ORAL COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION: FUNCTIONS, NATURE, AND PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

Etymology
• The word communication is derived from two Latin words “communis” (noun) and communicare (verb) which
means commonality and to make common respectively. From the viewpoint of etymological depth,
communication refers to sharing of something.

Nature of Communication
• Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one person to another
within and across channels, contexts, media, and cultures (McCornack, 2014).
• Communication is a two-way process of connecting to both living and nonliving things. It is also a means of
sharing and exchanging messages, information, ideas, and feelings for mutual understanding (Gregoriom, J.C.,
2015).
• Communication is the process of expressing and exchanging information, thoughts, ideas, and feelings.
According to Wood (2004), communication is a systematic process in which individuals interact with and
through symbols to create and interpret meaning.
• Communication can be expressed through written or spoken words, actions (nonverbal), or both spoken words
and nonverbal actions at the same time.
• Communication involves at least one sender, a message, and a receiver; but communication is more than just a
transmission of information. It requires success in transmitting or sending a message.
• Communication connects people and the world they live in. It is through communication that people are able to
express their thoughts and ideas or convey information and messages through word of mouth, gestures and
signals, signs, and others. People have always communicated with one another in various forms.

Functions of Communication
There are five functions of communication. These are regulation or control, social interaction, motivation,
information, and emotional expression.

1. Regulation / Control – Communication functions to control behavior. It can be used to regulate the nature and
number of activities people engage in.
o “Take your medicine before you go to bed.”
o “Finish your work before you go.”

2. Social Interaction – Communication allows people to interact with others to develop bonds or intimacy. It also
allows individuals to express desires, encouragement, needs, and decisions or to give and get information.
o “Would you like to go to church with me?”
o “Come on! You can do it!”

3. Motivation – Communication persuades or encourages another person to change his/her opinion, attitude, and
behavior.
o “You’re on the right track. Keep up the good work.”
o “My dream is to finish my Senior High School despite this pandemic.”

4. Emotional Expression – Communication facilitates people’s expression of their feelings such as love, fear,
anger, joy, hope, or any other emotion.
o “I’m so happy to have you in my life.”
o “I like you so much.”

5. Information – Communication functions to convey information. It can be used in giving and getting
information.
o “The Philippine Normal University was founded in 1901.”
o “You can find the bathroom right next to this door”

Process of Communication
1. The speaker develops an idea to be sent.
2. The speaker encodes the idea or converts it to words or actions.
3. The speaker transmits or sends out the idea using a specific
medium or channel.
4. The receiver gets the message and decodes or interprets it.
5. The receiver provides or sends feedback.

At any point in the communication process, noise may take place

The Elements in The Process of Communication

Sender – is the one who initiates the message that needs to be transmitted. He sends the message that may be in
different forms such as pictures, symbols, postures, gestures, or even just a smile. After generating the idea, he
sends it in such a manner that can be understood clearly by the receiver.

Message – refers to the information intended to be communicated by words such as speech, letters, pictures, or
symbols. It can be verbal or non-verbal. It is the content the sender wants to convey to the receiver.

Encoding – It is the process of expressing the idea in an appropriate medium. It may be verbal or non-verbal. The
sender may put the message into a series of symbols, words, pictures, or gestures.

Channel – It refers to the medium or passage through which an encoded message is passed to the receiver. It may
be transmitted through face-to-face communication, telephone, radio, television, memorandum, or computer.

Receiver – The receiver refers to whom the message is meant for. He plays a significant role in the communication
process like the sender. He needs to comprehend the message sent. His translation of the message received
depends on his/her knowledge of the subject matter of the message, experience, and relationship with the sender.

Decoding – It means translating the encoded message into a language that can be understood by the receiver. After
receiving the message, the receiver interprets it and tries to understand it.

Feedback – It refers to the response of the receiver to the message sent to him/her by the sender. Feedback
ensures that the message has been effectively encoded and decoded.

Noise – It is a hindrance to communication. This can take place at any step in the entire communication process.
There are various types of noise. Examples of physical noise are loud music, the irritating sound of the engine of a
machine, or a classmate who talks to you while the teacher is giving a lecture. The second type of noise is
physiological – when the body becomes a hindrance to communication such as headache, toothache, or hunger. The
third type is psychological noise which refers to qualities in us that affect how we communicate and interpret
others such as prejudice and any feeling that can interfere with communication. Noise is considered as a barrier to
effective communication.