Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

Ret. Judge Antonio C. Entienza Campus

Lesson 4

Nature of the Speech Communication Process

I. Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define speech communication.
2. Differentiate the various elements of speech communication.
3. Explain the speech communication process.

II. Learning Content:

A. Definition of Speech Communication

Speech communication is the process of sharing meaning through audible and visual codes
such as voice, facial expression, gestures, movements, posture and the like. It is a process
that includes the following elements: participants, context, messages, channels, noise, and
feedback.

B. Steps in the Communication Process

Step 1:

The communication process begins with the presence of a stimulus like an idea, a news item
or a positive or negative remark or comment that activates the sensory processes of a person
– the sender of the message.

Step 2:

The stimulus is forwarded to the brain’s nerve fibers which recognize the event and whose
perception is affected by the sender’s experience, environment and culture. The brain
identifies the stimulus and evaluates its merit – if it is constructive or destructive. As the brain
evaluates, the sender thinks.

Step 3:

The sender’s thoughts are being encoded into words or language symbols. These words
should be the same language the listener knows and understands. But if the sender perceives
that the receiver will not understand his or her language and will find it offensive, then it must
be rephrased or the words must be rearranged into a more appropriate language.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

Ret. Judge Antonio C. Entienza Campus

Step 4:

The speaker is now ready to say aloud what he or she thinks by “externalizing” thoughts
through channels (voice, touch, physical presence, bodily movement, facial expression,
gestures, and other available means).

Step 5:

The speaker speaks in proper sequence to transmit the message. Pressure waves are
created and muscles either tighten or relax which causes the hands to move.

Step 6:

The message is heard and the speaker’s gestures are seen by the receiver who acts and
senses. The visual and auditory nerves are triggered by the speaker’s voice and gestures.
The receiver evaluates the sender’s message and this evaluation will determine his or her
response.

Step 7:

The receiver decodes the received message from sound to language and encodes own
message from thoughts to words. The language that the receiver will use must be
comprehended by the sender. The receiver then becomes the sender.

Step 8:

The receiver’s response is carried by wave lengths to the first speaker.

Step 9:

The first sender receives the receiver’s response, evaluates and reacts to the message using
the same channel and the same manner of interchange. This is feedback and this goes on
until both parties feel that the purpose of communication is fulfilled.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

Ret. Judge Antonio C. Entienza Campus

C. Elements of Communication

1. Participants

Participants are the communicators who are both senders and receivers. As senders, they
encode or transform their thoughts and feelings into messages through verbal symbols
and nonverbal behavior. As receiver, they decode or process the received messages and
behavior and react to them.

2. Context

Context refers to the interrelated conditions of communication. It consists of such factors

as:

a. Physical Milieu – where the communication takes place, the time of the day, the
environmental conditions (like temperature, lighting, and noise level), distance
between or among communicators and seating arrangements.

b. Social Milieu – the nature of relationships existing between or among the

communicators (what and how messages are formed, shared, and understood would
depend on whether the interaction takes place among family members, friends, work
associates and strangers).

c. Psychological Milieu – communicators’ moods and feelings (the same joke that
amuses you when in a bantering mood makes you explode angrily when in a hostile
mood).

d. Cultural Milieu – beliefs, values, and norms shared by a large group of people
(interaction is very much easier with someone of your own race and with one who has
adopted to and imbibed your culture).

e. Historical Milieu – the background provided by previous communication incidents

between or among the communicators and which affects understandings in the current
exchange.

3. Messages

Messages are meanings or ideas and feelings that are encoded and sent by means of
verbal and nonverbal symbols then received and decoded into one’s own ideas and
feelings. The meanings exist in the communicator’s mind and cannot be transferred
magically to the listener without forming messages using both verbal and nonverbal
symbols. Communicators do not normally think consciously about the encoding and
decoding processes, except when they have difficulty in communicating. For instance, if
you see puzzled looks while you are speaking, you consciously go through the encoding
process to select utterances that better express your meaning; likewise, if you have to
figure out the meaning of an utterance while you are listening, you become aware of the
decoding process.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

Ret. Judge Antonio C. Entienza Campus

4. Channels

Channels are means of accessing the messages whether via visual channel (which refers
to light – the light waves that carry the nonverbal symbols such as facial expressions,
gestures, movements) or via the auditory channel (which refers to sound – the sound
waves carry the verbal symbols such as words and vocal cues like tone, rate, pitch,
volume).

5. Noise

Noise means distractions that interfere with the accurate transmission and reception of a
message. These obstructions can be any or all of the following:

a. External Noise – sights, sounds, and any other distractions in the environment like the
passing of an attractive man or woman, nonstop catcalls, or cigarette smoke in a
crowded room.

b. Internal Noise – distractions within the communicator such as physiological or

biological noise like hearing loss or illness and psychological noise like daydreaming
or worrying.

c. Semantic Noise – unintentional meanings caused by certain symbols, ethnic slurs,

profanity, and vulgar speech like “his woman” where “woman” is misinterpreted as
mistress.

6. Feedback

Feedback signifies verbal and/or nonverbal responses to messages like murmuring or

asides, nods, and/or facial expressions. Through feedback, the sender will know whether
and how his/her message is heard, seen, and understood. If the verbal or nonverbal
response indicates that the message is not understood, the sender finds another way of
encoding the message. The re-encoded message is also a feedback because it gives
meaning to the receiver’s response.

III. Activity

Please refer to the activity indicated in your Google Classroom under this lesson.