Film: King’s Speech

Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

Please read the assignment carefully and write a good paragraph in response to each of the questions, referring to at least ONE concept in each of the paragraphs.

1. What cultural and gender issues contribute to the Prince’s problem?

2. How do speech therapy classes change his overall communication habits?

3. What strategies does the King use to overcome his shyness?

4. How does the King deal with communication barriers of his life before and after speech therapy classes?

5. In addition to learning to speak better, what does the King learn from his tutor?

Relationship Problem

Follow Steve’s algorithm to answer all the questions posed. Please write at least ONE good paragraph in response to each stage in Steve’s plan, referring to at least ONE concept from the chapter in each.

HONESTY IN VERBAL COMMUNICATION

BACKGROUND

Cooperative verbal communicators constantly strive to use language that is appropriately informative, honest, relevant, and clear. But sometimes information that is relevant to share with others can be damaging. In such situations, deception becomes a tempting alternative. To find out how you would cope with such a situation, read this case study and work through the five steps that follow.

CASE STUDY

You’ve been dating Kieran for two years, and the relationship is the most serious you’ve experienced. Your best friend and lover, Kieran is smart, funny, kind, and honest. Your families and circles of friends support the relationship, and at various points over the last year, the two of you have discussed possibly living together or getting married.

Recently, however, your feelings for Kieran have changed. You both are graduating and you’re uncomfortable making a permanent commitment at this point. In fact, you’ve found yourself craving freedom—to do what you want when you want without having to account for your time and to go out with other people. Kieran, however, is moving in the opposite direction and lately has been pushing for a firmer commitment. Although you haven’t discussed your changing feelings with Kieran, the tension between your competing relationship goals is obvious. The two of you have been fighting a lot and Kieran has been acting uncharacteristically jealous and possessive.

Cael, a friend from class, has made the situation even more complicated. Cael has qualities you feel Kieran lacks—including lightheartedness and a relaxed attitude about relationships. A few nights ago, you ran into Cael at a party. You hung out, one thing led to another, and the two of you ended up spending the night together. The next morning, you felt intensely guilty, but the experience also made you realize that you aren’t ready to commit to one person yet.

Soon after, you’re at Kieran’s house studying. Kieran is uptight and grouchy, responding to you with one-word answers. The tension mounts, and suddenly Kieran says, “You’ve seemed really distant lately. It’s like there’s this big wall between us, and I’m tired of it. Is something wrong?”

Immediately, a million thoughts race through your head. You love Kieran, and you want to protect the relationship. You also respect and admire Kieran as a friend and don’t want to be hurtful. But you feel that Kieran should know about your feelings and your recent dalliance with Cael. And you want freedom to pursue other relationships, including one with Cael. What do you say to Kieran?

YOUR TURN

While working through the following steps, keep in mind the interpersonal communication concepts, skills, and insights you’ve learned so far in this book, especially in this chapter. Also remember: there are no right answers, so think hard about the choice you make! (P.S. Need help? Review the concepts listed below.)

Step 1: Reflect on yourself. What are your thoughts and feelings in this situation? What attributions are you making about Kieran? Are your attributions accurate? Why or why not?

Step 2: Reflect on your partner. Using perspective-taking and empathic concern, put yourself in Kieran’s shoes. Consider how your partner is thinking and feeling. How does Kieran likely perceive you and your behavior? How does Kieran feel about you and your relationship?

Step 3: Identify the optimal outcome. Think about all the information you have about Kieran and about this relationship. Consider your own feelings as well as your partner’s. Given all these factors, what’s the best, most constructive relationship outcome possible here? Be sure to consider not just what’s best for you, but what’s best for Kieran as well.

Step 4: Locate the roadblocks. Taking into consideration your own thoughts and feelings, Kieran’s, and recent events in this situation, what’s preventing you from achieving the optimal outcome you identified in step 3?

Step 5: Chart your course. What will you say to Kieran to overcome the roadblocks you’ve identified and achieve your optimal relationship outcome?

Skill

A SMOOTH FIRST ENCOUNTER

This exercise helps you create a smooth and orderly first encounter with a new acquaintance.

➊ Review the sequence of topics presented in Figure 6.1 on page 197.

➋ Create a communication plan in your head by talking through these topics in the order in which they are presented and by thinking of specific things to say.

➌ Initiate an encounter with a fellow college student who is a new acquaintance.

➍ Follow the communication plan you have created.

➎ As the encounter unfolds, allow for flexibility in the pattern of topics if your conversational partner goes slightly out of order or introduces a different topic.

COOPERATIVE LANGUAGE IN ONLINE INTERACTION

This exercise helps you use cooperative language during an important online interaction.

➊ Identify an important online encounter.

➋ Create a rough draft of the message you wish to send.

➌ Check that the language you’ve used is fully informative, honest, relevant, and clear.

➍ Use “I” language for all comments that are negative or critical.

➎ Use “we” language throughout the message, where appropriate.

➏ Send the message.

BOLSTERING COMMUNICATION ACCOMODATION SKILLS

This exercise bolsters your communication accommodation skills.

➊ Seek out an encounter with someone from another culture.

➋ As you talk with this person, carefully observe his or her speech rate and length of conversational turns. Evaluate the clarity and directness of the person’s language.

➌ Adjust your speech rate to match the pace of the other person’s language.

➍ Adapt the length of your turns to match the individual’s desired distribution of talk time, using his or her turn lengths and behaviors as guides.

➎ Modify your language to be as direct or indirect as the other person’s.