Social Situations and Language
Language speaks a lot about a person. Way a person speaks, and the language he or she uses can be used to categorize the origin of that particular individual. In understanding the dynamics of communication regarding social situations, socio-linguistic was established that teaches a lot about the importance of language in communication. As such, the language used depends on the situation or the social context.
One time, my friend and I were invited to speak to the elders in a particular community about aging successfully. We were invited by Vantage Aging to talk to people about maintaining elderly independence. For the community, we were invited as guest speakers was a Spanish community but understood English comprehensively. One of the essential thing I knew about communication is the impression the speaker creates to the audience. For instance, the way a person is dressed can be perceived differently, besides the message is anticipated conversely depending on how someone is dressed. So we were well dressed and groomed for the occasion. For most of these people, they didn’t understand their rights and what It meant by maintaining elderly independence. So it was up to us to explain in the best way possible for them to understand every content about the topic.
I enjoy talking to people, and I have done that on many occasions, but this one was a challenge for me because I never have in my life addressed more than three older adults in my life. However, my friend older enough to make our mission successful. He was our neighbor and with a son almost my age, but we were very close. He was respected in the community though he talked less; in fact, I have never seen him address compression of even ten people before.
As a result, I expected him to speak with command and in a language appropriate for the older people. I was worried because we came from the ghetto, where the language is misused, and the use of slang is rampant. At the meeting, John took the stage and surprised my curiosity with the energy, and he created. He spoke with enthusiasm and vigor I never expected him to. He moved the crowd well and seemed to drive the point home so nicely.
Men have always been known to be good speakers than women, and the language for both men and women is different. For instance, men tend to express themselves than women freely. However, the level of free for me is different from John’s freedom of speech. He engaged the elders in a language they understood very well. He even went ahead and cracked jokes that I would feel shy about. Sometimes I would signal him not go far, but he told me “to cut the slack, I have to tell these grey, baldheaded el ancianos and la ancianas the truth about life.”
I was surprised that he knew Spanish, something I have never had him speak ever since I knew him. He code switched throughout the entire communication. What they never seemed to comprehend, he explained to them in Spanish, and they were happy indeed. They even answered him and asked questions in Spanish because most of them had problems speaking in English. He managed to create a good rapport with the audience, which to some extent, I was worried it could ruin mine with them when I would speak to them using just English.
Finally, it was my time, and I took to stage, the audience received me nicely, and I saw happy faces. Even though their faces seemed a little bit disappointed, the reception was excellent, and they patiently listened to what I said. John supported me the side by translating their questions to me and translating some of the problematic words to them. I had expected they would ignore me because of my age, but the way I was dressed and how I spoke gained their confidence in me. As a result, our mission was accomplished without many challenges.