MODULE 2

COMMUNICATION: PRINCIPLES, ELEMENTS, CATEGORIES, AND ETHICS

Learning Outcomes

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

1. define an effective communication;
2. identify the principles, elements, categories and ethics of communication in
various and multicultural contexts; and
5. write the benefits of communicating effectively various contexts both in
spoken and written forms.

Introduction

This module aims to increase your understanding of the importance of

communication in various multicultural context while building better relationship with
others through effective communication. You are expected to differentiate the kind of
conversation which best suits specific interaction. Also, you will be informed of some
principles and ethics that help you to express your ideas confidently and professionally.
The various models of communication which will be presented in the class will help you
devise strategies to share your ideas.

Communication has taken an integral part of your life at home, in school setting,
and in your work environment. You have first learned to interact with your family
members, then later with your friends, playmates, neighbors, and it became wider when
you entered school, and later on when you will move into the workplace. In all areas of
your life, communication becomes a part and parcel of human life. Communication was
easily acquired within the family setup, however, as you engage in more serious and
critical relationship, effective communication would have been more than what you
should try to acquire. This doesn’t only mean to be able to get across your ideas and
the ability to listen, but also to be able to engage with other people to solve problems
and to present your ideas clearly in a formal and business setting. Listening to yourself
and to others would develop you to have good communication. Being able to reflect
what best applies and what problem encounters will surely help you along the way. The
end result is your growth which will surely open new opportunities for you in the future.
Isn’t it that in almost all job advertisements, good communication skill is what employers
ask for in a position? If you want to have a stable job, effective communication should
then be practiced at all times and be prepared to use it in all your engagements whether
you are at home, at school or at any given situation.

Each part of this module will contribute to help you give the necessary skills, the
confidence, and the preparation to use communication in advancing in advancing your
career. And as a mastery of the course content, you should be able to turn in activities
required by this module be it individual, triad/dyad, or group activities.

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 This lesson is to be conducted for one meeting and all activities such as
individual, triad, or collaborative works will be answered within the specified time frame,
and all written output are to be uploaded in the google classroom created for your class.
Online linkages, graphic organizers, video lessons are uploaded online, and they are
available for your perusal.

Lesson – COMMUNICATION: PRINCIPLES, ELEMENTS, CATEGORIES and ETHICS

Communication uses words both in oral and written form to express your ideas
that may seem to be so simple. However, you should also look at the complexity of the
communication process in sharing and understanding of ideas which may or may not be
successful because of the communication principles and ethical standards you have
applied. Knowing the myriad of ways to communicate with others would be as
significant as knowing the elements involved during the process because it can make
you become a good communicator otherwise lack of knowledge of them would result to
problems and later on to undesirable results.
Access the video/podcast lesson of the topic through the links provided. Study
the presentation of communication, its communication/elements(Communication1),
interference/principles(Communication2), verbal and nonverbal comm., and
ethics(Communication3)., categories(Categories of Comm.mp3).

(Note: All the these topics will be sent to your google classroom.)

* Note: All written output in the Activities, Reflection and Assignment are to be
uploaded in your google classroom. Date and time are strictly followed to receive
a grade equivalent to your output otherwise late submission or non-submission of
these work output would mean a failing mark. The following are the specifications of
your paper:

8.5” x 11” size/paper size

Single spaced; justified
Times New Roman/Arial
12 font size
justified

Activity 1 (For Speaking)

A. What is the important takeaway that you learned from the video?
B. What are the common communication problems that arise in the school, in
the workplace, and in the family? How can we remediate these problems?

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 C. If you are to rate the importance of communication principles which of them
should be the most important? Why? And which is the least important to
consider? Why?
D. In our present society, which of these ethical principles is oftentimes
violated? In what way?

Activity 2 (For Writing)

Identify the barriers (minimum of five) that you would likely to encounter in
your academic communication situation (in bullet form). In your opinion, how
would you deal with each of the barriers you have identified? (Dyad/Triad work –
10pts)

Assessment

Assessment is carried out in two parts:

The first part is examined through a combination of individual, dyad/triad

works. The second part is evaluated through a written work assignment.

Reflection
Human communication entails a lot of problems and difficulties. The
assurance that your knowledge of the different principles and ethics to communicate
will make you adapt to a given situation. As you try to be either the sender or the
receiver does not make a big difference but what at stake is the chance to solve
those barriers that may be encountered during the process of communication. After
studying all the topics in this module try to reflect on this question:

Why do you think communication is relevant to you as an IT student?

It is really a great job for you to learn all these topics and to accomplish the written
activities in this module. Just the thought that you can now add those skills you
learned today to become good communicator in the future will make a positive
impact in your future career. Well done!!!

Assignment

1. Persuasive Essay (Answer to be uploaded in your Google classroom)

Write a persuasive essay discussing the need to develop effective

communication. Be able to give the
benefits of effective communication to a person at home, in the school, in the
workplace and in the community. End your essay with a call to action.

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 Please be mindful that this is a subjective essay so copying and the like are not
encouraged. (Refer to Classroom Policy #5 in the PPT of Week 1.)

2. Watch the video “Wiring a web for global good” uploaded in your google
classroom, and be able to take note of the ideas of the speaker on the following
information:
1. The global issues caused by miscommunication
2. His idea of a global community

References

Ethical Communication. Retrieved on Jan. 22, 2020 from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5nFsqFJnxY.

Krizan, A.C. (2014). Business Communication. Philippine Ed: Cengage Learning.

Ted. (2012, April 3). Connected but Alone by Sherly Turkle (Video). YouTube.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Xr3AsBEK4&t=2s

The Communication Process. (n.d.). Retrieved on Jan. 22, 2020 from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gSmeDUSpR0.

Wakat, G., et.al. (2018) Purposive Communication. Manila: Rex Bookstore.

What is Communication? (n.d.) Retrieved on March 10, 2021 from

https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is- communication.html.

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Categories of communication include:
● Spoken or Verbal Communication,

● Non-Verbal Communication

What is Verbal Communication?

● Verbal communication is any communication that uses words to share information

with others. It includes face-to-face, telephone, radio or television and other media.
Communication is a two-way process and it is about passing information from one person to
another.
This means that both the sending and the receiving of the message are equally important.
Verbal communication therefore requires both a speaker (or writer) to transmit the message, and
a listener (or reader) to make sense of the message.
It is important to remember that effective verbal communication cannot be fully isolated
from non-verbal communication:  your body language, tone of voice, and facial
expressions, for example.
Clarity of speech, remaining calm and focused, being polite and following some basic rules of
etiquette will all aid the process of verbal communication.
How to Open a Communication
In many interpersonal encounters, the first few minutes are extremely important. First
impressions have a significant impact on the success of further and future communication.
When you first meet someone, you form an instant impression of them, based on how they look,
sound and behave, as well as anything you may have heard about them from other people.
This first impression guides your future communications, at least to some extent.
For example, when you meet someone and hear them speak, you form a judgement about their
background, and likely level of ability and understanding. This might well change what you say.
If you hear a foreign accent, for example, you might decide that you need to use simpler
language. You might also realize that you will need to listen more carefully to ensure that you
understand what they are saying to you.
Of course, your first impression may be revised later. You should ensure that you consciously
‘update’ your thinking when you receive new information about your contact and as you get to
know them better.

Basic Verbal Communication Skills: Effective Speaking and Listening

Effective speaking involves three main areas: the words you choose, how you say them, and
how you reinforce them with other non-verbal communication.
All these affect the transmission of your message, and how it is received and understood by your
audience.
It is worth considering your choice of words carefully. You will probably need to use different
words in different situations, even when discussing the same subject. For example, what you say
to a close colleague will be very different from how you present a subject at a major conference.
How you speak includes your tone of voice and pace. Like non-verbal communication more
generally, these send important messages to your audience, for example, about your level of
interest and commitment, or whether you are nervous about their reaction.

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Improving Verbal Communication
There are a number of tools and techniques that you can use to improve the effectiveness of
your verbal communication. These include reinforcement, reflection, clarification, and
questioning.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement is the use of encouraging words alongside non-verbal gestures such as head
nods, a warm facial expression and maintaining eye contact.
All these help to build rapport and are more likely to reinforce openness in others. The use of
encouragement and positive reinforcement can:
● Encourage others to participate in discussion (particularly in group work);

● Show interest in what other people have to say;

● Pave the way for development and/or maintenance of a relationship;
● Allay fears and give reassurance;
● Show warmth and openness; and
● Reduce shyness or nervousness in ourselves and others.

Questioning
Questioning is broadly how we obtain information from others on specific topics.
Questioning is an essential way of clarifying areas that are unclear or test your understanding. It
can also enable you to explicitly seek support from others.
On a more social level, questioning is also a useful technique to start conversations, draw
someone into a conversation, or simply show interest. Effective questioning is therefore an
essential element of verbal communication.
We use two main types of question:
● Closed Questions

Closed questions tend to seek only a one or two word answer (often simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’). They
therefore limit the scope of the response. Two examples of closed questions are:
“Did you travel by car today?” and
“Did you see the football game yesterday?”
These types of question allow the questioner to remain in control of the communication. This is
often not the desired outcome when trying to encourage verbal communication, so many people
try to focus on using open questions more often. Nevertheless, closed questions can be useful for
focusing discussion and obtaining clear, concise answers when needed.
● Open Questions

Open questions demand further discussion and elaboration. They therefore broaden the scope for
response. They include, for example,
“What was the traffic like this morning?”
“What do you feel you would like to gain from this discussion?”
Open questions will take longer to answer, but they give the other person far more scope for self-
expression and encourage involvement in the conversation.

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Reflecting and Clarifying
Reflecting is the process of feeding back to another person your understanding of what has
been said.
Reflecting is a specialized skill often used within counselling, but it can also be applied to a wide
range of communication contexts and is a useful skill to learn.
Reflecting often involves paraphrasing the message communicated to you by the speaker in your
own words. You need to try to capture the essence of the facts and feelings expressed, and
communicate your understanding back to the speaker. It is a useful skill because:
● You can check that you have understood the message clearly.

● The speaker gets feedback about how the message has been received and can then clarify
or expand if they wish.
● It shows interest in, and respect for, what the other person has to say.
● You are demonstrating that you are considering the other person’s viewpoint.
Summarizing
A summary is an overview of the main points or issues raised.
Summarizing can also serve the same purpose as ‘reflecting’. However, summarizing allows
both parties to review and agree the message, and ensure that communication has been effective.
When used effectively, summaries may also serve as a guide to the next steps forward.

How to close a Communication

The way a communication is closed or ended will, at least in part, determine the way a
conversation is remembered.
People use both verbal and non-verbal signals to end a conversation.
Verbal signals may include phrases such as:
“Well, I must be going,” and
“Thank you so much, that’s really helpful.”
Non-verbal conclusions may include starting to avoid eye contact, standing up, turning away, or
behavior such as looking at a watch or closing notepads or books. These non-verbal actions
indicate to the other person that the initiator wishes to end the communication.
Closing an interaction too abruptly may not allow the other person to 'round off' what he or she is
saying so you should ensure there is time for winding-up. The closure of an interaction is a good
time to make any future arrangements. Last, but not least, this time will no doubt be
accompanied by a number of socially acceptable parting gestures.

When we talk about ‘communication’, we often mean ‘what we say’: the words that we use.
However, interpersonal communication is much more than the explicit meaning of words, and
the information or message that they convey. It also includes implicit messages, whether
intentional or not, which are expressed through non-verbal behaviors.
So, what is Non-Verbal Communication?

Nonverbal communication is the process of conveying a message without the use of words.

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Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, gestures
displayed through body language (kinesics) and the physical distance between the
communicators (proxemics).
These non-verbal signals can give clues and additional information and meaning over and above
spoken (verbal) communication. Indeed, some estimates suggest that around 70 to 80% of
communication is non-verbal!

Non-verbal communication helps people to:

● Reinforce or modify what is said in words.

For example, people may nod their heads vigorously when saying “Yes” to emphasize that they
agree with the other person. A shrug of the shoulders and a sad expression when saying “I’m
fine, thanks” may actually imply that things are not really fine at all!

● Convey information about their emotional state.

Your facial expression, your tone of voice, and your body language can often tell people exactly
how you feel, even if you have hardly said a word. Consider how often you have said to
someone,
“Are you OK? You look a bit down.”
We know how people feel from their non-verbal communication.

● Define or reinforce the relationship between people.

If you have ever watched a couple sitting talking, you may have noticed that they tend to ‘mirror’
each other’s body language. They hold their hands in similar positions, they smile at the same
time, and they turn to face each other more fully. These movements reinforce their relationship:
they build on their rapport, and help them to feel more connected.

● Provide feedback to the other person.

Smiles and nods tell someone that you are listening and that you agree with what they are saying.
Movement and hand gestures may indicate that you wish to speak. These subtle signals give
information gently but clearly.

● Regulate the flow of communication

There are a number of signals that we use to tell people that we have finished speaking, or that
we wish to speak. An emphatic nod, and firm closing of the lips indicates that we have nothing
more to say, for example. Making eye contact with the chair of a meeting and nodding slightly
will indicate that you wish to speak.

Learning the Language

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Many popular books on non-verbal communication present the topic as if it were a language that
can be learned, the implication being that if the meaning of every nod, eye movement, and
gesture were known, the real feelings and intentions of a person would be understood.
This, of course, is absolutely true.
Unfortunately interpreting non-verbal communication is not that simple. It is influenced
and driven by the context in which it occurs. This includes both the place and the people
concerned, as well as the culture.
For example, a nod of the head between colleagues in a committee meeting may mean something
very different from when the same action is used to acknowledge someone across a crowded
room, and again when two people are having a social conversation.

Non-verbal communication may also be both conscious and unconscious. Facial expressions

are particularly hard to control, because we cannot see ourselves to know what we are doing. We
may, therefore complicate communication by trying to convey one message consciously, while
in fact conveying quite another unconsciously.
Interpersonal communication is further complicated because it is usually not possible to
interpret a gesture or expression accurately on its own. Non-verbal communication consists
of a complete package of expressions, hand and eye movements, postures, and gestures which
should be interpreted along with speech (verbal communication).

Non-Verbal Communication in Writing

Over the years, many people have argued that written words also contain non-verbal
communication. Your handwriting can give clues about how you were feeling when you wrote a
note, for example, and nowadays, your choice of font and color also says something about you.
However, it is now generally agreed that these forms of non-verbal communication are pretty
unreliable indicators of character. They convey far less information than the non-verbal
communication that is part of face-to-face interactions.

The Cultural Context

The good news is that most of us learn to interpret non-verbal communication as we grow
up and develop. It is a normal part of how we communicate with other people, and most of
us both use it and interpret it quite unconsciously.
This can make it harder to interpret consciously. However, if you stop thinking about it, you will
probably find that you have a very good idea of what someone meant.
The bad news is that non-verbal communication can be very culture-specific.
Examples of culture-specific non-verbal communication

1. The popular stereotype of Italians, involving big gestures, lots of hand-waving, and
plenty of loud and excited shouting, may be a stereotype, but it exists for a reason. In the
Italian culture, excitement is shown a lot more obviously than in the UK, for example.
Non-verbal communication tends to be a lot more obvious. This can make it much harder
for Italians to interpret non-verbal communication in the UK or USA, where it is more
subtle. However, even in Italy, there are geographical variations.

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 2. The thumbs-up gesture, which generally signals approval in English-speaking countries,
is considered offensive in other countries, including apparently Greece, Italy and some
parts of the Middle East.
3. Making a circle with your thumb and forefinger means OK in Western cultures. It is
used in particular by divers in this way. In Japan, however, it is reputedly the sign for
money, and in Arabic countries, it is a threat.

It’s worth being careful how you use gestures and body language!

The Importance of Non-verbal Communication

It is essential to remember that non-verbal cues can be as important, or in some cases even more
important, than what we say.
Non-verbal communication can have a great impact on the listener and the outcome of the
communication.
People tend to have much less conscious control over their non-verbal messages than of what
they’re actually saying.
This is partly because non-verbal communication is much more emotional in nature, and
therefore much more instinctive.
If there is a mismatch between the two, therefore, you should probably trust the non-verbal
messages, rather than the words used.
A lack of non-verbal message may also be a signal of sorts, suggesting that the speaker is
carefully controlling their body language, and may be trying to hide their true emotions.

Types of Non-Verbal Communication

The different types of non-verbal communication include:

● Body movements (kinesics), for example, hand gestures or nodding or shaking the head,
which are often the easiest element of non-verbal communication to control;
● Posture, or how you stand or sit, whether your arms are crossed, and so on;
● Eye contact, where the amount of eye contact often determines the level of trust and
trustworthiness;
● Para-language, or aspects of the voice apart from speech, such as pitch, tone, and speed
of speaking;
● Closeness or personal space (proxemics), which determines the level of intimacy, and
which varies very much by culture;
● Facial expressions, including smiling, frowning and blinking, which are very hard to
control consciously. Interestingly, the broad facial expressions that show strong
emotions, such as fear, anger, and happiness, are the same throughout the world; and

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 ● Physiological changes, for example, you may sweat or blink more when you are
nervous, and your heart rate is also likely to increase. These are almost impossible to
control consciously and are therefore a very important indicator of mental state

In Conclusion…
Non-verbal communication is an extremely complex yet integral part of overall
communication skills. However, people are often totally unaware of their non-verbal
behavior.

A basic awareness of non-verbal communication strategies, over and above what is actually said,
can help to improve interaction with others. Knowledge of these signs can be used to encourage
people to talk about their concerns and can lead to a greater shared understanding, which is, after
all, the purpose of communication.

Reference:
What is Communication? (n.d) https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-
communication.html.

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