Overview

All of us are constantly in a state of giving and receiving communications. Problems

arise when one does not receive, or understand, the message sent in the
communication as it was intended, or when one subconsciously sends a nonverbal
message that contradicts the spoken word. This module attempts to help students
understand the importance of good communications skills at school and at work. It
will focus on (1) the understanding of communication and its components, (2) the
process and elements of communication, (3) the principles behind it, and (4) ethics
of communication.

Module Objectives:

After a successful completion of this module, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the nature, components, process, principles and ethics of

communication in various multicultural contexts.

2. Understand the importance of good communication skills

3. Understand how nonverbal communication skills affect their overall

communications in the classroom and at work

4. Use effective listening techniques

5. Use proper oral communication skills

Course Materials:

1. Module 1 – Communication Skills

2. Overhead projector as needed

3. Audio and/ or videos clips of various media (e.g., TV commercials, movies,

newscasts, etc.)

4. Texts from newspapers, magazines, journals

 Module 1 Introduction to Communication

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the learning engagements, students 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
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 ongoing.

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 communication 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).

NATURE, DEFINITION, AND COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

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.

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).

Types of Communication according to Mode

A message may be imparted 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.
B. 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.
C. VERBAL COMMUNICATION: ORAL- ADVANTAGES

 It brings quick feedback.

 In a face-to-face conversation, by reading facial expression and body language
one can guess whether he/she should trust what‘s being said or not.
 It saves time in communication.
 It is quick in obtaining feedback once delivered.
 It provides a complete understanding of communication delivered and there is
chance to make it clearer in case of doubts in interpretation of words or ideas.
 It is more reliable method of communication.
 It is flexible and effective for all.
 It is powerful means of persuasion and control.
 It is cheaper way of communication and hence saves money. Verbal
Communication: Oral- Disadvantages
 It has issues when communicating with distant people.
 It is difficult for certain people to understand speech due to various speech
tones used in verbal communication.
 This form of communication is not suitable for lengthy message.
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. Verbal Communication: Written- Advantages
 Messages can be edited and revised
 Written communication provides record and backup.
 A written communication enables receiver to fully understand it and send
appropriate feedback
 Easy to preserve: The documents of written communication are easy to preserve.
Oral and non-verbal communication cannot be preserved. If it is needed, important
information can be collected from the preserved documents.
 Easy presentation of complex matter: Written communication is the best way to
represent any complex matter easily and attractively.
 Permanent record: The documents of written communication act as a permanent
record. When it is needed, important information can be easily collected from the
preserved documents.
 Prevention of wastage of time and money: Written communication prevents the
waste of money and time. Without meeting with each other the communicator and
communicate can exchange their views.
 Accurate presentation: Through the documents of the written communication top
executive can present the information more accurately and clearly. As it is a legal
document everybody takes much care does draft it.
 Use as a reference: If it is needed, written communication can be used as future
reference.
 Delegation of authority: Written communication can help the authority to delegate
the power and authority to the subordinate. It is quite impossible to delegate power
without a written document.
 Longevity: Written document can be preserved for a long time easily. That is why;
all the important issues of an organization should be back and white.
 Effective communication: Written communication helps to make communication
effective. It is more dependable and effective than those of other forms of
communication.
 Cost in record keeping: It is very difficult and expensive to keep all the records in
written communication.
 Complex words: Sometimes the writer uses complex words in writing a message.
It becomes difficult to meaning out to the reader. So the objectives of the
communication may lose.
 Lack of direct relation: If there is no direct relation between the writer and the
reader, writer communication cannot help to establish a direct relation between
them.  Other: Prompt feedback is impossible, Slowness, Bureaucratic attitude,
Understanding problem between boos and subordinates, lack in quick clarification
and correction, formality problem, lack of personal intimacy, etc.
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

Types of Communication according to Context

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).

You read on your phone that your friends are going to have dinner at your favorite restaurant. What
comes to mind? Sights, sounds, and scents? Something special that happened the last time you
were there? Do you contemplate joining them? Do you start to work out a plan of getting from your
present location to the restaurant? Do you send your friends a text asking if they want company?
Until the moment when you hit the ―send button, you are communicating with yourself.

 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