Ellen Degeneres: Chronemics

Ellen DeGeneres is widely known as a comedian, television show host, sitcom creator, and most of all an enjoyable happy person. Elle DeGeneres has made a passion of what she does for a living and has contributed and donated thousands of dollars to notable charities. In 2006 she had donated thousands of dollars to the Hurricane Katrina cause which has greatly affected Tulane University. Tulane University had asked Ellen to write and perform a speech at the 2006 spring commencement graduation and she had been asked back in 2009. Little did she know that she would be receiving an award for all of her efforts and time that she has gave to the New Orleans area.
In this analysis of nonverbal communication demonstrated through Ellen DeGeneres’ commencement
“Chronemics otherwise known as temporal communication refers to the way that people organize and use time and the messages that are created because of their organization and use of it” (Pearson, J). Ellen discusses a memory of when she realized she needed to change the path that she was currently on in life. She describes how her girlfriend and the time had passed away in a fatal car crash and notes that she had drove by the accident blind of who was in the accident. After she had known of the fatality of her girlfriend she had gone into show business and had shut out her personal life, especially the status of her sexual orientation. After some years go by she decides to open up about her personal life, with full knowledge of the remarks and repercussions she would receive and is now living free of fear and guilt and is living the living she had envisioned. Referring back to that memory raises awareness in her message to be yourself and to do what you are interested regardless of what others’ thoughts are on
She later mentions that she has a partner, Portia and is now living life to the fullest. Focusing more on relationships and working on several tasks is known as polychromic, which is what Ellen is now (Tulane, U.).
Ellen also notes that she had been to Tulane University back in 2006 which connects the students to the past, which included Hurricane Katrina and the disaster and graduation ceremony that had come with it. Relating past experiences to the present creates more of a familiar atmosphere for the audience and the audience is more apt to listen and interpret the message more clearly.
The third nonverbal code that I have found in Ellen’s speech is kinesics, which is defined as, “posture, gestures, and facial expressions” (Pearson, J.). We see Ellen use kinesics throughout her speech as she uses her arms to create a more dramatic humorous effect on the sentence she is saying and when she is trying to convey a more serious message she limits her arm gestures to less eye grabbing movements. Less notable gestures create a smaller more intimate aura and allows the audience to zone in on the speaker and really listen to the