Purposive Communication Presented by: RYAN V. MIRANDA INSTRUCTOR
WHAT IS PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION?
Purposive communication is a form of communication used to write, speak, and present to different audiences for various purposes. This aims for students to help their communication effectively and efficiently to a variety of audiences either local or international to deliver the intended message.
Why do you need to study purposive communication? Purposive Communication can be used to address a variety of issues. This topic may assist us in learning how to communicate effectively through speaking, writing, and presenting. It could assist us in identifying communication difficulties. It will especially assist us in communicating with a purpose.
Describing the nature, elements and functions of verbal and non verbal communication in multicultural context
Communication – is one of the more essential human activities that enable us to make connection, create meanings and nature understanding.
Language is a system of communication that relies on verbal or non-verbal codes to transfer information. Communication is a way of interchanging messages or information between two or more people, focusing on the message. Language is a tool of communication. Communication is a process of transferring messages
Symbols- are shared in specific culture that may be verbal such us spoken or written words or non verbal such as gesture, facial expressions and appearances.
A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words
Body language is the use of physical behavior, expressions, and mannerisms to communicate nonverbally, often done instinctively rather than consciously. Whether you're aware of it or not, when you interact with others, you're continuously giving and receiving wordless signals
Body language is a mix of gestures, postures, and mannerisms to communicate nonverbally. Gestures and postures say a lot more than you think. For instance, a straight posture can indicate confidence and interest in the topic a speaker is discussing
Facial expressions can display personal emotions and indicate an individual's intentions within a social situation. They are extremely important to the social interaction of individuals. Background scenes in which faces are perceived provide important contextual information for facial expression processing.
Appearance. Our choice of clothing, hairstyle, and other appearance factors are also considered a means of nonverbal communication.10 Research on color psychology has demonstrated that different colors can evoke different moods. Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgments, and interpretations.
The tone of voice in communication is defined as 'the way a person speaks to someone'. It is how you use your voice to get your point across. If you don't do it right, there is a risk of your point getting lost or misinterpreted. An optimistic and positive tone of voice is always welcome
Slang is vocabulary that is used between people who belong to the same social group and who know each other well . Slang is very informal language. It can offend people if it is used about other people or outside a group of people who know each other well. We usually use slang in speaking rather than writing
Jargon is the specialized, often technical, language that is used by people in a particular field, profession, or social group
Denotative meaning is based on dictionary definitions and a connotative meaning is based on fluids context of its issue.
A word choice is an important part of any communication. It is a manner in which something is expressed in words. The choice of words is the style of expression. A person, in general, chooses words to which he feels comfortable, confident, and simple enough for a general audience to understand.
A euphemism is a word or phrase that softens an uncomfortable topic. It uses figurative language to refer to a situation without having to confront it. For example, if someone was recently fired, they might say they are between jobs, a common euphemism for being unemployed
Weakness lack of strength, firmness, vigor, or the like; feebleness. an inadequate or defective quality, as in a person's character; slight fault or defect: to show great sympathy for human weaknesses.
Strengths are defined as character traits or skills that are considered positive. Strengths include knowledge, attributes, skills, and talents. Weaknesses are just the opposite. Weaknesses are defined as character traits or skills that are considered negative or not as well developed.
What are purposes of communication? Purposes. Communication serves five major purposes: to inform, to express feelings, to imagine, to influence, and to meet social expectations . Each of these purposes is reflected in a form of communication.
How to improve communication skills? Be clear and concise Prepare ahead of time Be mindful of nonverbal communication Watch your tone Practice active listening Build your emotional intelligence Develop a workplace communication strategy Create a positive organizational culture
What are the good communication skills? 1. Written And Oral Communication. Verbal communication is using words to convey information and it includes both written and oral communication. ... 2. Presentation. ... 3. Active Listening. ... 4. Nonverbal Communication. ... 5. Feedback. ... 6. Respect. ... 7. Confidence. ... 8. Clarity.
What are the topics in purposive communication? Purposive Communication is about writing, speaking, and presenting to different audiences and for various purposes .
What is 21st purposive communication? Purposive Communication in the 21st Century is about writing, speaking, and presenting to different audiences and for various purposes .
What is the 7 elements of communication? Sender Receive Message Channel Feedback Context
Sender The sender is the person who is trying to communicate a message. The sender wants the other person to receive and understand his/her message. The intent of the message is usually to get the other person(s) to do or understand something.
Receiver The receiver is the recipient of the message and must translate the words into thoughts, process the thoughts, and determine how to respond to the sender. The challenge is that since the receiver’s education and experience may be very different from the sender, words often have different meanings.
Message While you may carefully choose the words to speak, words alone represent a small percentage of what is received by the other person. In fact, according to the literature, words carry the least value in the message.
Channel Channel is the medium used by the sender to send the message to the receiver. This may be in-person, via telephone, e-mail, text message, written correspondence or a third-party. An important point to remember is that when communication is only verbal the most important element of communication…body language…is left out. If the communication is written, then both body language and voice inflection are left out.
Feedback Feedback is the process of determining if the message has been properly received. This can be initiated by the sender or receiver. The sender, for example, may ask the receiver to repeat the message to confirm that the message was received as intended. On the other hand, a good listener will provide feedback to confirm that he/she correctly received the message.
Noise Noise refers to interference that takes place during the communication process. Both the sender and receiver may be distracted by noise. Noise may come from internal (thoughts, emotions, etc.) or external sources (radios, other conversations, etc.). When encountering a noise, take steps to reduce the distraction. If the noise is internal, take some time to refocus. Taking several deeps breathes can help. Excusing yourself to go get a drink of water may be the mental break needed to clear the mind. If the noise is external, then try to find a quieter location for the meeting. If necessary, consider rescheduling the meeting for a time when there are fewer distractions.
Context Context is another way of taking into consideration the setting. Examples of context include: What is going through the other person’s mind when you show up? Did they just have a blow-up with an employee or customer? What is the environment like? Is it noisy? Are there customers standing around? What was the nature of the last contact and how did that go? What cultural factors should be considered? Are there notes or helpful information from the person who took the initial call?
A good speaker will also think about the delivery method , or the way in which the speech will be conveyed to the audience. There are a few ways in which this is done: Impromptu Extemporaneous Manuscript Memorized
Impromptu This type of speech is delivered “on the spur of the moment” and this depends solely on your ability to speak in an instant. Many times, you have done this in class when your teachers ask you to explain or justify your answers without asking you to look at your notes. You also see this in beauty pageants where the candidate is asked by a judge or by the master of ceremony in an instant. Many times, we find these contestants stammering or stuttering because they are overwhelmed by the number of spectators watching them and by other factors that intimidate them. While it is not easy to do this, anybody can prepare for such impromptu speeches.
Consider the question or statement to which you are about to reply or react. Speak briefly but be sure to speak about the significant point/s. Compose yourself as you organize your thoughts logically. Be mindful of what you say but not overly self-conscious. Breathe properly.
Extemporaneous This speech allows the speaker to prepare his/her thoughts and mode of delivery. Notecards or short outlines written on a small sheet of paper help significantly in making the speech delivery organized. These note cards or prompts tell you where to go next but you use your own words throughout the speech. This makes this type of delivery different from the impromptu speech, which does not allow the speaker to prepare ahead of time. In an extemporaneous speech, you are given enough time to prepare for it.
Do research on the topic Have enough practice delivering the speech to gain self-confidence
Manuscript Before delivering this speech, the speaker prepares the manuscript that he/she has to present. This requires the speaker to read every word in it. This type of speech happens when the speaker cannot afford to commit any mistake or when the script has to be read exactly as it was written.
Focus on key phrases and highlight keywords on your manuscript. Practice your speech repeatedly. Glance at the highlighted words to remember which idea comes next. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the substance of your speech and the sequence of your main points. Maintain a conversational tone. Periodically look at your audience.
Memorized This usually sounds mechanical and is seldom uses or recommended. If you choose to memorize: keep it short add expression in your voice
How you deliver your speech is important as an audience may refuse to listen to your message at all if you do not use an effective presentation method given your purpose, audience, and context. The good news is that this skill can be learned. With practice, speaking effectively before an audience gets easier and more personally satisfying as you get back the energy generated by your speech from the audience.
What are the 4 main types of communication? Every person has a unique communication style, a way in which they interact and exchange information with others. There are four basic communication styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive . It's important to understand each communication style, and why individuals use them.
Passive Individuals who use the passive communication style often act indifferently, yielding to others. Passive communicators usually fail to express their feelings or needs, allowing others to express themselves. Frequently, a passive communicator’s lack of outward communication can lead to misunderstanding, anger build-up or resentment. At the same time, these communicators can be safer to speak with when a conflict arises, because they most likely will avoid a confrontation or defer to others. Passive communicators often display a lack of eye contact, poor body posture and an inability to say “no.” Passive communicators also act in a way that states “people never consider my feelings.” But passive communicators are also easy to get along with as they follow others and “go with the flow.”
Aggressive It’s often apparent when someone communicates in an aggressive manner. You’ll hear it. You’ll see it. You may even feel it. The aggressive communication style is emphasized by speaking in a loud and demanding voice, maintaining intense eye contact and dominating or controlling others by blaming, intimidating, criticizing, threatening or attacking them, among other traits.
Passive-Aggressive Passive-aggressive communication style users appear passive on the surface, but within he or she may feel powerless or stuck, building up a resentment that leads to seething or acting out in subtle, indirect or secret ways. Most passive-aggressive communicators will mutter to themselves rather than confront a person or issue. They have difficulty acknowledging their anger, use facial expressions that don’t correlate with how they feel and even deny there is a problem. Passive-aggressive communicators are most likely to communicate with body language or a lack of open communication to another person, such as giving someone the silent treatment, spreading rumors behind people’s backs or sabotaging others’ efforts. Passive-aggressive communicators may also appear cooperative, but may silently be doing the opposite.
Assertive Thought to be the most effective form of communication, the assertive communication style features an open communication link while not being overbearing. Assertive communicators can express their own needs, desires, ideas and feelings, while also considering the needs of others. Assertive communicators aim for both sides to win in a situation, balancing one’s rights with the rights of others.
Type of speech
Informative speech Informative speeches aim to educate an audience on a particular topic or message. Unlike demonstrative speeches, they don't use visual aids. They do, however, use facts, data and statistics to help audiences grasp a concept. These facts and statistics help back any claims or assertions you make. For example, a zoo guide gives an informative speech to a group of people, educating them on a zoo animal using various statistical facts or historical information. Informative speeches can also cover social or economic topics. Although they're not designed to get the audience to believe a certain viewpoint or opinion, they inform the audience with all the relevant details surrounding a particular topic.
The Four Types of Informative Speeches But not all informative speeches inform an audience in the same way. The four types of informative speeches are definition speeches, demonstration speeches, explanatory speeches, and descriptive speeches.
Entertaining speech Entertaining speeches aim to amuse a crowd of people. Often less formal and shorter than traditional speeches, entertaining speeches communicate emotions rather than giving the audience facts and figures. Rather, they often include humor or funny stories. You can often find entertaining speeches at a birthday party or a wedding. Some examples of entertaining speeches include a best man's speech at a wedding or a principal's speech before a school talent show.
What are the 4 types of speech? The four basic types of speeches are: to inform, to instruct, to entertain, and to persuade. These are not mutually exclusive of one another. You may have several purposes in mind when giving your presentation.
Demonstrative speech Demonstrative speeches serve to educate an audience about a topic or idea they don't have knowledge of this . They often include visual aids to help better demonstrate or describe something in greater detail. While you can easily confuse a demonstrative speech with an informative speech, a demonstrative speech actually demonstrates how to do something. For example, a tech company can give a speech demonstrating their new devices. While they're informing the public about their new products, they're demonstrating how they work, thus, making it a demonstrative speech.
Persuasive speech Persuasive speeches help convince an audience that the speaker has the right opinion on a particular topic. Persuasive speeches can cover any topic from entertainment to something more serious like politics. Typically, speakers use concrete evidence to better persuade their listeners and gain their support. When you include evidence, it helps make your stance more believable and may even be enough to change a listener's mind about the particular topic you're speaking on. With enough facts to back up your opinion, you have a greater chance of receiving the audience's support.
What are 3 types of persuasive speeches? There are three categories of propositions that lead to three basics types of persuasive speeches: those that support propositions of fact, those that support propositions of value, and those that support propositions of policy.
Oratorical speech While oratorical refers to the act of speech giving, an oratorical speech refers to a specific type of speech. They're typically more formal than other types of speeches. While some oratorical speeches can be long such as those found at funerals or graduations, others may be short and more informal such as a toast at a special event. Though oratorical speech givers don't necessarily want to persuade the audience on a particular topic, they can still cover certain issues and express their opinion.
Debate speech Debate speeches refer to a type of speech that often follows a certain set of rules and takes place during a debate event. During a debate, all sides have an equal amount of time to speak on behalf of their opinion or view. While a debate speech often uses the same mechanics as a persuasive speech and includes plenty of statistical figures to help support a claim, it's different from a persuasive speech. For example, rather than trying to convince someone to join a particular side as with a persuasive speech, debate speeches aim to justify an opinion on a particular matter.
Special occasion speech Special occasion speeches don't fall into a particular category and don't follow a set format. Instead, they aim to fit the special occasion, whether it's a wedding, an award show or a birthday party. Special occasion speeches aim to fit the context of the environment to effectively communicate the message and gain the audience's attention. While they're often short and upbeat, they're still interesting and direct. Unlike a lot of other speeches, special occasion speeches don't require the use of statistics or data.
Types of Special Occasion Speeches Speeches of Introduction Speeches of Presentation Speeches of Acceptance Speeches of Dedication Toasts Roasts Eulogies. Praise. Lament. Console. Speeches of Farewell.
Pitch speech Pitch speeches try to get support or approval for an idea, product or solution. For example, if you're a salesperson, you may try to sell a customer a new product. You're essentially pitching the product to them by telling them its best qualities and how the product can benefit them in their daily life. Pitch speeches can also be part of a greater presentation such as one found in an office when you're trying to get your colleagues or superiors on board with a particular idea or approach.
Motivational speech Motivational speeches aim to inspire an audience and give attendees the confidence to do something better or improve themselves. They essentially serve to lift the audience's spirits and improve their self-esteem. Motivational speeches help move a person or audience toward achieving a particular goal. While employers or managers give this type of speech to motivate their employees to perform better in the workplace, coaches give this type of speech to inspire their team to perform better on the field or
Impromptu speech An impromptu speech refers to a speech you deliver without any prior preparation or rehearsal time. Typically, someone spontaneously calls on you to give an impromptu speech at an event or another occasion. Because of the nature of an impromptu speech, giving one can often feel intimidating and cause a great deal of stress since you had no time to prepare. However, with some guidance and experience, you're better able to deliver an impromptu speech with confidence.
Farewell speech A farewell speech refers to a speech where you say your goodbyes to a group of people. For example, you can give a farewell speech to your colleagues when you leave your job, or give a farewell speech to your loved ones if you're moving far away or traveling abroad. Since farewell speeches often have a sad tone, they often generate strong emotions in both the speaker and the audience.
Explanatory speech Explanatory speeches describe a situation or particular thing. While they're similar to demonstrative speeches, explanatory speeches provide a breakdown on how to do something while providing the audience with a detailed step-by-step process. They also don't use a visual aid to help the audience better understand what you're saying. When a food talk show host shows their audience how they make a particular dish, for example, they use an explanatory speech to describe each step of the recipe process.
Eulogy or funeral speech Funeral or eulogy speeches aim to honor a recently passed individual in front of an audience attending a funeral service. Typically, they're given by a minister or by someone close to the deceased. The speaker tries to find the right words to not only honor the individual with a heartfelt speech but also praise them for what they achieved when they were alive.
Tips for speech research
Research your audience. If you know who you'll be speaking to, get to know your audience before giving your speech. Getting to know your audience can give you insight into their opinions, thoughts and how best to reach them. Consider what questions they might ask you and if you don't think you have suitable answers for them, perform enough research to help you better prepare for their queries.
Consider the event or venue. As you continue your research, think about the venue or event where you'll give your speech. For example, you can give a speech at an industry event, a birthday party or a formal conference. Consider the venue, along with how much time you have and whether or not you'll get a microphone to use. Knowing this information can help you create a speech that effectively addresses your audience with the right tone and fits your time allotment.
Focus on your topic. When preparing your speech, take the time to understand the topic you're speaking on. Make sure you know what you're talking about. If you need additional knowledge, gather enough information with thorough research. Make sure to focus only on your particular topic and avoid getting sidetracked with other information. If it helps, create an outline for your speech to help you stay focused.
Get balanced information. Depending on the type of speech you give, you may need to provide a balanced set of evidence to your audience. For example, instead of providing your audience with statistical evidence only backing one side of an argument, offer them figures that support both sides. Giving them a balanced set of information helps them come to their own conclusion. If the side you're on has better evidence, it's often better to let the audience come to their own conclusion rather than forcing them into your mindset.
Use reputable sources. If your speech contains facts, data and statistical figures, make sure you're getting your information from credible and reputable resources. Consider using peer-reviewed academic journals, government websites, industry literature, reference books or scholarly websites to find the data, information or statistical information you need. Using valuable resources ensures you're giving your audience the most accurate information. It's also important to cite your sources in your speech to not only give them credit but also to improve your ethos with your audience and help them believe what you're saying.
Figure of speech
The Noun (n.) A noun is a word which gives a name to something, in some cases you might hear them referred to as a ‘naming word.’ There are various different subcategories of nouns such as the proper noun, the collective noun, the possessive noun and the common noun. Each one of these serves a different purpose, let’s look at this a little more closely.
The Proper Noun The proper noun is used to name a specific item, for example the names of places or people or perhaps a movie or song title .
The Collective Noun A collective noun is used to refer to a group of nouns, for example people or animal groups.
The Possessive Noun A possessive noun is used to show ownership of something, this is done by adding an apostrophe and an s, like in the following examples. This is my dog’s ball. That is Sarah’s friend.
The Common Noun A common noun is the most simple form of a noun and gives a name to an item. Here is a cup. Do you want a cake?
Determiners Determiners are a part of speech that are placed in front of nouns to clarify their reference. They include categories such as: Articles – a, an, the Numbers – two, eight, ninety-nine Pronouns and possessive determiners – his, her, its, your, my, their, our Difference determiners – other, the other, another Demonstratives – these, those, that, this Quantifiers – a little, a few, much, many, some, any, enough, most Distributives – half, both, every, each, all, neither, either Pre-determiners – quite, such, rather, what.
Articles Articles are a sub-category of determiners that serve as a type of adjective to identify nouns. They may be: Definitive – which indicates that the noun’s identity is already known to the audience. The word the would be a definitive article because it indicates a noun that is already known to the reader/audience (“I am going to sit in the chair.”), or Indefinite – indicates an unfamiliar noun, or references a noun for the first time, or shows a noun belongs to a certain class of objects. The words a and an are considered indefinite articles (“I am going to sit in a chair.”, “You are an accountant.”, or “I was born on a Thursday.”).
The Verb (vb.) A verb is one of the most important parts of speech and is a word which is used to describe an action. There are three main types of verbs which are detailed below.
The Action Verb An action verb does exactly what you might expect, it describes an action. The man walked down the street. I laughed at his joke.
The Linking Verb A linking verb is used to show a state of being rather than a physical action. Sarah feels cold. I am very tired.
The Modal Verb A modal verb is used to ‘help’ the main verb and can show the speakers thoughts or attitude about what they are saying. For example, words such as might, must, could and can are all modal verbs. I might walk to the park this afternoon. He can eat the last slice of cake
The Pronoun (pron.) A pronoun is one which replaces a noun, and once again there are various different types of pronouns within the English language. Each one is used in a different way, let’s take a look at some examples of this. Examples: I, me, we, you, he, she, yours, himself, its, my, that, this, those, us, who, whom
The Reflexive Pronoun A reflexive pronoun is used to refer to self, for example myself or yourself. I am going to keep this last cupcake for myself. Peter always puts himself first.
The Indefinite Pronoun This type of pronoun is used to refer to a non specific person or item, you might see words such as anything, few, everyone or all. Can you take all of these? I need to speak to someone about this rash on my arm.
The Possessive Pronoun A possessive pronoun is used to show possession or ownership of something, for example my, his, their or yours. Is this your bag? I have been looking after his daughter.
The Relative Pronoun A relative pronoun is used to introduce an adjective clause. You might recognize these as words such as who, which, that or whose. This is the woman who will be working with you. Is this the book that everyone is raving about?
The Adjective (adj.) An adjective is a word which describes a noun or pronoun, there are thousands of adjectives within the English language. Examples: Beautiful, seven, cute, second, tall, blue, angry, brave, careful, healthy, little, old, generous, red, smart, two, small, tall, some, good, big, useful, interesting… Brown dog, red car, tall boy, fat cat, big garden.
The Adverb (adv.) An adverb is used to modify, or further explain an adjective, verb or another adverb. They can add more information to a sentence making it more clear and easier for the listener to imagine what is being described in detail. Most of the time, adverbs will end in the letters - ly but there are some exceptions to this rule such as the words very and never.
The Conjunction (conj.) A conjunction is used as a way of joining two or more ideas or words together. Most commonly you will see the words for, and, not, but, or, yet and so used as a conjunction.
The Preposition (prep.) A preposition is used in English to show a relationship between two words or phrases. You might recognize a preposition as being words such as in, before, on, at, to, between etc.
The Interjection (interj.) An interjection could also be thought of as a exclamation. They are used to emotion, reaction or excitement and have no grammatical link to anything else within the sentence they appear.
ANALYZING THE PRINCIPLES, PROCESS AND ETHICS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
A Speech is an example of verbal communication that is delivered to a specific audience in a given context for a clear purposes these factors guides the development and effe3ctiveness of the speech.
Audience A group of people whose backgrounds, concern and interest may shape the way a message received.
CONTEXT Conditions that shape the contents of the messages such as significant period or senders backgrounds and experiences
Purpose- a concrete set objectives or reasons for addressing a specific audience in a given context.
Communication Meets Needs Physical needs include needs that keep our bodies and minds functioning like air, food, water, and sleep. Communication, which we most often associate with our brain, mouth, eyes, and ears, actually has many more connections to and effects on our physical body and well-being. At the most basic level, communication can alert others that our physical needs are not being met. Even babies cry when they are hungry or sick to alert their caregiver of the need to satisfy physical needs. Current research indicates that social connection has a huge impact on longevity, our immune systems, and other aspects of physical health (Seppala, et al., 2014)
Instrumental needs Include needs that help us get things done in our day-to-day lives and achieve short- and long-term goals. We all have short- and long-term goals that we work on every day. Fulfilling these goals is an ongoing communicative task, which means we spend much of our time communicating for instrumental needs. Some common instrumental needs include influencing others, getting information we need, or securing support (Burleson, Metts , & Kirch , 2000). An example could be when Jeon tries to persuade his roommate to turn down his music because he is studying. In this instance, Jeon is using communication to meet an instrumental need.
Relational needs include needs that help us maintain social bonds and interpersonal relationships. Communicating to fill our instrumental needs helps us function on many levels, but communicating for relational needs helps us achieve the social relating that is an essential part of being human. Communication meets our relational needs by giving us a tool through which to develop, maintain, and end relationships. Identity needs include our need to present ourselves to others and be thought of in particular and desired ways. What adjectives would you use to describe yourself? Are you funny, smart, loyal, or quirky? Your answer isn’t just based on who you think you are, since much of how we think of ourselves is based on our communication with other people. Our identity changes as we progress through life, but communication is the primary means of establishing our identity and fulfilling our identity needs
REGISTER The language register (also called linguistic register and speech register) definition describes the way a person speaks in relation to their audience . A speaker modifies their language register to signal levels of formality according to their relationship to their audience and intended purpose of speech.
Communication Principle and process FORMAL REGISTER -Is more appropriate for professional writing and letters to a boss or a strangers. INFORMAL REGISTER Also called casual or intimate is conversational and appropriate when writing to friends and people you know very well. NEUTRAL Register is non-emotional and sticks to facts. It is most appropriate for technical writing.
COMMUNICATING IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS CULTURE is way of life that is cultivated and deepened in a community of people who share similar belief, values , behavior and goals. Culture plays significant roles in the way communication is shaped and achieved. It forms the rules and norms that5 make communication either an easy task or truly a complex process.
Explaining unique cultural practice: cultural characteristic that shape communication In any culture there are certain sets of behavior that are expected and acceptable , there are also those that are considered disrespectful, demeaning and therefore deemed unacceptable based on cultural and norm practices. These behavior may have to do with how we communicate to family members, relatives friends, constituents, acquaintances and strangers.