| Author | Message | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 325 Registered: 7-2011 |
Scientific studies (across many societies) report that powerful and power-related linguistic abilities - such as politicians, parents, lovers, and children have - are based only partly on (a) linguistic abilities such as large vocabulary or (b) vocal abilities such as shouting. There are many other important components with which we can capture an audience. I'm going to make this a small puzzle which we can divide into two pieces. Either or both can operate at one time. Imagine a small audience - a dozen people eating dinner at a single table, frex. People are eating, drinking, and talking. One, or two, or a few people might want to have many or all others pay attention at some point. (1) There is one tactic during conversation that we can use to make sure that many people are listening to us. (2) There is another tactic during conversation that we can use to make sure that we are expressing ourselves clearly. Oh! I didn't mention whether adults or children or ... Well, you can ask those questions. | ||
| Abc (Abc)
Moderator Username: Abc Post Number: 285 Registered: 7-2006 |
Ummm... I guess the straightforward methods are not what you have in mind? (In case you wonder, the straightforward methods are 1) Slamming one's fist into the table and saying loudly "Now, shut up and listen!" 2) Asking "Am I making myself clear?" and listen for any answers | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 14477 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is eye contact relevant? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 886 Registered: 6-2003 |
As for 1): turn down the voice? stop talking at all? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 1830 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is it relevant that these tactics are relevant in a dining setting? Because of the level of ambient noise? Because of being in public? Would these tactics work in other settings? Tactic 1: Related to vocal pitch? Related to volume? Related to word choice? Pattern of ebb and flow of standard conversation relevant? Tactic 2: Related to vocal pitch? Related to volume? Precise word choice relevant? Body position? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 4270 Registered: 9-2010 |
Are the people at the table adults? children? mixed? male? female? mixed? how many of each if mixed? (Fiona kitteh iz told kittehz to ask =P) Are they having cheezburgurz? (Must ask. =D) Does it matter what they're eating? | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 55 Registered: 8-2011 |
Content or wording relevant in either case? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 329 Registered: 7-2011 |
Kaylee wrote: "Are the people at the table adults? children? mixed? male? female? mixed? how many of each if mixed?" Kaylee, you are the smartest ever - but this time, it's simply a group of people who are chatting and eating and *telling stories* - it's the manner of telling stories that matters. Ciaobella [hi! glad to meet you!] wrote, "Content or wording relevant in either case?" Very good question!, since I did say it was about discourse analysis. And Vesica asked a similar very smart question. No, words don't matter. You both knew how to eliminate the red herrings, to talk about body language. Because I feel embarrassed about having posted this riddle ages ago and then disappearing, I'll give a huge hint or two. I wrote: (1) There is one tactic during conversation that we can use to make sure that many people are listening to us. Kaylee, it doesn't matter what they're eating - please don't send your cheezburgurz kittehs after me - | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 330 Registered: 7-2011 |
Vesica, to repeat [honey, we're having a lightning storm in Miami, so I hope this will get through] - this does not have to be in a restaurant. I just thought of a setting that might be familiar - but it does have to be in a situation in which several people can hear each other. | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 331 Registered: 7-2011 |
We're having a scary lightning storm here, so I want to write a clue quickly in case I lose power. This puzzle is about body language and it's based on more than one case study. Abc, Balin, and Sundowner, you all made me grin and you all had really good suggestions, and in any such dinner setting I'm sure you would win. Focus on yourselves in a group of a few people - it could be your family, or friends watching TV, it doesn't have to be at a restaurant - when you're talking, explaining something, what else might you do while you're talking and discussing? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 14711 Registered: 4-2010 |
Leaning forward? Looking at everyone? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 337 Registered: 7-2011 |
All you good and great people, I'm SO sorry for my absence, and to leave this thread hanging! I hope to stay again without interruption. Balin, YES, wins the (1)! Body language #1. Leaning forward, looking at everyone - these actions demand that people look back at you. And, sometimes, even that they lean forward toward you. The second tactic (#2), to answer belatedly, no, doesn't have to do with voice, although all of those were such great suggestions that they might fit into a new, different puzzle. For now, keep thinking body language. | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 345 Registered: 7-2011 |
I feel bad about starting a 2-part puzzle and then disappearing for weeks. So I'll clarify the other half: (2) There is another tactic during conversation that we can use to make sure that we are expressing ourselves clearly. I will embellish here to say that it is upper body related. The scientific studies were not about people feeling grouchy enough to kick their sneakers against the legs of the tables and chairs, for example. It's all discourse and body language. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 4460 Registered: 9-2010 |
o hai fiona kitteh! yuo can haz cheezburgur? *givz* iz intriguing puzzel! *iz still ponderin it* by teh wai, yuo thinkz I's broke teh chatroom? *a very worried kaylee kitteh in san jose* | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15060 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is vocal emphasis relevant? Emphasizing a certain word or words? Using your hands to emphasize words or phrases? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 346 Registered: 7-2011 |
Kaylee kitteh, I lovz cheezburgurz, and no, no breaking of teh chatroom! Balin, you've won the second part! Gesturing while chatting, aka Talking With The Hands, is apparently necessary for humans in the investigated societies (in the US and Europe, not sure re elsewhere) to explain ourselves clearly. At least one study has shown that in two groups - one allowed to gesticulate, the other having to sit on their hands or something - the first group was able to express both simple and complex ideas more clearly even if all the speakers did was gesture here and there. It's all google-able. BALIN WINS! But everyone else here had excellent questions and suggestions, and probably everyone else here would have won, too, if you could all have embedded videos of yourselves asking and suggesting... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15070 Registered: 4-2010 |
SPOILER! All right! Nice puzzle! |
