Language of Shrek

The Language of Shrek

Tim Schultz, Marina Arballo, Shirley Booth

ENG223

July 26, 2010

Elizabeth Sanchez

Abstract

This paper will cover four parts of the use of language using a scene from the motion picture Shrek. The four parts covered will be Non-Listening, Nonverbal, Perception, and Relational Dialects.

The Language of Shrek

Communication is more than just someone talking and someone else listening. There are many different ways we communicate with each other. The motion picture Shrek is an excellent example of these ways and in this paper we will be discussing only a very small portion of the variety of ways we communicate. One of the ways is known as non-listening which is when we really are not listening. [ (Wood, 2007) ] Another way is called nonverbal communication. This is a form of communication we use that does not involve the use of words. Perception is a way we communicate. This is how we interpret what others are communicating to us. [ (Wood, 2007) ] The last form discussed in this paper is relational dialects, which are tensions in relationships. [ (Wood, 2007) ]

Non-Listening

Listening is undoubtedly a vital part of communication. The best speaker in the world would be completely useless if his/her audience did not listen. Listening is defined as “an active, complex process that consists of being mindful; hearing, selecting and organizing information; interpreting communication; responding; and remembering.” [ (Wood, 2007) ] In the motion picture Shrek, we find Donkey and Shrek meeting for the first time. The two characters engage in a conversation, and we can determine whether or not each one is really listening to the other.

During the conversation there is a lot of non-listening going on. One part of non-listening is known as pseudo-listening, defined as “pretending to listen.” [ (Wood, 2007) ] It was noticed that there was not a lot of pseudo-listening during this scene. There were some instances where Shrek...