Have you often wondered why some speakers are just good at delivering a speech no matter how tired the audience are and still get them to follow his speech until he's done? Am about to give you some basic clue you need to consider when communicating be it to at the group level or at the interpersonal level.
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Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols in communication. It usually consists of an object(signifier) and the interpretation of it which is the signified or the idea being conveyed. Its interpretation can either be denotative(universal meaning) or connotative(interpretative). The concept was first popularize and theorized by Peirce and Saussure. Confused already🤔🤔🤔. Don't mind these terms and communication jargons.😄😄😄
In essence, it is very important to consider signs and symbol when among those we communicate to as well as the signs and symbols around their environment because it help us to;
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Decode messages- The knowledge gain through the study of semiotics can help a speaker to decode messages and obtain feedback from our audience. Quizzical looks, body posture and facial expressions tells a lot about how audience are receiving a particular message given to them by a speaker. Assuming you're delivering a speech to persons who are squeezing their face and and shaking their their head. Immediately you could conclude that either your message is taken with a pinch of salt of it is being rejected outright. This facial feedback helps you to know how to make your listener believe you by further explaining things to them from different perspectives. It also helps to convey meaning and ideas in a subtle yet pervasive since you're able to decode the signs of your audience and respond to them appropriately.
Knowledge gain through semiotics also helps us to assimilate well into other cultures. This is done by observing both the verbal and non-verbal cues of people from other culture and then make an informed decision thereby, fitting into that culture without having to question how things are done and why they are done differently from your own. By this, you're able to communicate to the conscience of the people because you identify and understand their culture.
Speaker's knowledge about signs and symbols also helps him to choose an appropriate medium of communication since symbolism and gestures in communication has huge impact on feedback. Knowledge gained through signs would influence a speaker's choice of medium. As a speaker, you need to measure the medium to use to speak to people having in mind the the effect of symbolism and imagery in speech. For example, you need to consider how as a speaker, you'll demonstrate how to properly wash hands to children having in mind how children are able to learn through practicalization yet has little concentration on things they are tasked to do. With this, you need to choose group, interpersonal, role pay as a medium of communication instead of choosing maybe, TV or radio as a medium of communication.
I believe by considering this, we'll be able to communicate to audience and then receive appropriate feedback from them.