The Concept of Communication Style

The Concept of Communication Style

The concept of communication style has been defined by Rober Norton as

"the way one verbally, nonverbally, and para verbally interacts to signal how

literal meaning should be taken, interpreted, filtered, or

understood"(1996.p.229) In this, Norton has identified nine communicator styles.

A persons style may be dominant, dramatic, contentious, animated ,impression

leaving, relaxed, open, or friendly. These dimensions measure how you interact

in various situations. For example, if I speak frequently and try to control the

converstaion, you might assume that I am dominant in my communicator style.

In determining my own commuication style I had a questionnaire completed

by both a friend, acquaintance , as well as completing one myself. The friend

that I chose was my room mate Ryan Seslow. . Ryan and I have been friends since

highschool so he knows me very well. The person that I chose to complete the

acquaintance section was my friend Leslie Margasak. Leslie is my girlfriends

roommate therefore our communication is somewhat limited. Through the following

research and analysis I have created a table (Table:1) that shows the means for

my friend aquaitance, and myself.

The summaries and findings in which I calculated provided me with

insight of my dominant yet friendly communication style. It also provided me

with a different perspective as to how other people interpret my communication

habits. For example, the mean for myself on the category "relaxed" scored a 1.3.

However, my friends mean was 3.1 and my acquaintance was 5.1. Through the text

of Interpersonal Communication, I was able to determine that this

fluctuation has to do with the self concept theory. "Self -concept is defined

as each person's own subjective view or image of him or herself as a person"

(tremont p.213) In my opinion I do not see myself as relaxed(1.3), but my friend

does as well as acquaintance. I do not see as relaxed as the others indicated

in the table. Usually I feel rather more stressed and even a little nervous

rather than relaxed when communicating.

One calculation in which which I noticed to have simmialr realuts was

based on the means for being dramtic. I scored high in this category on all

three surveys.(see table:1) When a person is classified as dramatic it refers

that the person "likes to act ...

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...do so by staying relaxed. I scored a relatively low mean in

the openess category and this is an area I would like to change. The means

showed that I am not open nor am I percieved to be a very open person.

Overall my communication style is very dominant, dramatic and friendly.

Howvevr, despite this though Im not a very open person. I feel that my

communication style does allow me to get people to listen to me closely becayse

of my dramatics or ability to tell srotires in vivid detail and picturesqe. I

am animated and expressive when I feel the need to emphasize a point or

statement. This also helps my communication confidence since I know now that

what I say often does an considerable impact on those who I am communicating

with.

In conclusion I am very pleased with the data which I recorded. I now

understand my communciation style better yet at the same time have located areas

in which I can begin to improve on. Through this assignment I learned a great

deal about how I communcate as well as how others percieve my communication

style.

References

1.)Trenholm and Jensen, (1996). Intterpersonal Communication. Belmont,

CA:Wadsworth Publishing Company.