Nonverbal Ambiguity

Nonverbal messages can often be misunderstood. Often this misinterpretation is said to be socio-cultural. I remember an instance myself when I was in high school and a miscommunication happened between my friends and I.   It was only so unfortunate that it happened in the course of passing our exams. Naturally, we knew we could increase our ability to pass if we worked as a team. One of my classmates suggested that we come up with hand gestures that would represent each of the four letters that almost always appear in our test papers: a, b, c, and   d. Hence, it was agreed that the hand gestures would be used as a tool during our exam week. Our hand gestures comprised a set of inconspicuous behaviors such as light scratching of ones’ nose for the letter a, pinching lightly ones’ ears for letter b, wiping ones’ handkerchief to the face for letter c and ultimately, shifting from one side to the other in ones’ seat for letter d. So during the exam week we started with a relish. History was our first exam and with our ‘tool’ we went through it like breeze. Naturally, physics being the most challenging of all subjects was where I highly depended on my classmates the most. My best friend, who was sitting a row in front of me, was excellent at physics and I answered faithfully to the hand gestures he showed. Finally, results were given the following week and I was amazed at the result of my physics test: an F. I was shocked, since I was certain to get a B or A. So after the class, my friend and I had a little chitchat and it turned out he wasn’t feeling so well at the time, which must have explained why he kept shifting from side to side. I thought his ‘side shifting’ was an answer to the physics questions when they were a response from feeling uncomfortable during the time. The result of that misinterpretation was a failing grade. My experience of nonverbal ambiguity was nevertheless simple for which there was no any catastrophic reaction however for people belonging to different cultures or backgrounds the implications for any misinterpretation maybe enormous. References: Montshire Minute: Non-Verbal ways of Communication . 8 June 1998. 29 June 2007 .                                       

My “Eight Cow” Bracelet Essay

â€Å"Beauty is only skin deep† was a phrase I heard quite often during my awkward childhood. When I was a baby, I had two chins, Michelin Tire legs, and hair that stuck straight up even though it was easily over two inches long. My mom would often dress me in only a diaper on hot days inspiring my uncle to label me with the name of â€Å"Marshmallow Butt.† It was a name he was quite fond of calling me, even years later. As I grew, the double chin turned into one and a half, the legs stretched into colonial columns, and the hair eventually lay flat. This all happened just in time for puberty-acne and my first training bra when I was only ten. It was during this transitional point in my life that my father began to teach me a valuable and significant lesson regarding beauty and the power of words. During my childhood, my family indulged in a weekly ritual we called family night. We used this time for various activities. We would hold family councils where we truly believed we had a say in important subjects. We would play games and have lessons such as â€Å"being kind to your family† or some other moral issue of the time. Sometimes we would sing songs, hear stories from Dad who could rival Mark Twain any day, or spend an hour to two eating ice cream and playing at the park. I am the second child and oldest daughter in a family of ten children, so these weekly â€Å"get-togethers† rarely went without some type of fiasco. These fiascoes varied from kicking at one another as Mom was teaching us about â€Å"Doing Unto Others† or my older brother Bill and I having a hair pulling fight, not just a tug-of-the-hair fight, but a fist-full, pull-as-hard-as-you-can, you-let-go-first hair fight. It was for one of these activities that my dad brought home a movie entitled Johnny Lingo. The story was simple, but for a shy ten-year-old girl who had long, stringy, brown hair, big brown eyes, a freckled face, and who looked as though the Pillsbury Dough Boy was her closest relative, it was a story filled with magic and hope. The movie told of a girl named Mohana. Mohana was, quite frankly, the ugliest girl on the island. She was all â€Å"skin and bone.† She rarely washed her hair and never combed it. She spent all her time hiding in the woods so no one could see her and make fun of her. Even her father called her â€Å"Mohana, you ugly.† One day, the most handsome young man in the area, Johnny Lingo, came to the island and chose Mohana for his wife. He gave her father eight cows as a gift in exchange for Mohana. No one had ever given more than four cows as a gift for marriage. This was a great demonstration of devotion and love towards Mohana. A year later when Johnny and Mohana returned to the island, Mohana’s father came to visit them. He hardly recognized his daughter. She now had long, shining, beautifully combed hair. She had put on some weight, and even her personality had developed some self-assurance and confidence. Johnny Lingo told Mohana’s father that he bought her a silver and pearl inlaid mirror and comb set and had told her every day that she was beautiful. He said that Mohana had always had the beauty inside her; he just helped her discover it. It wasn’t until a few years later that I realized the significance of that movie and the lesson that my father was trying to teach me. We lived in a rural town where work was very hard for my dad to find. Consequently, he had to leave home to work. I was just finishing my hardest year in high school, the sophomore year when my dad took a job in Page, Arizona. I turned sixteen that summer. That was also the summer that I received my â€Å"eight cow bracelet.† Dad was a man who always had a ready smile on his face. For as long as I have known him, he has had crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes from smiling. His hands always seemed big and strong to me, and as he got older, I began to see where I got my physical attributes. He always loved working early in the morning out in our garden when the dew was still on the leaves of the tomatoes and peas. I enjoyed going out there with him. It was a time when we could spend some quality moments together. He would teach me which bugs were not good for the garden as we cleared plump green tomato worms off the tomato plants. He taught me which insects we needed in the garden as we left the spider webs strung between the corn stalks. I learned about rainbows. I learned about life. One particular August morning, Dad took me to sit down at our woodpile. There were always two or three stumps to sit on, and Dad would sit there and watch the garden as he irrigated. He pulled a small bundle wrapped in one of his red â€Å"farmer† handkerchiefs out of his pocket. He simply opened up the cloth to expose a turquoise and silver Indian cuff bracelet. It was slender, no more than a half inch in width. The silver had no engravings on it. It was simple and delicate. Centered across the top of the bracelet were eight round turquoise stones set into the silver. Dad asked me, â€Å"Do you know what this is?† I looked at him and smiled, â€Å"A bracelet?† His ready smile came back at me. â€Å"This is your eight cow bracelet.† When I must have given him one of my most confused looks, he explained how the bracelet would remind me of my worth. I was worth more than anyone else was on the â€Å"island.† I had an inner beauty that was just waiting to come out, and I was important to him. At that time, I couldn’t remember ever loving my father more. A lifetime again later, I still remember that day. I remember the sun beating down on my head, the smell of wet dirt, the sound of our water pump whirring softly as the family inside the house started getting ready for the day. I remember the love in my father’s eyes, and I know that I am an â€Å"eight cow woman.† Questions on Technique 1. Does the opening paragraph create an interest that makes you want to read the rest of the essay? Why or why not? 2. What is the thesis of this essay? 3. Where does the actual narration begin? 4. Give three examples of description in this essay. 5. Does the description contribute anything to this essay? If so, what?

Compare coming of age ceremonies for Christanity, Judaism and Islam Research Paper

Compare coming of age ceremonies for Christanity, Judaism and Islam - Research Paper Example Notably, this practice is valued and honoured by all the three religions given its importance in a religious setup. ‘Coming of Age’ is a very important function in the history of religion as it dates back as old as the religions. This is a fundamental stage in one’s life that is initiated and conducted differently by different religious institutions. Coming of Age represents the transition process to adulthood from childhood in the society. The nature and the age of this transition often vary from one religion and divide to another, but with some aspects being similar. In nearly all the three religions, this transition is commonly associated with the sexual maturity age or early adolescence. However, in other religions like Judaism, ‘Coming of Age’ is only associated with the religious responsibility and age. The attainment of this age marks an important stage of an individual within the religious institution. It is after the ‘Coming of Age’ period that a believer crosses over to adulthood with full responsibility and getting more spiritual recognitio n within the group (Coogan, 2003). Being an adult after undergoing this ritual gives the member the rights, responsibilities, and obligations that had been limited. Christians, Judaism, and Islam conduct ceremonies to mark this important occasion that comes with benefits and other adulthood packages, which are strictly served for adults. As notes the Rite of Passage Institute of Cleveland, â€Å"The final entrance into adulthood has been provided from time immemorial by the ‘coming of age’ ceremony†¦.. It marked a critical expansion moment, the entrance into larger responsibilities, large privileges, larger secrets, larger institutions, and larger understandings.† (Coogan, 2003, pp.67) The Western Christians and the Roman Catholic Church conduct the ‘Coming of Age’ ceremony differently.

Economics cuurent macroeconomic situation Research Paper

Economics cuurent macroeconomic situation - Research Paper Example These figures are significantly showing progress but by no means indicate that things are turning out for the best (Avent, 2010). Unemployment and its direct correlation with inflation clearly show on these figures. This indicates that stimulus packages and the low interest rates provided by the government is showing its effects. Without these, businesses would not venture into accruing capital and entrenchment would ensue. More and more firms and departments are hiring temporary workers including census jobs which will show countercyclical effects. This suggests that confidence and optimism is slowly gaining momentum. It is a clear indication that more needs to be done before the country can truthfully say that it is out of the recession slump. Robert Reich (2010) suggests that only reason the economy is not in a double-dip recession is due to the boosts injected by the government. He further adds that 41,000 new jobs provided in May which mostly consisted of temporary Census workers is not enough. At the minimum, 100,000 new employments are needed every month to cope with the population growth. Apprehensions are now directed over what will happen once these are directly withdrawn from the economy. Policy makers play an integral role in ensuring the health of the economy doesn’t flat line. The applied easy money policy tools which are apparent in the contingency efforts of the government to stabilize the economy are already in place. It becomes indispensable at the current situation but â€Å"Effectively zero interest rates are creating distortions in capital markets. Monetary conditions need to be back to normal by the time economic slack disappears and inflationary pressures begin to reassert themselves† (Padoan, 2010). Government hand can only go so far before it reverts into prioritizing the need for other programs before money runs out and the Federal Reserve reverts to government

MGT3190 Assigment for August 2008 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MGT3190 Assigment for August 2008 - Essay Example Cultural values, status issues, general living conditions, climate, healthcare facilities, everyday customs, food, transport, living costs, religious or spiritual opportunities, openness to change, conservation and self-transcendence were the variables taken into consideration in the study. (Van Vianen, De Pater and Kristof-Brown) A survey questionnaire was given to the test subject expatriates over an interval of three months. Surface-level differences only affect the attitude towards living conditions and changes like living, eating, and climate etc. deep-level differences are the ones that actually affect interaction with locals and adjusting to the new working environment over time. Deep-level differences affect an expatriate's adjustment to work, more. The study gave a detailed account of previous findings. If people are trained and prepared better for cross regional assignments, it will be easier for them to adjust and perform well. The research should have also concentrated on the new outsourcing trend and how the adjustment process takes place in a web based business world. The research question basically asked if the practical school of thought was justified. ... The study gave a detailed account of previous findings. If people are trained and prepared better for cross regional assignments, it will be easier for them to adjust and perform well. The research should have also concentrated on the new outsourcing trend and how the adjustment process takes place in a web based business world. Article-2: Managerial behaviors and job performance: a successful manager in Los Angeles may not succeed in Hong Kong Introduction The article studies whether the behavior that affects work performance of American managers, also affects the performance of American managers in Hong Kong. This study further compared the two schools of thought and did an in depth analysis of the practical school of thought and how it's not the ideal one, even if it is most widely used. The research question basically asked if the practical school of thought was justified. And if American managers' behavior in the US would have a positive affect on performance in Hong Kong The hypotheses were: 1. "American expatriate managers will have a similar behavior overseas, to American managers in the US." (Black) 2. "Managerial behaviors which are related to performance in the US will be related to performance overseas." (Black) Method LBDQ subscale variables were representation, demand reconciliation, tolerance of uncertainty, persuasiveness, and initiation of structure, tolerance of freedom, role assumption, consideration, production emphasis, predictive accuracy, integration and superior orientation. Also, friendliness, openness to communication and defining roles etc. were included. (Black) Questionnaire surveys were given to American managers in the US and Hong Kong, as well has Hong Kong based local managers. Results The findings mainly showed that

Regulatory Genes Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Regulatory Genes - Lab Report Example For the second experiment, the mutant and wild type cDNA was constructed. The cDNAs and GST genes were inserted into an expression vector. This stage was carried out to synthesize fusion proteins of LHX3a, LHX3bY116C, LHX3aY111C and LHX3b all fused to GST. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is known to be a protein which aids in the purification and isolation of proteins of interest. The controls were set up by isolating the GST proteins only. The fusion proteins were later separated with the use of electrophoresis and the proteins were used as a substrate for the binding assay. Purified radio-labeled Pit-1 and NIL were later added to the gel that had the mutant and wild type fusion proteins.In this case, if there were binding sites(No mutation effect), the Pit-1 and NIL proteins could bind to the proteins(LHX3).The presence of the bound Pit-1 and NIL were visualized with fluorography. The binding of Pit-1 and NIL were then quantified by scintillation counting (electrophoresis gel band intensity measurement).The first experiment aimed at determining if mutations in the LXH3 gene can interfere with LHX3a and LHX3b’s ability to binding to DNA promoters and reporter genes. As indicated in figure 1, both mutation types affected the activation of alpha GSU gene (red bars). The truncated mutations with no DNA binding domain were not able to activate the reporter gene, while on the other hand, point mutations with altered amino acid in the LHX3 protein interaction domain, had reduced activation.

Corporate environmental management- business paper Assignment

Corporate environmental management- business paper - Assignment Example Although there has been increasing awareness about the connections between business and the environment, there is a gap in the knowledge base about how to best address the environmental issues that affect business performance. The project with McDonald’s contributed to this knowledge base by providing an example of how best to manage resources in order to minimize environmental pollution. The collaborative project was highly publicized so that EDF’s work received numerous accolades. Because the research project received widespread attention, it enhanced industry-wide awareness regarding EDF’s corporate environmental agenda. It had a positive effect on the public perception of EDF so that the company could continue to pursue its agenda of promoting the use of economics in the analysis of environmental problems. EDF specialized in advocating the use of market based incentive systems to improve the environment. The joint project with McDonald’s enabled EDF to capitalize upon this expertise. EDF was an environmental group that possessed a combination of economic, scientific and legal expertise enabling the company to address environmental concerns effectively. The focus of the collaborative project with McDonald’s was to reduce the restaurant’s use of material and generation of solid waste. It involved economic analysis in which the company possessed expertise. Therefore the project was concluded successfully and received positive press coverage. By collaborating with large corporations, EDF would be able to keep pace with the change that is taking place in the industry. In order to maintain the effectiveness of its program, the company would have to keep pace with the changes in market drivers and regulatory drivers. This objective was met when EDF participated in the collaborative project with McDonald’s. The environmental group specialized in the use of economic analysis to address environmental problems. When McD onald’s implemented the plan, it improved the effectiveness in supplier chain management. By implementing new management mechanisms and accountability procedures, McDonald’s was able to improve business performance. Because the project was highly publicized, it raised awareness about the connections between business performance and environmental issues. Although the project focused upon materials improvement and waste reduction opportunities, it raised awareness about the effectiveness of using market-based incentive systems to address environmental problems. Since this was the area of EDF’s specialization, the collaborative project contributed to the company’s ability to affect market-based behavior. As a result the company gained reputation that would interest other companies to hire their expertise as well. Therefore from EDF’s perspective the collaborative project with McDonald’s was a success. Question 2 The successful completion of the collaborative project with McDonald’s enabled EDF to promote the use of economic analysis in addressing the connections between business performance and environmental issues. Therefore the environmental group should follow up the McDonald’s project by developing innovative solutions for environmental dilemmas. In setting the strategic focus, EDF would have to consider several factors. One of these factors was maintaining the diversity of approaches. After the