There are many aspects in determining the human personality and the nonverbal messages individuals send consciously or subconsciously. One very complex and easy misunderstood part of this understanding is in the vocal interactions that we have with others. Numerous thoughts and assumptions can be taken out of one conversation whether intended or not that will create an image and a personality about you for others to see. The book suggests that in some cases different parts of speech and vocal responses are learned throughout an individual’s life and certain parts are learned through time (97). Sarcasm is a part of our everyday life and is part of the human language that is hard to detect and is something that is learned. Sarcasm evokes confusion for people unfamiliar with it because your verbal message relates one thing and your nonverbal behavior relays a totally opposite reaction (97). Comics use it to lead their audience on thinking one thing and mean something entirely different all together and without knowledge of it one would be lost.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_FO4QaIR4
In this interview by Will Ferrell and John C Reilly demonstrate how you can be strait and verbal with somebody and have an entirely different meaning nonverbally. Sarcasm can be hard to detect and if you didn’t know they were joking one would believe it to be a real interview.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think its really interesting how often sarcasm is misinterpreted in different cultures. I think that a part of vocal interaction is very cultural, even in different parts of America. I am from Chicago and as I grew up there sarcasm was a huge part of my day to day interactions with people. In general, people in Chicago are a little rougher around the edges and it makes us more prone to pick fun at other people, typically through sarcasm. So, when I came down to Texas for school, I brought my sarcastic personality with me. The first few weeks I was here I got tons of odd looks from people who thought I was being awefuly rude to people. While in fact, I thought I was only being sarcastic. Since that point in time I have started to pick up on sarcasm less and less. Even so, to the point, where sometimes when I go home I do not pick up on sarcasm being used. So, I think that a huge aspect of how people perceive vocal responses is based upon the place they grew up.
ReplyDeleteThis clip was really funny, I love their sense of humor. Sarcasm is a common misconception because some people don't know how to take it. Its awkward when you don't know if someone is being sarcastic or not being sarcastic so you don't know if you should laugh or not. Sarcasm is also used for masking different emotions. Like you stated in your post, your verbal message could mean one thing, but your nonverbal message could send a whole different meaning.
ReplyDeleteCameron -
ReplyDeleteGreat video. That is hilarious. I wonder what it is about sarcasm that we think is so funny? I think it may have something to do with the fact that it allows us the opprotunity to make fun of people (i.e. John McCain's wife, Roger Clemens) and serious events (olympics during cold war) in an indirect way so that we don't personally come across as so offensive. It is definitely a passive way to get a point across for sure...but gosh it's funny.