Introduction to Communication

After the learning engagements, the learners will be able to:

1. Define communication
2. Identify and explain the various communication modes and how they help in expressing one‘s
communication intents;
3. Distinguish the differences between and among the communication modes; and
4. Use the communication modes appropriately depending on the content of the communication
situation

COMMUNICATION
Alexander (1984) stated that communication occurs when a sender expresses an emotion or a
feeling, creates an idea, or senses the need to communicate. The communication process is triggered
when the sender makes a conscious or an unconscious decision to share the message with another
person—the receiver. It is a process wherein the exchange of information between two or more
people (Bernales, Balon and Biligan, 2018). Keyton (2011) supported this notion of communication
when he defined it as Communication can be defined as the process of transmitting information and
common understanding from one person to another. For communication to succeed, both the
participants must be able to exchange information and understand each other. If this flow of
information is interrupted or blocked communication fails. The word communication is derived from
the Latin word, ― “communis”, which means common. In our everyday living, for a communication
to be effectively transmitted, elements of communication must be present and these include a)
Speaker, b) Message, c) Receiver, d) Channel, e) Feedback, and f) Communicative Situation.

Alexander (1984) further explains that every communicative act is based on something that
conveys meaning, and that conveyance is the message. The message may be either verbal (spoken or
written) or nonverbal (body language, physical appearance, or vocal tone). Messages may also come
from the context—or place and time—of the communication. For instance, if you choose to make a
critical comment to someone, the place and the time you choose to make that comment will make a
big impact on how it will be received.

Moreover, every message is sent and received through one of our five senses—it is seen, heard,
touched, tasted, or smelled. The sensory media through which messages are sent and received are
communication channels. In a work setting, messages may be seen through body movement, letters,
memos, newsletters, bulletin board notices, signs, emails, and so on. Messages that are heard come
through conversations, interviews, presentations, telephones, radios, and other audio media. Sight and
sound are the two most frequent communication channels used in our society.
When the receiver gets the message (through seeing, hearing, feeling, touching, or smelling), he or
she will usually give feedback (return message) unconsciously or consciously. Thus, the
communications process is on-going.

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The worst assumption a sender of a message can make is that the message will be received as
intended. So many things can go wrong during the communications process that we should always
assume that something will go wrong and take steps
to prevent that occurrence. Barriers to good communications are always present. For instance, the
language itself can be a barrier—unclear wording, slang, jargon, the tone. Another barrier is the
failure of the sender to realize that his or her body language might contradict the spoken message.
The channel used to convey the message might be wrong. For instance, you would not use the
telephone to relay a lot of statistical information; you would need to write that message on paper.
Poor listening skills can constitute a barrier also (Alexander, 1984).
LESSON 1:
NATURE, DEFINITION AND COMPONENTS OF
COMMUNICATION

(Activity) THINKING CAP ON

What do these quotes mean in relation to communication?
―If all my talents and powers to be taken from me by some inscrutable Providence and I had my
choice of keeping but one, I would unhesitatingly ask that I be allowed to keep my power of speech
for through it, I would regain the rest. - Daniel Webster
My answer:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
―To speak and to speak well are two different things‖- Ben Johnson
My answer:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
― We listen a book a day, we speak a book a week, read the equivalent of a
book a month, and write the equivalent of a book a year‖- Walter Loban
My answer:
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
LET’S TAKE A LOOK
We are social beings and such; we feel an intense need to express our thoughts, feelings and
aspirations, doubts, questions, and fears. Equally intense is our need to be listened to. These needs –
to express and to be listened to – are basic or innate in all of us.
But as Ben Johnson, the English poet, has said, the ability to speak and the ability to speak well are
two different things.

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Speaking well is comparable to any skill in the sense that it can be developed and enhanced. All that
you have to do is expose yourself to various speaking situations. Listen well and study how effective
speakers express themselves.
Learn from their strengths and practice whenever opportunities arise.
Practice makes perfect.
If it is to be, it is up to me.
As much as 75% of the average person‘s day is spent communicating.
Those in technical jobs are estimated to spend between 50% and 90% of their work day engaged in
communication process

DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNICATION
1. Communication is a process by which we assign and convey meaning in an
attempt to create shared understanding.
This process requires a vast repertoire of skills:
Intrapersonal and interpersonal processing
Listening
Observing
Speaking
Questioning
Analyzing
Evaluating

2. It can be seen as processes of information transmission governed by three levels of semiotic rules:
Syntactic
Pragmatic
Semantic

3. It is therefore a social interaction where at least two interacting agents share a common set of signs
and a common set of semiotic rules.
4. The Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary defines communication, as the act of passing news,
information…, the act of sharing or exchanging thoughts, ideas, feelings with others or with a group;
the act of participating with or sharing in common, the ―we-belong-to-same-feeling‖ as in
communication with… or the act of thinking about oneself.

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5. Communication is derived from the Latin word “communis,‘which means, “Belonging to many or
“equally” and “communico” – to confer with others. It is the mutual exchange of information, ideas,
and understanding by any effective means (Ballesterros, 2003).
6. Communication refers to the process of human beings responding to the symbolic behavior of other
persons (Adler and Rodman, 1997).
COMMUNICATION IS HUMAN.
COMMUNICATION IS A PROCESS.
COMMUNICATION IS SYMBOLIC.

7. The communication done by animals is relatively different from humans. The manner by which we
communicate or use different gestures, facial expression, etc. to communicate is different from the
dance that is done by bees to instruct their hive-mates on the location of food or the chimpanzees that
have been taught to express themselves using sign language like deaf humans.
8. We often talk about communication as if it occurred in discrete, individual acts. In fact
communication is a continuous, ongoing process. Consider, for example, a friend‘s compliment about
your appearance. Your interpretation of those words will depend on a long series of experiences
stretching far back in time: how have others judged your appearance? How do you feel about your
looks? How honest has your friend been in the past? How have you been feeling about one another
recently? All of this history will help shape your response to the other person‘s remark. In turn, the
words you speak and the way you say them will shape the way your friend behaves toward you and
others- both in this situation and in the future.
This example shows that it‘s inaccurate to talk about “acts” of communication as if they occurred in
isolation. To put it differently, communication isn‘t a series of incidents pasted together like
photographs in a scrapbook; instead, it is more like a motion picture in which the meaning comes
from the unfolding of an interrelated series of images. The fact that communication is a process is
reflected in the transactional model.
9. Symbols are used to represent things, processes, ideas, or events in ways that make communication
possible. The most significant feature of symbols is their arbitrary nature. For example, there‘s no
logical reason why the letters in book should stand for the object you‘re reading in class. Speakers of
Spanish call it a libro, and Germans label it a Buch. Even in English, another term would work just as
well as long as everyone agreed to use it in the same way. We overcome the arbitrary nature of
symbols by linguistic rules and customs. Effective communication depends on agreement among
people about these rules. This is easiest to see when we observe people who don‘t follow linguistic
conventions. For example, recall how unusual the speech of children and immigrant speakers of a
language sounds.
10. In addition to this, nonverbal communication can have symbolic meaning. As with words, some
nonverbal behaviors, though arbitrary, have clearly agreedupon meanings. For example, to most
North Americans placement of a thumb and first finger together while facing the palm of the hand
outward stands for the idea of something being “OK.” But even more than words, many nonverbal
behaviors are ambiguous. Does a frown signify anger or unhappiness? Does a hug stand for a friendly
greeting or a symbol of the hugger‘s romantic interest in you? One can‘t always be sure (Adler and
Rodman, 1997).

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Types of Communication according to Mode
A message may be impart through these types; verbal-non-verbal and visual. While communication is
often thought of as verbal, the non-verbal mode is equally essential as it enhances one’s message.

A. VERBAL COMMUNICATION
 (Linguistics) The process of sending and receiving messages with words, including
writing and sign language.
 It refers to the form of communication in which message is transmitted verbally.
 Communication is done by word of mouth and a piece of writing.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION: ORAL

 Spoken words are used

 It includes face-to-face conversations, speech, telephonic conversation, video, radio,
television, voice over internet.
 Communication is influenced by pitch, volume, speed and clarity of speaking.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION: WRITTEN

 In written communication, written signs or symbols are used to communicate.

 In written communication message can be transmitted via email, letter, report, memo etc.
 Written communication is most common form of communication being used in business.

B. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

 Nonverbal communication is the sending or receiving of wordless messages. Such gesture,

body language, posture, tone of voice or facial expressions is called nonverbal
communication.
 It is all about the body language of speaker.
It has three elements:
1. Appearance (speaker) - Clothing, hairstyle, neatness, use of cosmetics;
Appearance (surrounding) – room size, lighting, decorations, furnishings
2. Body language - facial expressions, gestures, postures
3. Sounds - voice tone, volume, speech rate
C. VISUAL COMMUNICATION

 Visual communication, on the other hand, is the type of communication that uses visuals to
convey information and/or messages. Some examples are signs, symbol, imagery, maps,
graphs, charts, diagrams, pictograms, photos, drawings or illustrations, and even various
forms of electronic communication.
 Visual communication now occupies an important place in any work environment. For
instance, during presentations, instructors, managers, doctors, lawyers, legislators and the like
use visuals to transfer data into digestible information. Very likely, they have greater success
in catching the attention of the audience making the latter easily recall the information.
Types of Communication according to Context

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This sub-section, context in communication is referred to as composite of people interacting with
each other. Communication may also be classified according to context: (1) intrapersonal; (2)
interpersonal

A. INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

 The Latin prefixes intra-means within or inside. Intrapersonal communication then means
talking to oneself. Some label it as self or inner talk, inner dialogue. Psychologists call it with
other names such as self-verbalization or self-statement.
 Intrapersonal communication can be defined also as communication with one’s self, and that
may include self-talk, acts of imagination and visualization, and even recall and memory
(McLean, 2005).
 Communications expert Leonard Shedletsky examined intrapersonal communication through
the eight basic components of the communication process (i.e., source, receiver, message,
channel, feedback, environment, context, and interference) as transactional, but all the
interaction occurs within the individual (Shedletsky, 1989). From planning to problem
solving, internal conflict resolution, and evaluations and judgments of self and others, we
communicate with ourselves through intrapersonal communication. All this interaction takes
place in the mind without externalization, and all of it relies on previous interaction with the
external world.
B. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal communication can be defined as communication between two people, but the
definition fails to capture the essence of a relationship. This broad definition is useful when we
compare it to intrapersonal communication, or communication with ourselves, as opposed to mass
communication, or communication with a large audience, but it requires clarification. The
developmental view of interpersonal communication places emphasis on the relationship rather than
the size of the audience, and draws a distinction between impersonal and personal interactions.
Family for many is the first experience in interpersonal relationships, but as we develop
professionally, our relationships at work may take on many of the attributes we associate with family
communication. We look to each other with similar sibling rivalries, competition for attention and
resources, and support. The workplace and our peers can become as close, or closer, than our birth
families, with similar challenges and rewards. To summarize, interpersonal relationships are an
important part of the work environment.

Directions: Circle the letter of your answer.

1. It is defined as the process of transmitting information and common understanding from one person
to another.
a. Communication b. Speaker c. Process d. Purpose
2. It is a type of communication that uses visuals to convey information and/or messages.
a. Non-verbal b. Verbal c. Visual d. Intrapersonal
3. It is defined also as communication with one‗s self, and that may include self-talk, acts of
imagination and visualization, and even recall and memory.
a. Verbal b. Interpersonal c. Intrapersonal d. Non-verbal

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Part II
Enumerate the different kinds of communication and give situations as examples (at least 3)

Part III. Essay

1. What kind of communication do you use everyday? How do you use it? Who do you communicate
with?

2. What kind of communication are you good with? Why?

3. Which kind of communication do you prefer? Why?

Congratulations! Now you are done with Lesson 1. Keep up the good job!

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LESSON 2:
THE PROCESS AND ELEMENTS OF
COMMUNICATION

Learning Outcomes
After the learning engagements, the learners will be able to:
1. Identify the elements of communication in various texts; and
2. Illustrate the communication process;

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COMMUNICATION AS PROCESS
In a survey conducted by the Katz Business School at the University of Pittsburg,
organizations rated communication skills as the most important factor used in selecting their
management staff. The study found that oral and written communication skills were
important in predicting job success, as was the ability to communicate well with others in the
workplace (Mtd Training, 2010). This result makes sense after all since communication is
innate to us. Therefore for us to be able to communicate well is important. If we are not able
to communicate well, the messages we send get lost in translation (Mtd Training, 2010).
Similarly, Bernales, Balon and Biligan (2018) stated that when the flow of information is
blocked for some reason or the parties cannot make themselves understood, then
communication fails.
Communication is the art and process of creating and
sharing ideas. Effective communication depends on the
richness of those ideas.

So how do we communicate effectively?

We must consider a deeper understanding of the process and elements of

communication. Communication process may be simple to complex depending on the
situation. To understand the process there is a need to know the elements or components of
the process.

Source:

Code:

Message:

Channel:

Noise:

Decode:

Receiver:

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ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION PROCESS
Speaking and listening are vital elements of communication. Therefore, in any
communication situation, you are both speaker and listener. (Villamarzo, 2003)

Eugene White (1960) mentions eight stages in the cycle of communication.

These are:
 Thinking
 Symbolizing
 Expressing
 Transmitting
 Receiving
 Decoding
 Reacting, and
 Monitoring

Roman Jacobson mentions the following as components of communication:

 Addressor (speaker)
 Addressee (listener
 Context (situation)
 Contact
 Code, and
 Message

Gronbeck defines model as ―a picture or a representation of a thing or process that

identifies the key parts or elements and indicates how each element affects the operations of
all of the elements.

Communication Model, therefore, is a sketch that shows the basic elements of the
communication process, and how each element affects the other elements in the entire
communication process as a system

COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

1. SPEAKER/ SENDER
 A person who sends the message
 A sender makes use of symbols (words or graphs or visual aids) to convey the
message and produce required response.
 Sender maybe an individual or a group or an organization
 The views, background, approach, skills, competencies and knowledge of the sender
have great impact on the message.
 The communication process begins with the sender, who is also called the
communicator or source. The sender has some kind of information – a command,
request, or idea – that he or she wants to share with others. In order for the message to
be received, the sender must first encode the message in a form that can be
understood and then transmit it.

2. MESSAGE

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 Is the key idea that the sender wants to communicate
 It is a sign that elicits the response of the recipient.
 Communication process begin with decoding about the message to be conveyed
 It must be ensured that the main objective of the message is clear.
 Message is what you communicate verbally or non –verbally
 The message or content is the information that the sender wants to relay to the
receiver. It is relayed between the parties. Put all three together and you have the
communication process at its most basic.
 It also refers to the thoughts, ideas, or information that you convey to your listeners.
 Verbal delivery of messages includes:
o Elements of voice (rate, volume, pitch, and quality)
o Articulation, and
o Pronunciation
 Verbal message consists of three variables:
o Content (is everything you say about something: referential or
relational) Ref- all relevant to your topic; Rel – a suggestion of
any relationship to your listeners
o Structure ( the pattern of organization you follow
o Style (how you express your ideas)

3. CHANNEL OR MEDIUM
 Is the means used to exchange or transmit the message
 The channel or medium is the language you use.
 The means through which the sender must choose an appropriate medium for
transmitting the message else the message might not be conveyed.
 It is also called channel, the medium is the means by which a message is
transmitted. Text messages, for example, are transmitted through the medium of
cell phones.

4. RECEIVER OR LISTENER
 a person for whom the message is intended, aimed or targeted
 The degree to which the decoder understands the message is dependent upon various
factors such as: knowledge of recipient, their responsiveness to the message, and the
reliance of the encoder on the decoder.
 The person to whom a message is directed is called the receiver or the interpreter. In
order to comprehend the information from the sender, the receiver must first be able
to receive the sender‘s information and then decode or interpret it.

5. FEEDBACK
 Is the main component of the communication process as it permits the sender to
analyze the efficacy of the message?
 It helps the sender in confirming the correct interpretation of message by the decoder.
 Feedback maybe verbal or non-verbal.
 The communication process reaches its final point when the message has been
successfully transmitted, received, and understood.

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 The receiver, in turn, responds to the sender, indicating comprehension. Feedback
may be direct, such as written or verbal response, or it may take the form of an act or
deed in response.
 The communication process is not always simple or smooth, of course. Two other
elements may affect how the message is transmitted, received, and interpreted.

6. NOISE
 This can be any sort of interference that affects the message being sent, received, or
understood. It can be as literal as static over a phone line or esoteric as
misinterpreting a local custom.

7. SITUATION or CONTEXT
 It refers to the time and place in which communication occurs
 This is the setting and situation in which communication takes place. Like noise,
context can have an impact of the successful exchange of information. It may have a
physical, social, or cultural aspect to it.

THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS

The goal of communication is to convey information—and the understanding of that

information—from one person or group to another person or group. This communication
process is divided into three basic components: A sender transmits a message through a
channel to the receiver. (Figure shows a more elaborate model.) The sender first develops an
idea, which is composed into a message and then transmitted to the other party, who
interprets the message and receives meaning. Information theorists have added somewhat
more complicated language. Developing a message is known as encoding. Interpreting the
message is referred to as decoding.

The other important feature is the feedback cycle. When two people interact,
communication is rarely one‐way only. When a person receives a message, she responds to it
by giving a reply. The feedback cycle is the same as the sender‐receiver feedback noted in
Figure 1. Otherwise, the sender can't know whether the other parties properly interpreted the
message or how they reacted to it. Feedback is especially significant in management because
a supervisor has to know how subordinates respond to directives and plans. The manager also
needs to know how work is progressing and how employees feel about the general work
situation.

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The critical factor in measuring the effectiveness of communication is common
understanding. Understanding exists when all parties involved have a mutual agreement as to
not only the information, but also the meaning of the information. Effective communication,
therefore, occurs when the intended message of the sender and the interpreted message of the
receiver are one and the same. Although this should be the goal in any communication, it is
not always achieved.

The most efficient communication occurs at a minimum cost in terms of resources

expended. Time, in particular, is an important resource in the communication process. For
example, it would be virtually impossible for an instructor to take the time to communicate
individually with each student in a class about every specific topic covered. Even if it were
possible, it would be costly. This is why managers often leave voice mail messages and
interact by e‐mail rather than visit their subordinates personally.

However, efficient time‐saving communications are not always effective. A low‐cost

approach such as an e‐mail note to a distribution list may save time, but it does not always
result in everyone getting the same meaning from the message. Without opportunities to ask
questions and clarify the message, erroneous interpretations are possible. In addition to a
poor choice of communication method, other barriers to effective communication include
noise and other physical distractions, language problems, and failure to recognize nonverbal
signals.

Sometimes communication is effective, but not efficient. A work team leader visiting
each team member individually to explain a new change in procedures may guarantee that
everyone truly understands the change, but this method may be very costly on the leader's
time. A team meeting would be more efficient. In these and other ways, potential tradeoffs
between effectiveness and efficiency occur. (” The Communication Process,” n.d.)

Multiple Choice Test.

1. It is the idea being transmitted by the sender to the receiver. It includes three aspects
— content, structure, and style.
a. Sender
b. Feedback
c. Message
d. Channel

2. It is the medium or vehicle through which the message is sent.

a. Channel
b. Feedback
c. Message
d. Receiver

3. It is the response or reaction given by the receiver to the sender of the message.
a. Sender
b. Receiver
c. Message
d. Feedback

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4. When does encoding take place?
a. When the receiver interprets the message
b. When the sender translates the message into a perceivable form
c. When both sender and receiver need to exchange messages
d. When the sender recognizes the communication style of the other

5. It is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals,

writing, or behavior.
a. Language
b. Communication
c. Channel
d. Message

6. Which is NOT a basic element of communication?

a. Source
b. Destination
c. Medium
d. Language

Part II. After watching the video and reading the lesson, answer the following questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBT6u0FyKnc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBT6u0FyKnc

1. Who was the sender? What was his/ her motivation or intention for participating in the
communication situation?

2. Who was the receiver? What was his/ her motivation or intention for participating in the
communication situation?

3. What was/were the sender’s message/s? How did the receiver/s interpret the message/s?

4. What was the medium used? Was it effective in conveying the message/s?

5. What was/were the feedbacks? How did the receiver/s send the feedback/s

6. Was there any noise? If yes, how did the noise affect the message/s?

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