SilenceA presentation byQing Du and Mark Montiel

si·lence [sahy-luhns] noun

1. absence of any sound or noise; stillness.

2. the state or fact of being silent; muteness.

3. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern

4. the state of being forgotten; oblivion: in the news again after years of silence.

5. concealment; secrecy.

Silence

as a means of communication

as a means of miscommunication

and the power of pausing

and its positive and negative values

and culture

Silence as a means of communication

Common link between speech and silence is thatthe same interpretive process apply to someone’s remaining meaningfully silent in discourse as to thier speaking

In other words silence carries meaning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGnPVDSFKw8&feature=related

Silence as a means of miscommunication

Silence can also cause trouble, in the way the message may be misinterpreted or if enacted for a long period of time

Teacher: So what do you guys thinkStudents: (silence, looking down)Teacher: (pause)... fine... sure... Yeah I agree... That’s a good point you made.Students: (Giggle)

The Idea of talking to a Brick Wall

Silence and the power of pausing

one of silence’s important features is the power of the pause. various pause times have the power to convey different meanings in different situations, falling into the idea of perception and valuation.

pausing as a symbol of being in deep though vs

pausing as a symbol of not being assertive

Silence and its positive and negative values

A . A linkage function: Slience may bond two (or more) people or it may spa-rate them.

B. An affecting function: Slience may heal (over time) or wound.

C. A revelation function: Slience may make something known to a person (self-explpration) or it may hide information from others.

D. Judfmental function: Slience may signal assent and favor or it may signal disent and disfavor.

E. An activating function: Slience may signal deep thoughtfulness (work) or it may signal mental inactivity.

Silence and culture

The Value of Silence in Japan derives from the conceptualization of the self as split into two parts. the INNER and the OUTWARD.

INNER is associated with truthfulness and is located symbolically in the heart and belly

OUTWARD is associated with the face, mouth, and spoken words and with deception, disguise, falsity and so on, where as silence expresses inner truth

as far as the inner truth is concerened silence is the best way of expressing and maintaining it, whereas when the outward truth of the spoken word maybe socially harmful and bringing about criticism, hatred or humilation, silence is the best means of concealing it.

If you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all.

In relationships there are two types of dimensions in the form of silence which are in complete opposition to each other

1) By expressing thier affection for each other by non verbal means and in silence -Being Lovey Dovey

2) As an expression of social defiance in disagreeing with someone, objecting to what has been said or done, or as a signal of anger and hatred -The Silent Treatment

Silence is Golden

Silence is Deadly

Fin