Gerry Philipsen's theory on speech codes focuses on how people communicate with one another. He believes that culture one basic factor that determines communication and believes that there are five general propositions that explain the basics of speech codes.

Through my critique of Philipsen's humanistic theory I am going to compare it to a set of guidelines that were developed by Em Griffen and set to evaluate whether a theory is a strng development of a scientific or humanistic theory.

The standards are as follows:

Gives a new understanding of people
Clarifies values
Has an aesthetic appeal
A community aggrement
Reforms society

GIVES A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE
Unlike many other theories that I have studied such as the Cognitive Dissonance Theory by Leon Festinger, I feel that Philipsen's theory did not give me any new ideas that opened my mind and allowed me to evaluate what was being said. I feel that everyone has their own way of communicating, whether it is because of where they grew up, or even just through their personalities. I believe that this theory did not give me any new insight on understanding people. For example, Gerry Philipsen focuses this theory on two distinct cultures Narcirema and Teanstervile. I feel that this is an unfair focused generalization of cultures.

CLARIFIES VALUES
I feel that this is a very generalized theory that really does not bring into account values and morals. Through Griffens interpretation of Philipsens ideas, he stated this theory more in a factual way. He did not discuss how people viewed and felt about the different situations that people run into in every day life.

HAS AN AESTHETIC APPEAL
Speech Code Theory was tasteful but not appealing. There was no elaboration, or anything that made it different and interesting. It was presented as factual not as theoretical with different ideas.

HAS A COMMUNITY OF AGREEMENT
I believe that in many ways people can agree with Philipsen's theory. Everyone from different cultures and different ethnicity has their own way of communicating. I agree with the theory and I believe that many other theorists have came to the same conclusion.

REFORMS SOCIETY
In no way will this theory change the way that I communicate. I feel that this more of an informating theory rather than reforming. I could relate to the theory, but don't feel it could invoke any change in our society.

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Face Negotiation theory is also a theory that can relate to the theory of speech codes. To see a critique on this related theory, and to see their connections, click here!

This page has been last modified on: March 9, 2000