An Exploration of Silence in Communication

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2024-610

Keywords:

silence, communication, strategies, interaction, connections, conversations, significance, tool

Abstract

Introduction: Silent is vital in human communication, extending beyond mere absence of sound to express respect, attentiveness, and comprehension. It is viewed as a form of active listening that promotes deeper engagement and strengthen relationships between people. Despite misconceptions linking silence to breakdowns in communications, it is intricate and essential part of the communication process. Methodology: The article explores the significance of silence in human interaction, examining its varied applications and changes across different settings. Results: Through analyzing literature and examples, the study displays how silence can be a potent tool in verbal and nonverbal communication context, highlighting its potential for enhancing precision and authenticity when combined with other elements like body language. By incorporating silence into communication strategies, individuals can achieve greater completeness and authenticity in their exchanges. Conclusions: The research underscore how silence foster understanding and connections in conversations, emphasizing its versatility and importance in promoting genuine interactions. Discussions: Ultimately, the study affirms the multifaceted function of silence in communication, underscoring its role in helping meaningful and authentic connections between people.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Ángel López Gutiérrez, ESIC University

Ángel López Gutiérrez graduated with a degree in English Philology from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. Additionally, he holds several master’s degrees in diverse areas such as Spanish Literature, Literature and Art in the US, and Environmental Management. He also possesses certifications in Occupational Risk Prevention as well as numerous courses in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. His professional experience has always been associated with the academic world, starting as an Assistant Professor at the University of La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA, organizing Summer Courses of the Complutense University of Madrid, and currently teaching at ESIC University. Furthermore, he has authored research articles and book chapters on diverse topics such as Communication, Literature, and Equality.

Juan José Arroyo Paniagua, ESIC University

Juan José Arroyo Paniagua is a professor in the Department of Academic Languages and the Department of Humanities at ESIC University. He graduated in English Philology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2018. She holds a Master's degree in North American Studies from both the Complutense University and the Franklin Institute of the University of Alcalá de Henares. He is also a Specialist in Masculinities from the University of Castilla La Mancha. Arroyo Paniagua is currently a doctoral candidate in Literary Studies at the Complutense University. His doctoral thesis analyzes the representations of masculinity in the works of Cormac McCarthy. Arroyo Paniagua's academic interests range from American literature to film studies, television programs, video games and English language. She is also a member of the Spanish Association of American Studies (SAAS) and the European Association of American Studies (EAAS).

References

Arroyave, M. (2013). ¡Silencio!... Se escucha el silencio. Calle 14, 8(11), 140–153.

Awwad, M. (2017). Linguistic Meaning Versus Pragmatic Meaning. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 13(26), 248–265. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n26p248 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n26p248

Bergman, I. (Director). (1963). The Silence. Svensk Filmindustri.

Bock, P. K., Tannen, D., & Saville-Troike, M. (1986). Perspectives on Silence. Language, 62(3), 731. https://doi.org/10.2307/415529 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/415529

Bolton, I. G. (2020). English Proverbs & Sayings: Illustrated. The English Grammar Club.

Braithwaite, C. A. (2009). Communicative Silence: A Cross-Cultural Study of Basso’s Hypothesis. In D. A. Carbaugh (Ed.), Communication Textbook Series. Intercultural Communication. Cultural Communication and Intercultural Contact (pp. 321–329). Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group.

Bruneau, T. J. (1973). Communicative Silences: Forms and Functions. Journal of Communication, 23(1), 17–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1973.tb00929.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1973.tb00929.x

Carbaugh, D. A. (Ed.). (2009). Communication Textbook Series. Intercultural Communication. Cultural Communication and Intercultural Contact. Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group.

Casco, J. C. (2021). Los 10 tipos de silencio y su poder. Una mirada desde la filosofía del lenguaje. Emprendedorex. https://tinyurl.com/49kc95nn

Cepeda Diazgranados, M. M. (2012). En torno a una ética de la escucha [Tesis doctoral]. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. https://tinyurl.com/26j5zuux

Coen, E., & Coen, J. (Directors). (2007). No Country for Old Men. Miramax.

CursosArteCIEC. (2016, 15 de marzo). John Cage – 4’33” [video]. YouTube. https://tinyurl.com/4ak5mpn4

Dickinson, E. (1960). The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Edited by Johnson, T. H. Back Bay Books Little Brown and Co.

Dominicos España. (2016). El silencio para vivir en la presencia de Dios. Dominicos.org. https://tinyurl.com/ynppnhyb

Duff, P. A. (2002). The Discursive Co-construction of Knowledge, Identity, and Difference: An Ethnography of Communication in the High School Mainstream. Applied Linguistics, 23(3), 289–322. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/23.3.289 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/23.3.289

Ephratt, M. (2008). The Functions of Silence. Journal of Pragmatics, 40(11), 1909–1938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2008.03.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2008.03.009

Escandell Vidal, M. V. (2007). Introducción a la pragmática (1st). Ariel.

Flores Olague, R. G. (2022). El silencio: recinto de lo sagrado en tres religiones orientales. Revista de antropología y filosofía de lo sagrado (RAPHISA), 6(2), 7–31. https://doi.org/10.24310/Raphisa.2022.v7i2.14371 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24310/Raphisa.2022.v7i2.14371

García-Peñalvo, F. J., & Seoane Pardo, A. M. (2015). Una revisión actualizada del concepto de eLearning. Décimo Aniversario. Education in the Knowledge Society (EKS), 16(1), 119–144. https://doi.org/10.14201/eks2015161119144 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14201/eks2015161119144

Gould, T. (2008). Topic Development, Affiliative Mimesis and L1 Use in a Novice-Novice L2 English Conversation. Sophia Junior College Faculty Journal, 28, 9–26.

Jagannathan, N. (2024). The Role of Silence in Communication Strategy. The Borden Group. Accessed July 4th, 2024 from https://tinyurl.com/4txa9t45

Jakobson, R. (1960). Linguistics and Poetics. In T. A. Seboek (Ed.), Style in Language (pp. 350–377). M.I.T. Press.

Jaworski, A. (2006). Silence. In Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics (pp. 377–379). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/00391-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/00391-6

Khademi, S. (2022). A Review of Silence in Conversation: Discoursal Perspective. International Journal of Language and Translation Research, 2(1), 51–67.

Kubrick, S. (Director). (1968). 2001: A Space Odyssey. Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Stanley Kubrick Productions.

Kurzon, D. (2007). Towards a typology of silence. Journal of Pragmatics, 39(10), 1673–1688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2007.07.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2007.07.003

Laborda Gil, X. (2009). La fundación de la historia de la lingüística por Thomsen en 1902. Revista de estudios filológicos, 18, 1–28.

La 'Generation Mute', la protección de datos, WhatsApp y los asistentes de voz, protagonistas de 2018. (s.f.). MarketingNews. https://tinyurl.com/5dkk2zxk

López Montero, P. (2018). El silencio: De lo que no puedes hablar es mejor callar. Cine divergente: Revista digital de análisis y ensayo. https://tinyurl.com/bdh89y95

Lorente, S. (2002). Juventud y teléfonos móviles: algo más que una moda. Revista de estudios de juventud, 57(02), 9-24.

Martín Carretero, J. M., Suero García, C., Suso Araico, A., & Torres Mason, J. (2019). Sociedad digital en España (1st). Taurus y Fundación Telefónica.

Mateu Serra, R. (2001). El lugar del silencio en el proceso de comunicación [Doctoral Dissertation]. Universitat de Lleida. https://tinyurl.com/y7p7bzen

McCormack, C., & Jones, D. (1998). Building a Web-based Education System. Wiley Computer Pub.

Méndez Guerrero, B. (2014). Los actos silenciosos en la conversación en español. Estudio pragmático y sociolingüístico [Doctoral Dissertation]. Universitat de les Illes Balears. https://tinyurl.com/mr46xje6

Meraz, R. (2023). When Less Is More: Examples of Silence that Have a Powerful Impact. Zella Life Inc. https://tinyurl.com/2prbars7

Panikkar, R. (1996). El silencio del Buddha: Una introducción al ateísmo religioso. Siruela.

Poyatos, F. (1994). La comunicación no verbal. Istmo.

Ronningstam, E. (2006). Cultural function and psychological transformation in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 87(5), 1277–1295. https://doi.org/10.1516/D6W0-3E0N-MR79-J7JA DOI: https://doi.org/10.1516/D6W0-3E0N-MR79-J7JA

Schröter, M. (2013). Silence and Concealment in Political Discourse. John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.48 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.48

Schweiger, E., & Tomiak, K. (2023). Researching Silence: A Methodological Inquiry. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 50(3), 623–646. https://doi.org/10.1177/03058298221083999 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03058298221083999

Seboek, T. A. (Ed.). (1960). Style in Language. M.I.T. Press.

Shearer, C. (2020). The Cultural Implications of Silence Around the World. RW3 Culture Wizard. https://www.rw-3.com/blog/cultural-implications-of-silence

Simon, P. (1964). The Sounds of Silence [Song]. Sounds of Silence. Bob Johnston. Columbia Records.

Stephenson, S. (2004). Five Kinds of Silence. Dramatists Play Service.

The Bible. (2026). King James Version. Bible Gateway, version 42, Bible Gateway / Zondervan. https://tinyurl.com/yck47dfj

Vallejo Zapata, V. J. (2011). El reproche y el silencio vistos a la luz de la teoría de la cortesía: Análisis pragmalingüístico de Diatriba de amor contra un hombre sentado de Gabriel García Márquez. Íkala, revista de lenguaje y cultura, 16(29), 45–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.ikala.5136

Wharton, T. (2009). Pragmatics and Non-Verbal Communication. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511635649 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511635649

Winston, B. (2012). Nonverbal Communication: When Silence Speaks More than Words. Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing. https://tinyurl.com/bdfr6ut7

Downloads

Published

2024-09-09

How to Cite

López Gutiérrez, Ángel, & Arroyo Paniagua, J. J. (2024). An Exploration of Silence in Communication. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 9, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2024-610

Issue

Section

Education