Information in the oral communication of socially maladjusted youth of Voluntary Labour Corps

The article analyses the informative function of statements made by young people under the care of the Voluntary Labour Corps (OHP). These young people come from dysfunctional families and are often marginalised / at risk of marginalisation. These young people (senders) tend to employ short, mono-sentenced statements usually saturated with vulgarisms and have little knowledge of the world. Their utterances reveal the young person’s emotional state, his or her attitude towards the receiver and other members of the community, family environment and social reality. Analysis of senders’ statements sheds light on their level of personal culture, degree of self control, linguistic control, linguistic aggression, and provides insight into the young persons’ values. Assessment of utterances demonstrates a transition from the provision of general information concerning the community to information concerning the young persons’ personal life and positive or negative evaluations of his or her actions. Over time, the flow of information diminishes the distance between the sender and the receiver. The communicative effectiveness of the young persons’ statements increases as does the effectiveness of socializing activities.