GE 101 - First Topic

Purposive

Communication
Using English in Multilingual Contexts
Language and
Communication
UNIT 1
What is language?
THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE
Language
Together with the creation of
human life is the creation of a
wonderful and dynamic human
capacity – language. Animals are
said to be able to communicate
with each other.
Whales sing, wolves howl, dogs
bark, and birds chirp. The sound
these creatures often reflect the
state of their emotions. While it
may be true that animals
communicate, only human beings
are truly capable of producing
language.
What exactly is language?
Linguists agree that a language can
only be called a language if it has a
system of rules ( also known as
grammar), a sound system (
phonology), and a vocabulary (
lexicon). These are the requirements
for identifying a means of
communication as language.
A monkey may be able to signal
to its partner that it is sharing
food. The monkey will produce
sounds and gestures, but will not
be able to organize the sounds
into a meaningful system with
rules.
What the monkey is
producing is not a language
in the strictest sense of the
word. Human beings, on
the other hand, are able to
communicate their desire to
share food through several
ways that are understandable
to other human beings. They
may utter a word (Food!), raise
a question ( Want some
food?), or give a statement (I’d
like to share this food with
you).
When people use language,
they can understand each
other because they belong to
the same speech community.
They can understand each
other because in their speech
community, people share the
same set of rules in the
language system. While
growing up, people acquire the
languages used by those in the
community. This the process
of language acquisition.
The languages acquired while
growing up are known as
mother tongues, which may
also be referred to as first
languages. People discover
later on that other languages
are needed for various
reasons.
These other languages may be
referred to as second
languages. People learn these
languages by studying formally
in school or informally on
their own. This is the process
of language learning.
What happens if people visit
another speech community
that is different from their
own? Americans and British
speak English. However, they
spell English words
differently. They pronounce
words differently.
They have different ways of
expressing the same concepts. It
can be said that the Americans
and the British belong to two
speech communities which do
not have exactly the same set of
rules for their languages.
This is why there are differences
in their languages. The opening
activity on the previous page
illustrates this reality.
What happens if you, for
example, who speaks a mother
tongue and English,
go to work in China where the
residents speak Putonghua
(Mandarin) and a little bit of
English? Will you be able to
communicate with Chinese?
The answer is yes.
Though it will be a
challenge for you and your
Chinese friends to try to
understand each other,
eventually you will be able to
communicate as you slowly
learn each other’s languages.
What is happening here is called
language contact. The result of such
contact may be a new form of
language. It is possible that in your
attempt to communicate with each
other, you and your Chinese friend
will produce a new language form
that is understandable to both of
you.
Your own languages may
also change as you
constantly interact and
communicate with each
other. Thus, language
change is the result of
language contact.
Language is indeed a complex
human capacity. It is, therefore,
important to be aware of its
features and behavior to be able
to use language more effectively
and productively in
communicating with others.
Comprehension Questions
1. Can animals communicate?

2. Can monkeys produce language?

3. What is the difference between language

acquisition and language learning?
4. What is the difference between first languages
and second languages?
5. What happens after a language comes into
contact with another?
With the information
provided in your Language
Bio data Form, write your
Language Biography, which is
a paragraph that tells the story
of your languages.
Let’s learn more!
Read the following statements
carefully. Decide if the statement
is true or false. If the statement is
false, revise it and tell us the
correct answer.
1. Not all languages have a grammar system.
2. Change happens to all languages.
3. The first language that a child acquires is
called mother tongue.
4. All living creatures have the capacity for
language.
5. Two persons who do not speak the same
language will never be able to
communicate with each other.
Synthesis
1. Language is a human capacity that consists
of (a) a system of rules (also known as
grammar), (b) a sound system (phonology),
and (c) a vocabulary (lexicon).
2. While growing up in a community, people
acquire the languages used by those in the
community. This is the process of
language acquisition.
3. The languages acquired while
growing up are known as mother
tongues, which may also be
referred to as first language.
4. Other than the first languages,
there are other languages that are
needed for various reasons. These
other languages are referred to as
second languages.
5. People learn their second languages
in school or on their own. This is the
process of language learning.
6. In our interaction with other people,
our languages come into contact with
their languages, resulting in language
change. Language change is a natural
behavior of all languages.
Communication
Process of
Words to Inspire
communication
Types of Communication
The art of communication is the language of
leadership
- James Humes
What is communication?
Depending on what is being
considered, communication as
a term takes on different
contexts resulting in people
having different views on
communication types.
Since communication is
generally defined as the
exchange of thoughts, ideas,
concepts, and views between
or among two or more people,
various contexts come into
play.
Contexts is the circumstances
or environment in which
communication takes place.
Such circumstance may
include the physical or actual
setting, the value positions of a
speaker/ listener,
and the relevance or
appropriateness of a message
conveyed. It focuses on certain
communication processes and
even groupings of people that
constitute a communication
situation.
Different contexts can impact
one’s communication. Each
communication types is
governed by a particular
circumstance. Thus, it is
essential to pay attention to the
interplay of factors surrounding
the context of
communication which may be
physical, cultural, social, and
psychological in nature.
Communication may then be
classified according to: (1)
communication mode, (2)
contexts, and (3) purpose and
style.
Types of communication according
to mode
A message may be conveyed via
these types: verbal – non- verbal
and visual. Though
communication is often thought of
as verbal, the non- verbal mode is
equally essential as it enhances
one’s message
VERBAL – NON – VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Effective communication
calls for the blending of
these two types. One
cannot separated from the
other. For instance, door-
to-door salespersons who
demonstrate product knowledge
can only be effective if they know
how to properly punctuate what
they say with proper gestures and
facial expressions. Their
communication with the
customer begins upon greeting
him/her with a welcoming
Smile then assessing customer needs
and answering customer queries
enhanced by gestures and a friendly,
happy, and pleasant disposition. It is
only through this mode that sales
people with excellent communication
skills are able to provide the best
information needed, thereby
convincing the client to patronize their
products.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Visual communication, on
the other hand, is the type
of communication that
uses visual to convey
information and/ or
messages.
Some examples are signs,
symbols, imagery, maps,
graphs, charts, diagrams,
pictograms, photos, drawing,
or illustrations, and even
various forms of electronic
communication.
Some examples of electronic
communication symbols or images
are the emojis, emoticons, and
animation among others to convey
the writer’s emotions or clarify the
intent of the message sender.
These are achieved through digital
mode or texts.
How these symbols are
interpreted is very crucial in
visual communication.
There are some instances
when visual communication is
classified under non- verbal
communication.
Whatever the classification is, note
that this type has now become
persuasive in communication. It is
then important that the receiver of
the message is able to decode the
meaning correctly by
contextualizing the information
received.
Visual communication now
occupies an important place
in any work environment. For
instance, during presentation,
instructors, managers,
doctors, lawyers, legislators,
and the like use visuals to
transfer data into digestible
information. Very likely, they
will have greater success in
catching the attention of the
audience, making the latter
easily recall the information.
What makes visual
communication even more
advantageous is that it makes
use of technology that provides
apps (applications), videos, and
images that rely less on the
printed word making
presentations more interesting.
This leaves a powerful effect on
the audience and prospective
clients. Speakers/ presenters,
should, however, be mindful of
the content of their
presentation since wrong and
irrelevant
information may lead to
miscommunication or
communication breakdown,
thereby defeating the very
purpose for the use of visuals.
Likewise, they should pay
attention to graphic elements,
such as position, color,
size, shape, and orientation as
all these play an important
role in the preparation of
slides. Audience size should be
considered as well when
preparing slide presentations
or other form of visuals.
TO be continue…
Learning never STOPS, it may experience interruptions but never
STOPS

GE 101 - First Topic

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Purposive

2. Can monkeys produce language?

3. What is the difference between language

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