Abstract (eng)
The topic of this work is communication of emotions over an auditory medium, like radio.
Theories of this work include: the language-philosophical study of the possibilities how to put
emotions in words; the communication-science theories of Paul Watzlawick; and the folkpsychological
theories about empathy.
Watzlawick’s theories postulate two codes, digital and analogical, in which communication
appears. The analogical code can be divided into mimic and/or gesturing and into the
vocalization of language. It is stated that by means of vocalization over an auditory medium,
emotion can be communicated. Wittgenstein’s private language argument finds entrance into
the work, because it points out that emotions between humans are not directly perceptible.
Emotions, which are not directly recognizable by our senses can be communicated and shared
by means of everyday language only. This fact excludes very private emotions from being
communicable to others.
The second part of this work shows how mental situations of others can be understood
thought a closer look on folk-psychological theories. On the one hand side, the theory of
mind, which produces understanding of emotions by using prefabricated theories, on the other
hand side the simulation theory, which postulates that understanding can be attained only by a
mental „off-line “simulation of the condition of others. Both these theories applied in this
work are classified as being equivalent. Furthermore, it is discussed which factors for
reconstructing feelings of others are used in everyday life.
The medium radio, or more specifically, the talk radio show, forms the interests of the third
part of this work. This medium is considered as an auditory transportation-channel for
emotions and therefore it carries the scientific investigation. With the help of the critical
discourse analysis, conversations, as in talk radio, are hermeneutically interpreted and
discussed. The focus is on the position of emotions within the discourse. The investigation
showed that a conversation significantly changes with the appearance of emotions.
The results of this work suggest that emotion does not only accept a preferential position in
the discourse – it takes on a position of power. Communication of emotions over a vocal
channel is possible, however, with some frequent problems, such as, for example, that
different emotions may sound rather similar to others, and therefore are hard to notice
correctly. Another problem in communicating emotions occurs if the content of a discourse
cannot be connected to perceived emotions. However, it seems to be fact that emotions have
such a powerful position in discourse that they make participants try to understand them and
to even develop empathy for other participants.