Communication
Background:
S.I. Hayakawa, Language in Thought and Action
What are we trying to do when we communicate?
Language is symbolic
Exchange of ideas
TEACH
Why are lawyers and policitians often maligned? They don't TEACH!
To whom are you speaking?
family
your boss
another engineer in your discipline
another engineer outside your discipline
a scientist
someone with a college degree
someone with a 6th grade education (M. Mead)
The average education level of Americans is of the 6th grade
an opponent
There are different jargons, backgrounds and goals that one must consider.
It is important to speak at same level of
abstraction.
Follow-Up:
Read Air Force Squawks and think
about what effective communication entails.
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