Listening and Articulation

Listening involves attentively observing sounds, while articulation is the way individuals form clear or distinct sounds, pronounce words, and express themselves through language. Together, listening and articulation are used to communicate language and are important ways to identify meanings, values, roles, and historical consciousness. Language use is an important dynamic in the counseling process that is best understood relationally and collaboratively through an ecosystemic context. The skills of listening and articulation require specific multicultural and social justice competencies. With the political and racial violence that permeates the globe, there is a great need to avoid inadvertently using language as a major form of subtle oppression. This entry discusses ways of listening and articulating, high- and low-context communication, culture-centered approaches, and the importance of listening and articulation.