LISTENING AND PARAPHRASING

Listening and Paraphrasing

Listening and Paraphrasing

Introduction

Listening is a natural activity. We all listen a great deal. If we measured importance by the time we spend on an activity, then listening would be our most important activity, as it occupies more time than any other communication activity. However, many people are poor listeners, even in everyday life. They tend to listen and think about something else at the same time. Rather than carefully attending to what the other person has said, many people think about their response while the other person is talking.( Bull, 1989)

A paraphrase typically explains or clarifies the text that is being paraphrased. For example, "The signal was red" might be paraphrased as "The train was not allowed to proceed." When accompanying the original statement, a paraphrase is usually introduced with a verbum dicendia declaratory expression to signal the transition to the paraphrase. For example, in "The signal was red, that is, the train was not allowed to proceed," the "that is"signals the paraphrase that follows.( Bull, 1989)

Discussion

Listening facilitates correct understanding of problems faced by the members of the organization. Listening helps one obtain adequate data to solve problems. Listening motivates the speaker or the complaining employee or the deliberating subordinate. Listening improves or lifts up the image of the listener, especially the manager. Listening makes one a leader, an efficient mediator and a deft trouble-shooter. Now what we have to master is the listening, since there are a lot of good things supporting good listening. We will discuss here the strategies, skills and best practices to reach the best stage of listening. Such strategies also constitute determinants of good listening. (Joseph, 2000)

I recently met with two people to discuss the activities with which they are currently occupied. Oddly, both individuals were working on similar things. One ...