Communication
The exchange of ideas, information, etc. between
two or more persons. In an act of communication
there is usually at least a speaker or sender, a
message which is transmitted, and a person or
persons for whom this message is intended (the
receiver).
Communication
The process that occurs when ideas, information
and feelings are conveyed between individuals or
groups of individuals for deliberate purposes.
(Buguley 1994)
Communication
A process of transmitting and receiving verbal or
non-verbal messages that produces a response
(Murphy and Hildebrandt 1991)
Components of the Communication Process
Source/sender is the person who initiates the
message
Message is the information transmitted
* verbal and non-verbal
Channel is medium through which messages
reaches the receiver (auditory, visual, etc)
Receiver is the person to whom the message is
targeted/addressed
What are the factors influencing
communication?
The factors influencing communication are the
individual’s perception of the environment;
the cultural context of the interaction;
the individual’s definition of acceptable space and
distance, or personal space;
and the amount of time available for the
communication.
These factors interact with the components of the
communication process (sender, message,
channel, and receiver).
What are the modes of communication?
The modes of communication are both verbal and
nonverbal.
Verbal communication includes messages sent with
words / language. Verbal communication can be
spoken or written.
Nonverbal communication includes messages sent
through body language, such as posture, gestures,
touch, facial expressions, and physical appearance.
Verbal /Nonverbal communication
A great deal of information is
exchanged through nonverbal
channels
Ex: a clenched jaw, narrowed eyes, or slumped posture can
be interpreted as conveying anger, distrust, or disinterest.
Steady eye contact, a tilted head, and a reassuring smile
can demonstrate interest and empathy.
Body language
• The human body signals identity (gender, race,
ethnicity, age, occupation, social class, personality,
and more )
• Space, gaze, and touch signal approach or
avoidance
• Facial expressions communicate emotions
(consciouosly or unconciously)
• Gestures accompany and substitute speech
• Voice conveys the nonverbal elements of speech
(pitch, speech rate, pronunciation, volume)
Roman Jakobson’s model of verbal communication
In 1950 Roman Jakobson (Russian linguist )
introduced a theory concerning the purposes of
the language used in human communication.
This model of communication functions consists
of two layers of description:
• the various elements of language use
(factors/components of verbal communication)
• what humans do with the language when they
use it (functions of verbal communication).
Jakobson’s Language Functions
Factors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Functions
expressive /emotive
Sender
Receiver
Message
Context
Channel
Code
directive / conative
poetic
informative / referential
phatic
metalingual
Examples
• I’m terribly sorry to interrupt,
but if you would be so kind as
to lower your voices a little.
(emotive / expressive function focus on the
sender)
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
• Will you belt up!
(conative / directive function  focus on the
receiver)
• It was a burning hot day; the
air was stifling; one could
hardly breathe even near the
sea.
(informative / referential funtion  focus on
the content)
• It was a beautiful warm day;
the air was like velvet; the sea
air was invigorating.
(poetic function  focus on the message)
• Nice weather today!
(phatic funtion  focus on the
contact/channel)
Model for textual analysis
• 1. Informative/referential function
• Focus on content: explanation, definition, description
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
• Expressive / emotive function
• Focus on sender’s attitude to topic: positive,
negative, ironical, sentimental etc.
• Focus on sender’s attitude to receiver: equal,
authority, personal, impersonal, solidarity etc.
• As reflected in choice of words, sentence
structure etc.
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
• Directive /conative function
– Focus on receiver:
• Explicit – order, request, demand, warning,
advice etc.
• Implicit – through expressive means changing
people’s mind
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
• Phatic function
– Focus on the ’channel’ between sender and
receiver for the purpose of inviting or maintaining
communication
• Reflected in use of pronouns, rhetorical
expressions
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
• Poetic function
– Focus on the form of the message
• Reflected in: imagery such as metaphor, simile,
puns, allegory, assonance, etc.
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
• Metalingual function
– Focus on language itself (the code). Language
turned back on itself, language about language:
• Reflected in terminology of linguistics:
adjective, pronoun, sentence, etc. – and
questions like ’What do you mean when you
say…..?’
From Introduction to Textual Analysis, Lone Albrecht English Dept. ASB
http://www.sprog.asb.dk/la/
Links:
Roman Jakobson:
http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/hopkins_guide_to_literary_theory/roma
n_jakobson.html