Communication Skills

MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
BUCU001
SULEIMAN SHAKOMBO NZIOKA
BBM/2019/48532
a. Using any 2 specific illustrations for each
Discuss the various types of listening in communication
Here are types of listening, starting with basic discrimination of sounds and ending in deep
communication.
(i) Discriminative listening
Discriminative listening is the most basic type of listening, whereby the difference between
difference sounds is identified. If you cannot hear differences, then you cannot make sense of the
meaning that is expressed by such differences.
We learn to discriminate between sounds within our own language early, and later are unable to
discriminate between the phonemes of other languages. This is one reason why a person from
one country finds it difficult to speak another language perfectly, as they are unable distinguish
the subtle sounds that are required in that language.
Likewise, a person who cannot hear the subtleties of emotional variation in another person's
voice will be less likely to be able to discern the emotions the other person is experiencing.
Listening is a visual as well as auditory act, as we communicate much through body language.
We thus also need to be able to discriminate between muscle and skeletal movements that signify
different meanings.
(ii) Comprehension listening
The next step beyond discriminating between different sound and sights is to make sense of
them. To comprehend the meaning requires first having a lexicon of words at our fingertips and
also all rules of grammar and syntax by which we can understand what others are saying.
The same is true, of course, for the visual components of communication, and an understanding
of body language helps us understand what the other person is really meaning.
In communication, some words are more important and some less so, and comprehension often
benefits from extraction of key facts and items from a long spiel.
(iii) Critical listening
Critical listening is listening in order to evaluate and judge, forming opinion about what is being
said. Judgment includes assessing strengths and weaknesses, agreement and approval.
This form of listening requires significant real-time cognitive effort as the listener analyzes what
is being said, relating it to existing knowledge and rules, whilst simultaneously listening to the
ongoing words from the speaker.
(iv) Biased listening
Biased listening happens when the person hears only what they want to hear, typically
misinterpreting what the other person says based on the stereotypes and other biases that they
have.
(v) Evaluative listening
In evaluative listening, or critical listening, we make judgments about what the other person is
saying. We seek to assess the truth of what is being said. We also judge what they say against
our values, assessing them as good or bad, worthy or unworthy.
Evaluative listening is particularly pertinent when the other person is trying to persuade us,
perhaps to change our behavior and maybe even to change our beliefs. Within this, we also
discriminate between subtleties of language and comprehend the inner meaning of what is said.
Typically also we weigh up the pros and cons of an argument, determining whether it makes
sense logically as well as whether it is helpful to us.
Evaluative listening is also called critical, judgmental or interpretive listening.
(vi) Appreciative listening

In appreciative listening, we seek certain information which will appreciate, for example that
which helps meet our needs and goals. We use appreciative listening when we are listening to
good music, poetry or maybe even the stirring words of a great leader.
(vii) Sympathetic listening
In sympathetic listening we care about the other person and show this concern in the way we pay
close attention and express our sorrow for their ills and happiness at their joys.
(viii) Empathetic listening
When we listen empathetically, we go beyond sympathy to seek a truer understand how others
are feeling. This requires excellent discrimination and close attention to the nuances of emotional
signals. When we are being truly empathetic, we actually feel what they are feeling.
In order to get others to expose these deep parts of themselves to us, we also need to demonstrate
our empathy in our demeanor towards them, asking sensitively and in a way that encourages self-
disclosure.
(ix) Therapeutic listening
In therapeutic listening, the listener has a purpose of not only empathizing with the speaker but
also to use this deep connection in order to help the speaker understand, change or develop in
some way.
This not only happens when you go to see a therapist but also in many social situations, where
friends and family seek to both diagnose problems from listening and also to help the speaker
cure themselves, perhaps by some cathartic process. This also happens in work situations, where
managers, HR people, trainers and coaches seek to help employees learn and develop.
(x) Dialogic listening
The word 'dialogue' stems from the Greek words 'dia', meaning 'through' and 'logos' meaning
'words'. Thus dialogic listening mean learning through conversation and an engaged interchange
of ideas and information in which we actively seek to learn more about the person and how they
think.
Dialogic listening is sometimes known as 'relational listening'.
(xi) Relationship listening
Sometimes the most important factor in listening is in order to develop or sustain a relationship.
This is why lovers talk for hours and attend closely to what each other has to say when the same
words from someone else would seem to be rather boring.
Relationship listening is also important in areas such as negotiation and sales, where it is helpful
if the other person likes you and trusts you.
The primary purpose of descriptive writing is to describe a person, place or thing in such a way
that a picture is formed in the reader's mind. Capturing an event through descriptive writing
involves paying close attention to the details by using all of your five senses. Teaching students
to write more descriptively will improve their writing by making it more interesting and
engaging to read.
References
Akerson, V. L., & Young, T.A. (2005). Science the 'write' way. Science and Children, 43(3), 38-
41.
Miller, R.G., & Calfee, R.C. (2004). Making thinking visible: A method to encourage science
writing in upper elementary grades. Science and Children, (42)3, 20-25.
Mitchell, D. (1996). Writing to learn across the curriculum and the English teacher. English
Journal, 85, 93-97.
Santa, C., & Havens, L. (1995). Creating independence through student-owned strategies:
Project CRISS. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.
b. Describe the features of descriptive writing
Introduction
The primary purpose of descriptive writing is to describe a person, place or thing in such a way
that a picture is formed in the reader's mind. Capturing an event through descriptive writing
involves paying close attention to the details by using all of your five senses. Teaching students
to write more descriptively will improve their writing by making it more interesting and
engaging to read.
Features of descriptive writing
1. Good descriptive writing includes many vivid sensory details that paint a picture and appeals
to all of the reader's senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste when appropriate. Descriptive
writing may also paint pictures of the feelings the person, place or thing invokes in the writer. In
the video section below, watch a teacher use a Five Senses Graphic Organizer as a planning
strategy for descriptive writing.
2. Good descriptive writing often makes use of figurative language such as analogies, similes and
metaphors to help paint the picture in the reader's mind.
3. Good descriptive writing uses precise language. General adjectives, nouns, and passive verbs
do not have a place in good descriptive writing. Use specific adjectives and nouns and strong
action verbs to give life to the picture you are painting in the reader's mind.
4. Good descriptive writing is organized. Some ways to organize descriptive writing include:
chronological (time), spatial (location), and order of importance. When describing a person, you
might begin with a physical description, followed by how that person thinks, feels and acts.
5. Good descriptive writing uses touch. Descriptions of temperature, textures and weight.
References
Cronen, V., & Pearce, W. B. (2012). The coordinated management of meaning: A theory of
communication. In F. E. Dance (Ed.), Human communication theory (pp. 61–89). New York,
NY: Harper & Row.
Habermas, J. (2014). The theory of communicative action (Vol. 1, p. 100). Boston, MA: Beacon
Press.
Leavitt, H., & Mueller, R. (2016). Some effects of feedback on communication. Human
Relations, 4, 401–410.
McLean, S. (2013). The basics of speech communication. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
McLean, S. (2015). The basics of interpersonal communication. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

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MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

SULEIMAN SHAKOMBO NZIOKA

Discuss the various types of listening in communication

(i) Discriminative listening

(ii) Comprehension listening

(iii) Critical listening

(iv) Biased listening

(v) Evaluative listening

Evaluative listening is also called critical, judgmental or interpretive listening.

(vi) Appreciative listening

(vii) Sympathetic listening

(viii) Empathetic listening

(ix) Therapeutic listening

(x) Dialogic listening

Dialogic listening is sometimes known as 'relational listening'.

(xi) Relationship listening

Features of descriptive writing

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