FBMK UPM 2012 1 B. A. (English Language) /BBI 3213 (Speech Communication) Speech communication is social power… “Communication is power. Those who have

FBMK UPM 2012 1B. A. (English Language) /BBI 3213 (Speech Communication)

Speech communication Speech communication is social power…is social power…

““Communication is power. Those who Communication is power. Those who have mastered its effective use can have mastered its effective use can change their own experience of the change their own experience of the world and the world’s experience of world and the world’s experience of

them.” them.”

(Anthony Robbins)(Anthony Robbins)

Social power relationsSocial power relations

Power underlies all social relations; put Power underlies all social relations; put differently, it makes social relationships differently, it makes social relationships workwork

Social relations include speech interactions Social relations include speech interactions in which people exercise power to achieve in which people exercise power to achieve their purposes for speaking/listeningtheir purposes for speaking/listening

Social relations of power are never equal - Social relations of power are never equal - E.g. in academic lectures (interactions), the E.g. in academic lectures (interactions), the lecturer exercises greater power as well as lecturer exercises greater power as well as different types of power over the studentsdifferent types of power over the students


Defining powerDefining power

Anthony Giddens (1995) defines “power” as Anthony Giddens (1995) defines “power” as ““the use of resources, of whatever kind, to the use of resources, of whatever kind, to secure outcomes” in social practices (p. secure outcomes” in social practices (p. 214).214).

Pierre Bourdieu (1991): In Pierre Bourdieu (1991): In Language and Language and symbolic powersymbolic power, Bourdieu argues that , Bourdieu argues that “…“…language should he viewed not only as a language should he viewed not only as a meansmeans of communication but also as a of communication but also as a mediummedium of power through which individuals of power through which individuals pursue their own interests and display their pursue their own interests and display their practical competence”.practical competence”.


Defining power (cont’d)Defining power (cont’d)

Fairclough says that power is Fairclough says that power is “conceptualized both in terms of “conceptualized both in terms of asymmetries between participants in asymmetries between participants in discourse events, and in terms of discourse events, and in terms of unequal capacity to control how unequal capacity to control how texts are produced, distributed and texts are produced, distributed and consumed… in particular consumed… in particular sociocultural contexts (1995, p. 1)sociocultural contexts (1995, p. 1)


Defining power (cont’d)Defining power (cont’d)

Fairclough (1989, 2001) distinguishes Fairclough (1989, 2001) distinguishes between two major dimensions of between two major dimensions of power:power: ““power in discourse” – the actual exercise power in discourse” – the actual exercise

of power (see types of power below) to of power (see types of power below) to actively constrain or control others and actively constrain or control others and their contributions by using language in their contributions by using language in social interactions E.g. in spoken/written social interactions E.g. in spoken/written interactions between lecturer and student, interactions between lecturer and student, doctor and patient, supervisor and worker, doctor and patient, supervisor and worker, etc.etc.


Defining power (cont’d)Defining power (cont’d) ““power behind discourse” – how relations of power power behind discourse” – how relations of power

shape and make up social orders and institutions that shape and make up social orders and institutions that are structured and interconnected through the use of are structured and interconnected through the use of language E.g. in the university social order: “vice language E.g. in the university social order: “vice chancellor”, “dean”, “head of department”, “lecturer”, chancellor”, “dean”, “head of department”, “lecturer”, and “student”.and “student”.

Institutionalized language or “standardized language” Institutionalized language or “standardized language” (e.g. “standard Bahasa Malaysia”or “standard English”) (e.g. “standard Bahasa Malaysia”or “standard English”) is an important form of power behind discourse i.e is an important form of power behind discourse i.e those who can use it have power over those who can’tthose who can use it have power over those who can’t

My take: Power = C + C + D i.e. Control, Choice, My take: Power = C + C + D i.e. Control, Choice, and Decision-making over/on behalf of other and Decision-making over/on behalf of other peoplepeople


Types of social powerTypes of social power

1.1. ExpertExpert power power based on knowledge and/or expertise based on knowledge and/or expertise

in a discipline in a discipline May also be called “intellectual power”May also be called “intellectual power” E.g. lecturers and professorsE.g. lecturers and professors

2.2. ReferentReferent power power Based on admiration or idol worshipBased on admiration or idol worship E.g. pop/movie stars and popular E.g. pop/movie stars and popular

politicianspoliticians


Types of social power (cont’d)Types of social power (cont’d)

3.3. LegitimateLegitimate power power Also known as “authoritative power”Also known as “authoritative power” Drawn from legal sources or credentialsDrawn from legal sources or credentials E.g. Teachers, lawyers, lecturers, E.g. Teachers, lawyers, lecturers,

government ministers, etc.government ministers, etc.

4.4. CoerciveCoercive power power Based on the use of force (physical, Based on the use of force (physical,

legal, intellectual, etc.)legal, intellectual, etc.) Also known as “punishment power”Also known as “punishment power”


Types of social power (cont’d)Types of social power (cont’d)

5.5. RewardReward power power Based ability to give rewards and Based ability to give rewards and

incentives to others under control of incentives to others under control of person who exercises this form of powerperson who exercises this form of power

E.g. parents, teachers, politicians, etc.E.g. parents, teachers, politicians, etc.

6.6. PersuasivePersuasive power power Based on ability to use language to Based on ability to use language to

secure consent/agreement of other peplesecure consent/agreement of other peple Sometimes known as “bargaining power”Sometimes known as “bargaining power”


Some comments on Some comments on powerpower

Social power in interactions, including Social power in interactions, including spoken interactions/communication, works spoken interactions/communication, works as a combination of different forms of as a combination of different forms of powerpower

People who exercise power may be called People who exercise power may be called “power holders” (see examples in types of “power holders” (see examples in types of power above)power above)

The exercise of power becomes The exercise of power becomes problematic when the holder abuses it to problematic when the holder abuses it to dominate/manipulate others and/or for dominate/manipulate others and/or for personal gainpersonal gain


Read more on power…Read more on power…

http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/TCH.CHAP20.HTMTCH.CHAP20.HTM

http://www.slideshare.net/viteriange/bases-of-social-power

http://books.google.com/books/about/Language_and_power.html?id=5RJxAAAAIAAJ

http://books.google.com/books/about/http://books.google.com/books/about/Language_and_symbolic_power.html?Language_and_symbolic_power.html?id=u2ZlGBiJntACid=u2ZlGBiJntAC


Documents

FBMK UPM 2012 1 B. A. (English Language) /BBI 3213 (Speech Communication) Speech communication is social power… “Communication is power. Those who have