennis sees Beth to be as perfect as angel , however, later in the movie , it was revealed that this was not true. It was because all along Dennis is assuming Beth to be who he had imagined to be.
Dennis' false impression of Beth may also be due to another factor, lack of communication between Beth and Dennis. At the start of the film, Frederich , a friend of Dennis, mentioned that Dennis had never actually talked to Beth at all! This hints us that whatever possible information Dennis had gotten about Beth are second or maybe even be third or fourth hand information. In this manner, through the transmission of the information, Dennis might not get the actual information. This is because different people see information differently ; what may seem significant to the first person may not be equally significant to the second person. Therefore, through the passing of information until Dennis receives it, the information might have been filtered. This might be one of the reasons why the real Beth is different from the one Dennis imagined to be.
This is similar to how Beth perceived Dennis. He may seem uncool, being the head of debate club and the A star student. This is the typical uncool characteristic among high school students.
In addition, Beth's two best friends saw Dennis and Frederich as being geeks and weirdos. Definitely, Beth's impression of Dennis surely been influenced by her peers.
This is exactly what happens in real life. We are often influenced by what the society perceives or what our friends perceive. We would stereotype, group and label people. We would at the same time list down each group characteristics, and how we should handle them. For instance, Frederich is seen as gay by most of his peers and the "correct" way of "handling" him is to stay away from him and make fun of his sexual preference. These treatments, in my personal point of view, is seen as unkind.
From the movie we can realise that making assumption, stereotyping and lack of communication would lead to false impressions of people and lead to many inequalities in the society.
Here is a short synopsis on it :
"I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER chronicles the story of a nerdy valedictorian who
proclaims his love for the hottest and most popular girl in school – Beth Cooper
– during his graduation speech. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up at his
door that very night and decides to show him the best night of his life. "
(http://www.cathay.com.sg/cineplexes/movies.html?type=now-showing)
I would like to discuss about the two main characters, Beth n Dennis, in the movie.
Let us take a look at how Beth is being perceived by Dennis.
To Dennis, Beth is the dream girl, head of cheer leading, beautiful and curvy. However, after witnessing Beth kissing a cashier for a dozen beer at a convenience store , his dream was shattered.
This is pretty common in reality, as often people who we thought they are are actually much different from their true self. Frequently, we see the things or the people that we like as being almost flawless. the comments we make about the thing or person are positive and what our subconscious desire it to be. Similarly, in the movie, Dennis sees Beth to be as perfect as angel , however, later in the movie , it was revealed that this was not true. It was because all along Dennis is assuming Beth to be who he had imagined to be.
Dennis' false impression of Beth may also be due to another factor, lack of communication between Beth and Dennis. At the start of the film, Frederich , a friend of Dennis, mentioned that Dennis had never actually talked to Beth at all! This hints us that whatever possible information Dennis had gotten about Beth are second or maybe even be third or fourth hand information. In this manner, through the transmission of the information, Dennis might not get the actual information. This is because different people see information differently ; what may seem significant to the first person may not be equally significant to the second person. Therefore, through the passing of information until Dennis receives it, the information might have been filtered. This might be one of the reasons why the real Beth is different from the one Dennis imagined to be.
This is similar to how Beth perceived Dennis. He may seem uncool, being the head of debate club and the A star student. This is the typical uncool characteristic among high school students.
In addition, Beth's two best friends saw Dennis and Frederich as being geeks and weirdos. Definitely, Beth's impression of Dennis surely been influenced by her peers.
This is exactly what happens in real life. We are often influenced by what the society perceives or what our friends perceive. We would stereotype, group and label people. We would at the same time list down each group characteristics, and how we should handle them. For instance, Frederich is seen as gay by most of his peers and the "correct" way of "handling" him is to stay away from him and make fun of his sexual preference. These treatments, in my personal point of view, is seen as unkind.
From the movie we can realise that making assumption, stereotyping and lack of communication would lead to false impressions of people and lead to many inequalities in the society.
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