MCM301 Long Question
Question No 4
Explain in detail the four characteristics that contribute to the quality of a speaker’s voice?
A voice communicates a great deal more than words alone. A presenter’s voice is a potentially powerful tool to make an oral delivery effective and impressive. Professionals whose careers depend on skilled communication take seriously the need to develop positive and powerful vocal attributes.
The quality of a speaker's voice is determined by four characteristics: pitch, volume, rate, and tone. An effective speaking voice is well modulated, meaning the pitch, volume, rate, and lone are altered to give appropriate and interesting expression to the message. A voice that is pleasing and easy to listen to is mellow, meaning it is rich in tone and sounds fully mature. It is moderate; the pitch is not too low or too high, volume is not too loud or too soft, and the rate of speech is neither too fast nor too slow.
To add to the effectiveness of a delivery, the qualities of a speaker's voice should be varied and congruent with the message. Vocal qualities should also be varied to provide contrast. In addition, since it is often per ceived that the nature of a person's voice reflects something of the nature of the person, a presenter should develop and communicate with a steady, resonant, and mature voice.
Pitch
The term pitch refers to the degree of highness or lowness of a sound. A high pitch sound corresponds to a high frequency and a low pitch sound corresponds to a low frequency. Every voice has a normal pitch in terms of what is '"normal" for the speaker. The norm for an effective communicator is a pitch that can be raised a few levels without sounding squeaky and lowered a few levels with out sounding grumble. Such a range allows a speaker to vary pitch for con trast while maintaining a vocal quality that is pleasing to the ear.
Pitch has a notable impact on how a presenter is perceived. In every species that makes audible sounds, the young have higher-pitched voices than do grown adults. Consequently, a high-pitched voice is associated with immaturity. An excessively high-pitched voice is shrill and unpleasant to listen to for long. A person who speaks in a high-pitched voice will be taken more seriously if the pitch is lowered.
An effective presenter uses pitch changes to indicate a change in the mes sage. At the end of a sentence, dropping the pitch signifies a statement; rais ing the pitch signifies a question. For that reason, repeated lifts in pitch at the end of declarative statements create an impression of a speaker who is uncertain. Occasional and appropriate variations in pitch can be used to accentuate meaning. Rapid, frequent, and meaningless changes in pitch make it difficult for an audience to listen attentively, and may suggest that the speaker is highly emotional or frantic.
"Perfect pitch" or "absolute pitch" refers to the ability of some persons to recognize the pitch of a musical note without any discernable pitch standard, as if the person can recognize a pitch like the eye discerns the color of an object. Most persons apparently have only a sense of relative pitch and can recognize a musical interval, but not an isolated pitch.
As an example in our daily life we see some people particularly some female singers having shrill voices and some people particularly politicians having a grave voice, which shows the importance of pitch. There are also some people who have low-pitched voices naturally and they are not capable of changing it but it is not necessary, pitch is something that can be altered intentionally which is evident from the fact that some of the actors nationally and internationally have gained popularity among the public because of their skill of producing changed –pitch voices.
Volume
Listeners want to clearly hear a speaker without straining to do so and without being blasted out of their chairs. A presenter who speaks too loudly may be perceived as bombastic, aggressive, or insensitive to listeners. On the other hand, one who speaks too softly may convey the impression of being passive or insecure.
It is commonly thought that a point is emphasized by voicing it more loudly. The reverse is true. An audience is more attentive to a point that is stated at a lower (but still clearly audible) volume. Emphasis is added by lift ing the pitch, slowing the rate, and/or changing the tone of voice. (Vocal emphasis is further strengthened with appropriate visual cues.)
For example,
If a person is talking to his parents his volume would be low and not high. If he speaks in a loud volume he will be considered as misbehaving with his elders. Therefore the use of appropriate volume is very important for effective communication.
Rate
An average rate of speech is 140 words per minute. As with other vocal characteristics, the rate of speech should be varied during a presentation. For emphasis, a speaker may periodically slow down to less than 100 words per minute to voice a point in a deliberate manner. To elevate the level of energy or quickly convey a point of lesser importance, a speaker may occasionally accelerate the rate to more than 170 words per minute.
A consistently slow rate of speech conveys fatigue or disinterest. Flailing speech can suggest that the speaker has difficulty formulating thoughts. Presenters who consistently speak at a rapid rate may be perceived to be nervous, impatient, or hurried.
For example, in a foreign country if we ask somebody for his guidance about some address and he tells us the address in a very fast way; we wouldn’t be able to get it because of his fast speed which shows that it is important to control the rate of delivered words per minute for effective communication.
Tone
The quality of tone is a combination of pitch, strength, and charac ter. Character refers to the sense or meaning a particular tone conveys. For example, a tone of voice may be described as gentle, angry, sarcastic, childish, or serious. The tone of voice with which a speaker expresses a point says more to an audience than the words themselves. As with other vocal characteristics, tone also says something to an audience about the speaker. A faltering tone of voice is perceived as timid or indecisive, a harsh tone of voice as aggressive. A nasal lone lacks the depth that adds authority to a voice. A monotone or flat tone that lacks variations suggests a lack of interest or energy.
In our routine life if we are annoyed with someone then naturally or intentionally the tone of our voice would become harsh while talking with him, which would make it clear to the other person that he has made us angry.
Question 5
a) Differentiate between informal and formal group. Explain in detail the various stages involved in a group formation. ?
Definition of a Group Meeting
A meeting is a gathering of two or more people where purposive discourse occurs. Of course these purposes will vary.
A communication between two people is primarily an interchange – dyadic communication. A group is larger: at least 3 people and perhaps as many as 15 or more. Additionally, a group often meets face to face with a common purpose in mind. Such a group may also be informal (un-planned, free-flowing discourse) or formal (clear, planned purpose).
Informal Group
Casual or informal group meetings are common. Here you casually chat over tea, meet after work, or get together for purely social reasons. You and your friends meet to shttp://www.allvupastpapers.blogspot.com/ ocialize, to interact – often spontaneously, without plan. Your business day is filled with such informal group meetings. Ironically, out of the need for frequent casual meetings may develop the need for more formal and directed meetings.
Formal Group
Often called task-oriented groups, formal groups often search for answers to problems, look for a course of action, make recommendations to a higher authority. This means that you and others may meet to change a policy, make decisions on how a specific problem should be solved, and decide on the beginning steps to implement a solution.
Formation of Groups
Groups go through four formative stages in becoming a group.
Forming: Here the group tries to get started. It is the orientation phase for group members.
Storming: Members begin to stake out their positions; they begin to have conflicts and arguments.
Norming: Progress begins here. Members work to solve conflicts and recognize acceptable kinds of conduct.
Performing: Here the group begins to achieve its goals.
Once you are part of a group seeking to solve a problem, one other thing occurs: The group begins to follow certain phases in solving the problem.
Orientation: Here discussion is free flowing; people orally wander about, each trying to focus on asking questions. Here too, questions are numerous: Members try to inform, ask further questions. Here members’ convictions are tentative and somewhat ambiguous.
Conflict: After the preliminary sparring is over, members begin to offer opinions, evidence in support of their positions. At this phase initial conflicts occur. There may even be resistance to the agreed upon task.
Emergence: Open exchanges continue; members begin to search for ways of truly solving the problem. Compromises occur, and there is a decrease in conflict and sincere movement toward decreasing differences in opinion.
Solutions: A positive attitude exists at this phase. Options have been discussed, and criteria for measuring those options have been viewed. Now is the time to complete the task and agree upon a solution.
b) What are the six-steps guidelines (standard agenda) suggested for a group decision-making?
Group Decision-Making
Standard agenda
Involves a careful, systematic approach to a problem. Groups make their decisions make use of a six-step guide called the standard agenda.
Problem identification
What is the problem? What is wrong with the current situation?
Problem analysis
View the current situation as a balance between restraining forces and helping forces. What are the forces in play in your group's situation?
Criteria selection
What are the goals of the final decision?
Solution generation
Generate as many solutions as possible. Avoid groupthink by listing many solutions.
Solution evaluation & selection
Measure each solution against the criteria from step three.
Final decision
There are many ways that a group can make a final decision, decide on a solution, or come to agreement. Some of the most popular ways of making the decision include:
Consensus: The group members all agree on the final decision through discussion and debate.
Compromise: Through discussion and readjustment of the final plan, group members come to agreement by giving up some of their demands.
Majority Vote: The decision is based on the opinion of the majority of its members.
Decision by Leader: The group gives the final decision to its leader.
Arbitration: An external body or person makes a decision for the group
Solution implementation: Enact the chosen solution.
By ADEEL ABBAS, Bhakkar. AdeelAbbasbk@gmail.com
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