COMM 291 QUIZ 2 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
UPDATED)
Abstraction Ladder - ANS The range of more to less abstract terms describing an event or
object
Language of responsiblity - ANS How we speak about events and situations, particularly
when assigning blame or praise, and it's about taking ownership of our thoughts, feelings, and
actions
What are the languages of responsibility? - ANS I, You, We, It, But
"It" language - ANS Statements that replace the personal pronoun "I" with the less
immediate word "it".
The effect of reducing the speaker's acceptance of responsibility for the statements
"But" language - ANS Statements in which the word "but" cancels out the expression that
preceded it.
"I" lanugage - ANS A statement that describes the speaker's reaction to another person's
behaviour without making judgements about the behaviour's worth.
"You" language - ANS Statements that express or imply a judgment of the other person.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, "We" language - ANS Statements that imply that the issue is the concern and responsibiity of
both the sender and the receiver of a message.
Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication - ANS Are vital
Has value
is primarily relational
Occurs in mediated messages
Serves many functions
Offers deception cues
Is ambiguous
Types of Nonverbal Communication - ANS body orientation, posture, gestures, face and eyes
Deception - ANS When a message and body language do not share the same message and
someone is trying to hide the truth.
Internal Factors of Nonverbal Communication - ANS voice
touch
appearance
External Factors of Nonverbal Communication - ANS distance
physical environment
smell
time
Barriers to Listening (Types of Ineffective Listening) - ANS pseudo-listening
stage hogging
selective listening
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
UPDATED)
Abstraction Ladder - ANS The range of more to less abstract terms describing an event or
object
Language of responsiblity - ANS How we speak about events and situations, particularly
when assigning blame or praise, and it's about taking ownership of our thoughts, feelings, and
actions
What are the languages of responsibility? - ANS I, You, We, It, But
"It" language - ANS Statements that replace the personal pronoun "I" with the less
immediate word "it".
The effect of reducing the speaker's acceptance of responsibility for the statements
"But" language - ANS Statements in which the word "but" cancels out the expression that
preceded it.
"I" lanugage - ANS A statement that describes the speaker's reaction to another person's
behaviour without making judgements about the behaviour's worth.
"You" language - ANS Statements that express or imply a judgment of the other person.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, "We" language - ANS Statements that imply that the issue is the concern and responsibiity of
both the sender and the receiver of a message.
Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication - ANS Are vital
Has value
is primarily relational
Occurs in mediated messages
Serves many functions
Offers deception cues
Is ambiguous
Types of Nonverbal Communication - ANS body orientation, posture, gestures, face and eyes
Deception - ANS When a message and body language do not share the same message and
someone is trying to hide the truth.
Internal Factors of Nonverbal Communication - ANS voice
touch
appearance
External Factors of Nonverbal Communication - ANS distance
physical environment
smell
time
Barriers to Listening (Types of Ineffective Listening) - ANS pseudo-listening
stage hogging
selective listening
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
