Internal Assessment

English A
Test-II

Name: Sanaa Batra

Roll Number: 20/0035
AECC Section: C
Department: BA Hons Applied Psychology
Year: 1st Year
Subject: English A
Date: 28 June, 2021

Ques 1). Find examples of non-verbal communication in this passage? (2)

Ans 1). Communication also happens through body language, which is

termed as non-verbal communication. In the given passage, the examples
of non-verbal communication are, “Sojourner raised herself to her full
height”. In this example, the posture of the speaker indicates confidence
and determination to put forth her point.
“She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles.” This indicates
the physical strength of the speaker.
Thus, our body language can communicate as well as our words, helping
to better the process of communication.

Ques 2). Where do we find feedback to the speech in this passage? What is
the feedback? (2)

Ans 2). Feedback in this speech can be found in the way of cheers and
applause for the speaker in the sixth and ninth paragraph. The feedback
such as, “the audience began to cheer wildly” and “the entire church now
roared with deafening applause” shows that the speaker’s words had an
effect on the audience, who agreed with her points. The words she spoke
resonated with them and thus, the showed their agreement by the way of
applause to her speech.

Ques 3). Oral and written communication differ from each other in many
ways. Give examples of the advantages of oral communication over
written from the passage. (3)
Ans 3). Communication, both oral and written, are equally imperative for
effective communication. However, oral communication has several
advantages over written communication which can be seen in the given
passage as well. When the speaker is putting forth her point, she uses her
body language to emphasis on her point, as when she flexes her muscle to
show she is just as powerful as men. Such body movements project a
strong reflection of the speaker, which can only be possible in oral
communication. Oral communication also allows for the audience to
interact and to show their support. When Sojourner points to a minister
and asks about ‘the thing in the head’, it allows another woman from the
audience to reply the answer. This way, her speech impacts every person
sitting there listening to her words as well as making them a part of it. The
applause and cheering to show support also validate this point. Lastly,
voice modulation also plays a great role in how our message is conveyed.
In the passage, there are mentions of Sojourner thundering, which conveys
her absolute passion to prove her point. Voice modulation affects the way
a message is interpreted, and her thundering conveys that she is stressing
her point, which could not have been possible in the case of written
communication.
All the examples above clearly showcase that Oral Communication has
many advantages above written communication.

Ques 4). Semantic noise is defined as a barrier that is generated within a

message, and is caused by limited vocabulary, cultural differences, and
blocked categories. Sojourner Truth is pointing to the male ministers in the
room and refuting their points. What are the possible barriers to
communication between Sojourner Truth and the male ministers? (3)

Ans 4). Barriers to communication is anything that prevents smooth

exchange of meaning between two or more people. Barriers can be of two
kinds, channel noise and semantic noise. Channel noise is the external
interference in the communication process. In the passage above, the noise
and gasps of the audience can be examples of Channel noise that may
hinder communication. However, Semantic noise is internal to the
message and can be due to limited vocabulary etc. In the passage, the
semantic noise can very well be the limited vocabulary of the speaker, as
is indicated when she couldn’t remember the word ‘Intellect’ said by a
minister. The cultural difference is also a semantic noise, as the speaker
points towards the Christian faith and brings their religion and culture into
question. Wrong assumptions, too, interfere with effective communication
and can be seen in this passage as well. Women are considered fragile and
breakable, which is the exact stigma the speaker wishes to remove. It can
also be Blocked categories as the ministers have their own belief regarding
women being too frail and anything that doesn’t resonate with their ideas
will be rejected. Thus, in the passage, many barriers to communication can
interfere between Sojourner Truth and the male ministers.

Ques 5). Write a summary of this passage. (2.5)

Ans 5). “Ain’t I a Woman?” is a speech by Sojourner Truth, considered a

great expression of women’s rights and was delivered in 1851 at the
Women’s Rights Convention. The speaker describes the pain and suffering
of women to point out the injustices against them. The speech talks about
the horrors of slavery and the Christian faith, including women’s plight at
the heart of it all. Her speech leaves the convention speechless, her words
echoing throughout history.

Ques 6). Paraphrase this passage. (2.5)

Ans 6). On the second day of the Woman’s Rights Convention, many
ministers were present to put forth their ideas of considering women as
inferior to men. Every minister argued by picking out a particular point,
when Sojourner Truth stood up. Many women were against her right to
speak, as they feared that their cause might get mixed with the Abolition
of black slavery.
However, Sojourner Truth claimed the podium and began her speech by
addressing the various movements going on at that time. She began
picking out each minister and their examples, starting with one who
believed women are so weak they need help to get into carriages and cross
puddles. She emphasises that she never needed such help and that doesn’t
make her any less of a woman.
Sojourner announces that she has worked as hard as any man, without help
and that too doesn’t mean she is any less of a woman. She states that she
has given birth and seen her ‘kids being sold into slavery’, which puts
emphasis on the power of her will.
She chooses another minister who thought intellect was what women
lacked. Then she takes up the most voiced-out point, that of the Christian
faith. She asks the audience of where Christ comes from, and believes that
only God and Woman were the creators, without the need of a man.
Her last point is of the first woman made by God, Eve, who ate the apple
and gave birth to a whole new world. She states that if Eve was able to
change the face of the world, so can the women of today and they should
be given the right to do so.
Sojourner concludes her speech by saying, “Obliged to you for hearing
me, and now old Sojourner ain’t got nothing more to say.” She leaves the
whole church in silence, her words still echoing in the corners of history.