In our example, the visual message (the eye rolling and facial expression) does not agree with the audible message (the words being spoken). This is sarcasm and irony. Moreover, messages within the same medium can conflict to produce a “sarcastic” interpretation. For example, when someone is being sarcastic, their tone of voice (an audible message) conflicts with the words spoken (also an audible message); in this case the contradicting messages within one transmission medium result in a “sarcastic tone”. The scholarly article, Lower, Slower, Louder: Vocal Cues of Sarcasm Vocal describes how people can detect sarcasm. The author, Patricia Rockwell from the Communication Department of the University of Louisiana, states “[one can perceive] sarcasm even when the listener cannot see the face of the speaker” (2000, p. 485). In this quote, Rockwell describes how sarcasm can be successfully conveyed by conflicting messages in a single medium, which is the medium of sound in this case. Though it may seem inefficient, conflicting messages can draw attention to the meaning of the message.
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Sarcasm is effective because it emphasizes the message. For example, if a friend is talking loudly on her phone during dinner, once she hangs up you could say, “Maybe you should talk a little louder next time - the whole restaurant didn’t hear you”. You want her to know she spoke too loudly, so you say the opposite to emphasize it. When messages conflict they produce an alternate interpretation which highlights the message. An example of irony is quite easy to find in tragedy theatre. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters of the play do not. By giving the audience information which are withheld from the characters, the audience is held in suspense. In reality, it does not make sense for the audience to know more about the story line than the characters, but this form of contradiction engages the audience and pulls them into the action. Sarcasm and irony can draw attention to the meaning transmitted by utilizing conflicting messages. Alternatively, a meaning can be emphasized by transmitting supportive messages through multiple media. The main purpose of transmission media is to allow for messages to propagate. Transmission media define how we communicate, but this does not answer why we can communicate with one another. It is important to realize language is only useful when everyone adheres to the same protocol. This is the second component of the model, the protocol of language. The protocol of a language is the foundation for effective and efficient communication between people. The protocol is a set of rules for how to communicate through a language with certain transmission media. It defines what guidelines a message must follow in order to be understood by the receiver. For example, in order to speak or write English, we must follow the grammar and vocabulary for English. In this case, grammar is a part of the protocol. The protocol dictates certain sounds, words, and combinations of words are considered to be “English”. Therefore, other English speaker who also follow the same protocol will successfully decipher the message. Those who wish to understand English and be understood by English speakers must also follow the protocol specific for English. In this example, the transmission media is either visual (writing) or verbal (speaking) and the protocol is English grammar and vocabulary. For a message to be communicated through the language of dance, the message must fulfill the basic requirements of what constitutes a dance. This could be as a simple as intentional body movement coordinated to music. Or we could be more specific and communicate through ballet, which has a different set of characteristics. For something to be considered as “ballet” certain requirements must be met. The protocol for ballet could include certain clothing such as a leotard, or performing movements which are recognized within the ballet community such as an “arabesque” or “échappé”. By following the protocol for the language of ballet, the dancers and choreographer communicate a message in the language of ballet to the audience. The previously mentioned article, The Language of Dance describes how verbal language and dance both require a conventional structure in order to be
Sarcasm is effective because it emphasizes the message. For example, if a friend is talking loudly on her phone during dinner, once she hangs up you could say, “Maybe you should talk a little louder next time - the whole restaurant didn’t hear you”. You want her to know she spoke too loudly, so you say the opposite to emphasize it. When messages conflict they produce an alternate interpretation which highlights the message. An example of irony is quite easy to find in tragedy theatre. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters of the play do not. By giving the audience information which are withheld from the characters, the audience is held in suspense. In reality, it does not make sense for the audience to know more about the story line than the characters, but this form of contradiction engages the audience and pulls them into the action. Sarcasm and irony can draw attention to the meaning transmitted by utilizing conflicting messages. Alternatively, a meaning can be emphasized by transmitting supportive messages through multiple media. The main purpose of transmission media is to allow for messages to propagate. Transmission media define how we communicate, but this does not answer why we can communicate with one another. It is important to realize language is only useful when everyone adheres to the same protocol. This is the second component of the model, the protocol of language. The protocol of a language is the foundation for effective and efficient communication between people. The protocol is a set of rules for how to communicate through a language with certain transmission media. It defines what guidelines a message must follow in order to be understood by the receiver. For example, in order to speak or write English, we must follow the grammar and vocabulary for English. In this case, grammar is a part of the protocol. The protocol dictates certain sounds, words, and combinations of words are considered to be “English”. Therefore, other English speaker who also follow the same protocol will successfully decipher the message. Those who wish to understand English and be understood by English speakers must also follow the protocol specific for English. In this example, the transmission media is either visual (writing) or verbal (speaking) and the protocol is English grammar and vocabulary. For a message to be communicated through the language of dance, the message must fulfill the basic requirements of what constitutes a dance. This could be as a simple as intentional body movement coordinated to music. Or we could be more specific and communicate through ballet, which has a different set of characteristics. For something to be considered as “ballet” certain requirements must be met. The protocol for ballet could include certain clothing such as a leotard, or performing movements which are recognized within the ballet community such as an “arabesque” or “échappé”. By following the protocol for the language of ballet, the dancers and choreographer communicate a message in the language of ballet to the audience. The previously mentioned article, The Language of Dance describes how verbal language and dance both require a conventional structure in order to be