IGNOU BLI-225
- Communication Skills,
Latest Solved Assignment
(July 2023 - January 2024)

I) Answer the following questions in not more than 500 words each.

1 What is communication skill? Explain the role of communication skills in library services.
2 What are the barriers to listening? Explain how to overcome the different barriers to listening.
3 Explain interpersonal skills. Justify why interpersonal skills are important in life?
4 “Social skills learning improves students; communication with peers and adults, improves cooperative teamwork, and helps them become effective, caring, concerned members of their communities.” Justify the statement.

II) Answer the following questions in not more than 250 words each.

1 Explain the importance of verbal communication skills.
2 Explain what are the important points to be kept in mind while preparing a resume.
3 Explain the importance of presentation skills.
4 What are the ‘Don’ts’ in body language communication?
5 Explain the different styles of communication.
6 Explain methods of writing

Answer all questions.

1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below.
Language, as we have seen, seems to be a highly developed form of animal signaling. But there is a missing link in the chain. How, and when, did we start to talk? This is a problem of interest mainly to ethologists (students of animal behavior), and one which has not yet been solved. Most linguists regard this fascinating topic as being outside the realm of linguistics proper. They are more interested in studying actual language than in speculating about its origins. But although how language began is a puzzle, why language began seems rather clearer. Possibly it began because humans needed a greater degree of cooperation with each other in order to survive, and this cooperation required efficient communication.
Consequently the primary function of language is to impart factual information and to convey essential commands. But language can also be used to communicate feelings and emotions. This aspect of language is not as well developed as ‘information talking’, because humans, like other primates, can convey emotions by screams, grunts, sobs, gestures and so on. So they need language only to confirm and elaborate these more primitive signals.
In addition, there is the language of social chitchat, the meaningless small talk of everyday life. “Hallo, how nice to see you. How are you? Isn’t the weather terrible?” This social patter has been called phatic communion and is primarily a device to maintain social contact on a friendly level. Some ethnologists call it ‘grooming talking’ and suggest that it is substitute for the friendly grooming indulged in by the monkeys. There are other biologically less important functions of language. Humans may use language for purely aesthetic reasons. In writing poetry, for example, people manipulate words in the same way as they might model clay or paint a picture. Or they may talk in order to release nervous tension, a function seen when people mutter to themselves in anger and frustration.

1. 1. a). Say whether the following statements are true or false according to the passage. Correct the false statements.
i). Language is a highly sophisticated form of human sign communication.
ii). Ethnologists are interested in the study of animal behavior.
iii). How language began is obscure.
iv). The main function of language is to convey emotions and feelings.
v). Phatic communication is similar to ‘groom talking’ of monkeys.

1. 2. b). Answer the following questions:
i). List four reasons why human need to ‘talk’?
ii). Besides ‘talk’ how else do humans convey emotions?
iii). What is phatic communication? Give your own example of phatic communication.
iv). What is the primary function of writing?
v). Give an appropriate title to the passage.

2. Explain the different types of communication.

3. Describe the different barriers to listening.

4. Prepare a presentation with at least 10 slides on any one of the following topics.
a). Telephonic skills
b). Social skills
c). Preparing your profile

5. Write on any two of the given topics in about 100 words.
a). Correspondence at the workplace
b). Writing skills
c). Preparing your Portfolio

6.Write a letter to the prime minister of India requesting him for free COVID-19 vaccination for all the citizens of India.