Essential Elements of Verbal Communication and Interview Dynamics

Understanding the Interview Process

An interview is defined as an exchange of verbal communication between two or more participants, where words and turn-taking drive the development of the discourse in action.

Types of Interviews

Informal Communication (Spontaneous)

• Examples include spontaneous conversations and telephone conversations.
• The interlocutors (mintzagaiak) and variables are selected by the participants, and there are no pre-declared rules for turn-taking.

Formal Communication (Planned)

• Examples include oral exams, job interviews, round tables, discussions, and questionnaires on a specific theme.
• A designated person is always present. The conversation is previously regulated, and there is always a moderator, teacher, judge, or controlling interrogator.

Communication is marked by the frame-state, which includes the social status of the participants and the specific issue or issues (mintzagai) being discussed.

Linguistic Characteristics of Interviews

Textual Elements

• Turn Shifts: The resulting text is built through the exchange and interaction between the interlocutors, shaping the discourse.
• Implicit Agreement: Participants (Solaskideek) implicitly agree upon and negotiate the formalities for their degree of conversation (SOLAS), as well as pronunciation, speech style, and the direction the conversation will take.

Grammatical and Discourse Features

• Syntax is often simple and straightforward.
• Sentences are frequently incomplete or fragmented.
• Grammatical errors often occur.
• Lateral linguistic influence (e.g., code-switching or dialectal features) is often apparent.
• There are many digressions, filler words ("crutches"), repetitions, and even paraphrasing.

Intonation and gestures play a particular role in reinforcing meaning.

Key Prosodic Elements in Communication

Pitch/Register

Varies based on the age and sex of the participants.

Volume

An increase in volume often signals strong emotion, such as anger, laughter, or surprise.

Rhythm

Marks the duration and speed of our words.

Intonation

Essential for expressing questions, surprise, or confirmation. It allows the listener to detect the sender's emotional state or main intent.

Extralinguistic Communication Elements

Body Language (Kinesics)

Comprises gestures, movements, and other non-verbal signals. For example, hand movements can signal nervousness, replace words when speech is unavailable, or function as an integral part of the communication act.

The Gaze

This is a powerful communication tool that can indicate emotions such as arrogance, fear, shame, joy, sadness, or uncertainty.

Facial Expressions

Convey a wealth of data, including the age and sex of the participant, as well as various emotional states and dispositions.