Communication In the Workplace Essay -- Effective Communication

In an interview with George Lakoff, a linguistics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Ian A. Boal examines the social, policy-making and economic implications of row and its relationship to the conduit metaphor. The interview, published in Boals essay, Body, Brain and Communication, takes a closer look at the conduit metaphor in connection with computers and communication on the Internet and World Wide Web. More importantly, Boal-who is also a Berkeley professor-solicits Lakoffs views of computer technology and artificial intelligence their effects on human being values and the sackonical way people communicate and understand knowledge in todays world. Essentially, the conduit metaphor enables thoughts and ideas to be communicated through connecting cables and wireless transmissions using language as objects and metaphors. An effective conduit metaphor causes the listener to receive and understand the pith behind a message without having to engage in too unt old thought. Comprehension of an idea is achieved intuitively, instinctively or with feeling. The conduit metaphor is a basic parable belonging to a larger family of metaphors, umteen of which can be found on Lakoffs Conceptual Metaphors home page at Berkeleys cognitive Science web site, http//cogsci.berkeley.edu/. The conduit metaphor, as described by its creator Michael Reddy, suggests that the mind can interpret ideas as objects that can be put into words, and thoughts are the organization or manipulation of those objects. Reddy says the objects that make up words or language reside in a storage container, or memory, where thoughts and ideas can be retrieved or recalled when needed. When ideas are converted into words, they can be communicated to someo... ...perform many of their job functions. Just imagine, however, if computers had the ability to not only assume a particular function, but also could think and reason in the same(p) manner as you and I. Are human beings reall y ready for this pillow slip of innovation? The answer to this question may come sooner that we think. whole kit and caboodle Cited Boal, Ian A. Body, Brain and Communication An Interview with George Lakoff. Composing Cyberspace. Ed. Richard Holeton. Boston. McGraw mound Publishing. 1998. (21-31). Ehrenreich, Barbara. Put Your knickers On, Demonboy. Composing Cyberspace. Ed. Richard Holeton. Boston. McGraw Hill Publishing. 1998. (80). Lakoff, George. Conceptual Metaphors. 22 Mar.1994. 23 Mar. 2000. http//cogsci.berkeley.edu/ Shirley, John. Wolves of the Plateau. Composing Cyberspace. Ed. Richard Holeton. Boston. McGraw Hill Publishing. 1998. (135-141).