Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

2.5 Implicit and explicit messagesA message can be explicit or implicit.Explicit means that the words or signsexplain the content of the message withno other interpretation possible. Thereceiver understands the content of thephrase and in the case of a questionknows exactly what is requested, forinstance:▷ “I am from Bafut.”▷ Speaking the words “Mary, bring mea glass of water to drink.”Implicit means that the message givesroom for different interpretations andtherefore the understanding is notabsolutely clear. Somebody whoconsciously sends implicit messagescan easily deny “I didn’t say…, I didn’tmean…” Keep in mind that nonverbalcommunication is often implicit.Possible implicit messages to the twoexplicit examples could sound like:▷ just talk in the dialect spoken in thearea of Bafut, assuming the receiverknows where this dialect is spoken andconsequently knows where I comefrom.▷ I say “Mary, there is no water”,assuming that Mary, the receiver,understands that I am asking fora glass of water to drink. But by notspecifying my request it could alsomean that I want water to take a bath,do the laundry, water the garden orwash my car…2.6 Congruent and incongruent messagesCongruent means that all communication signals and signs point in the same direction;that they harmonize. The various types; verbal, nonverbal and para‐verbal communication,are combined into a single message. The listener then receives a clearmessage as the meaning of the words spoken is reinforced by the tone of voice andaccompanied with appropriate body language.Incongruent can be described as “two souls in one heart” and is also called doublebindmessages. It means that words and nonverbal signs or para‐verbal communicationdon’t match. This behaviour confuses the listener as one does not know to2 . F a c t s a b o u t c o m m u n i c a t i o n 51