Chapter 1: The Nature and Process of Communication
Communication Defined and Explained

Communication:
o
A process that involves the exchange and development of ideas to achieve a
particular goal or purpose.
o
Refers to the transmission of information (a "message") between a source and a
receiver using a signaling system.
o
A process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one person to
another within and across channels, contexts, media, and cultures.
o
Etymologically traced to the Latin term "communicare," meaning "to share" or
"to be in relation with," suggesting it's an act that brings people together and
establishes relationships.
o
Also linked to the Latin noun "communicatio," meaning "sharing" or "imparting,"
involving an exchange or transaction of goods.
o
May be understood as both a common experience and a product transaction.
Defining Communication (Characteristics):
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Process: Continuous and constantly changing.
o
Systematic: Influenced by systems like family, where language patterns are
transmitted.
o
Involves communicators: Not just a speaker and a listener; listeners use facial
expressions, gestures, or eye contact to convey messages.
o
Irreversible: Impossible to take back what one has said.
o
Proactive: After receiving information, communicators can actively evaluate
content, purpose, and credibility of the speaker.
o
Symbolic: Symbols convey meaning and information, just as verbal
communication does.
o
Meaning is individually construed: The same context can have different
meanings to different individuals.
Different Ways of Understanding Communication:
o
Synonymous to behavior: All observable acts (speech, bodily gestures) are
considered communication, and communication affects human behavior.
o
Flow of information: Sender expresses thoughts/feelings, and the receiver
interprets and comprehends them; humans exchange ideas to understand one
another.
o
Synonymous to interaction: Emphasizes social contact among humans, regarded
as an instrument of connectivity.
Communication Process

Process of Communication:
1. Generating the idea.
2. Encoding of ideas: Converting ideas into words or thoughts.
3. Transmitting the message.
4. Receiver provides feedback: Necessary to verify transmitted information.
5. Receiver interprets the message.
6. Receiver gets the message.
The process is continuous; communication never stops as long as there's a message to convey.

Elements of Communication:
o
Sender: The person who initiates the process, delivers or transmits ideas to the
receiver by converting thoughts into symbols (words), known as codification,
usually through language.
o
Receiver: The person who hears the signals and converts symbols into thoughts,
a process called decoding, deciphering, or interpreting. Symbols must be heard
correctly and have the same meaning for both sender and receiver.
o
Message: The idea encoded by the sender, entailing both the content/ideas the
speaker wishes to transmit and the formulation/structure of those ideas.
Messages are the results of interpreting symbols when meaning is derived from
observable signals.
o
Channels: The medium through which the message is delivered (oral, written,
nonverbal). The air around sender/receiver is typically the channel; devices like
microphones become part of it. Channel quality depends on freedom from noise.
o
Noise: Anything that reduces the quality of the signal sent by the sender through
the channel, weakening communication.
o
Feedback: The response to the message, confirming correct interpretation and
validating effective communication. It enables the sender to adjust signals (e.g.,
pronunciation, volume) or correct ideas.
9 C’s to Effective Oral Communication:
o
Clarity: The state or measure of being clear, emphasizing a specific message or
goal at a time. It makes understanding easier, enhances meaning, and uses
exact, appropriate, and concrete words.
o
Confidence: The feeling of certainty and self-assurance, believing one can
successfully handle a situation. It is developed and forms the framework of
effective oral communication.
o
Correctness of Grammar: Implies no grammatical errors in communication. A
correct message is exact, accurate, well-timed, boosts confidence, has greater
impact, checks precision of facts, and uses appropriate language.
o
Conciseness: The property of being exact or succinct, conveying messages in the
fewest possible words. It is time-saving, cost-saving, highlights the main
message, provides essential information, and is appealing/comprehensible.
o
Coherence: Logically organized and consistent; ideas are well-defined and
arranged according to a definite plan to achieve unity of purpose.
o
Contact: Establishing a connection with the person one is talking to in every
communication process.
o
Composure: Not explicitly defined in the provided snippets, but listed as one of
the 9 C's.
o
Controlled Voice: Not explicitly defined in the provided snippets, but listed as
one of the 9 C's.
o
Credibility: Not explicitly defined in the provided snippets, but listed as one of
the 9 C's.
Communication Models
o
Linear Model: Communication is seen as a one-way process. The speaker
transmits thoughts and views without immediate feedback from participants,
unless a Q&A session is provided.
o
Examples include information from magazines, newspapers, or books where
there is no direct relationship between sender and recipient.
Laswell’s Model:
The linear models suggest that information flows sequentially during the communication
process. From Laswell’s perspective, communication is a one-way process in which only the
communicator is the active participant. The recipient meanwhile processes the information but
does not reciprocate the messages.
Shannon and Weaver's Model:
Resembles telephone message transmission, with "Information Source" and "Destination"
representing humans, and "Transmitter" and "Receiver" representing devices (electronic
signals, radio waves, gestures).
Introduces the idea of noise, which are secondary signals that hinder message transmission.
Interactive Model:
o

Explains communication as a dynamic exchange, contrasting with linear models'
one-way view.
Transactional Model:
o
Communication is ongoing and continuously changing.
o
Each element exists in relation to others (no source without a receiver, no
messages without a source).
o
Individual background experiences, attitudes, cultural beliefs, self-esteem, and
other related factors play important roles.


Gatekeeper Model:
o
Represents mass communication, where an audience receives information from
media (intermediaries).
o
Key players in mass media control what is disseminated to the public, acting as
"gatekeepers" who influence what the audience knows.
o
Example: MTRCB reviews and classifies films and TV programs to protect the
public's interests.
Ecological Model (Foulger, 2004):
o
The most complex model, expanding on the role of mass media and the
individuals/groups ("Creators") controlling them.
o
Considers messages embedded in language, which is subsumed within the
context of media.
o
Features productive roles ("creative," "interpret") and receptive roles
("observe," "learn") for "Creators" and "Consumers".
o
"Ecology" refers to the environment where people interact using a commonly
understood language.
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Intercultural means relating or in between cultures. It describes communities in which there is a
deep understanding and respect for all cultures.
refers to the situated communication among persons of different cultural and linguistic
background. In the 21st century,
According to Ting-Toomey in 1999, Intercultural Communication happens when individuals
interact, negotiate and create meanings while bringing in the varied cultural background. The
term “intercultural communication” represents broad ideas that are difficult to express in just
one way. Thus we present several working definitions as starting points for exploring this topic:
 Intercultural communication refers to the communication between people from two different
cultures. (Chen & Starosta, 1998:28)  Intercultural communication is a symbolic, interpretive,
transactional, contextual process, in which people from different cultures create shared
meanings. (Lustig & Koester, 2007:46)  Intercultural communication refers to the effects on
communication behavior, when different cultures interact together. Hence, one way of viewing
intercultural communication is as communication that unfolds in symbolic intercultural spaces.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
1. Speaker is able to send the message clearly, while;
2. The listener receives it as what or how it was really intended to be.
Three Main Issues of Intercultural Communication
1. Knowledge
If we are unaware of the customs and values of a certain culture, we may fail to communicate
properly with individuals who practice that culture. In order to interact well with persons from
foreign countries, we need to be aware of their cultures. We could conduct research on the
culture of people from other races so that we shall know how to deal with them accordingly. 21
2. Skills Having
attained cultural knowledge, we can perform actions appropriate to one’s specific norms, on a
concrete level, we can express our ideas in a respectful manner, using grammatical competence
in the foreign language, as well as the use of nonverbal cues and other communicative
strategies unique to the foreign culture.
3. Attitudes From an effective standpoint
we also need to show a tolerant disposition towards people of different culture. If we harbor
biases or prejudices, we shall not be able to communicate properly. However, if we adopt a
respectful attitude towards any culture, we shall be able to interact with any individual without
any difficulty.
How to Conduct Intercultural Communication Properly
1. Be conscious of your own culture.
The first step towards respecting other cultures is to appreciate your own customs, traditions,
values, and practices. Feel the pride of showing others our good culture and traditions.
2. Be open-minded towards other cultures.
If we are appreciative of our own culture, we can understand better that other people behave
the way they do because they are also influenced by their own customs and norms. Thus, we
can adopt an attitude of tolerance and respect.
3. Immerse yourself in the practices of other cultures.
Having developed an open-minded approach to other cultures, we can start to learn their
customs and traditions. Get the feel of it. Learn the intricacies of their language and then try to
understand their nonverbal cues and other communicative strategies.
Types of Communication
1. INTRAPERSONAL – this type of communication involves talking to yourself. It may involve
deliberation, where you think about your decisions or the possible course of actions you may
take.
2. INTERPERSONAL – this type involves talking to one or a limited number of people. This
requires the speaker to adjust the speech to suit the character and the personality of the
person or the people he or she talks to.
3. PUBLIC – this type of communication involves communicating to wide group of people with
very varied traits, background, interests, and persuasions.
4. INTERCULTURAL – This type involves communicating with a person or group of people who
may not share the same assumptions, values as those of yours and may have different
associations with the symbols you take for granted as having a particular meaning.
This type may require the groups of people involved to speak in a language of wider
communication usually called as “lingua franca.”
USE OF VERBAL AND NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication is the use of words to convey a message. Some forms of verbal
communication are written and oral communication.
The Verbal Communication is a type of oral communication wherein the message is transmitted
through the spoken words.
Nonverbal communication we use/employ sounds and languages to deliver our message. This
kind of communication is conducted orally – spoken discourse.
Benefits of Effective Nonverbal Communication
There are several ways nonverbal communication can support your ability to communicate
effectively in the workplace, including:
 It supports your message. When having a conversation, participating in a meeting or
engaging in conversation, nonverbal cues can emphasize and underscore the content of your
message.
 It communicates messages. You may also use only nonverbal communication to
communicate with others
 It shows intention. Your body language may also intentionally or unintentionally express your
current condition.
 It conveys feelings. You can also use nonverbal communication to show your feelings, such as
disappointment, relief, happiness, contentment and more.
 It offers support. Nonverbal cues are also a great way to show support. Whether it's a simple
smile or pat on the back, actions may speak louder than words in many cases.
 It showcases your personality. Nonverbal communication is a great way to show who you
are.
 It indicates a desired action. This might include inching toward a door to indicate your desire
to leave the room, raising your hand to offer an idea or putting your hand out to meet someone
new.
 It deescalates tension. Using a calm tone of voice, open body language and directive gestures
may help to resolve a difficult situation.
SPEECH MECHANICS FOR EFFECTIVE VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal Communication Skill: when we use verbal communication, we employ sounds and
language to deliver ours message. This kind of communication is conducted orally— that is,
through spoken discourse.
The following speech mechanics are required for effective verbal communication:
1. Volume- this refers to the loudness of your voice. You can modify your voice to make it loud
or soft.
2. Enunciation and pronunciation – In here, enunciation refers to the proper pronunciation of
the sounds on a word or the blending of sounds to produce a word.
3. Pitch – refers to the frequency of your voice. You can modify your voice to make it high or
low.
4. Stress – this refers to emphasis on a certain word. You can stress an important word by
varying the volume or the pitch of your voice.
5. Phrasing- this refers to how you group the words in a sentence. You can set apart words by
pausing at certain points.
6. Speed- this refers to how quickly you speak. You can modify your voice to make your speech
go fast or slow.
7. Blending and Reduction- this is the process by which the speaker produces meaningful
sounds and words by squeezing out sounds or syllables from words to become more pleasant
sounding.
8. Quality of Voice – this one refers to the overall and natural characteristics of a person’s
voice.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
When we use nonverbal communication, we employ communication strategies other than the
spoken word. Our nonverbal cues are just as crucial in conveying our message as our oral
communication skills.
Nonverbal communication strategies include the following:
1. Eye Contact - by looking at the listeners as we speak, we can engage them in the
communicative process taking place.
2. Facial Expressions- adjusting the eyebrows, lips, and other facial features can help convey
the emotions in our message.
3. Head movements and body movements- We can turn our head and move our arms, hands,
legs, and feet to emphasize certain points.
4. Posture- In general, we should stand upright to attain a level of dignity or formality as we
speak.
5. Proximity- in public speaking situations, we can walk from one side to another so that we can
reach out to our audience on both the right side and the left side.
6. Objectics- this refers to the use of objects or things to convey a thought or idea.
7. Personal appearance- our clothing will be determined by the formality that the
communicative situation demands.