Purposive Communication

MODULE 1: Introduction to Communication

Communication can be defined as the process of transmitting information and

common understanding from one person to another (Keyton, 2011). The word
communication is derived from the Latin word, ―communis”, which means common. In
our everyday living, for a 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.

What is Language? Language is a wonderfully rich vehicle for communication. It is a

system of conventional spoken, manual, or written symbols by means of which human
beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves.
The functions of language include communication, the expression of identity, play,
imaginative expression, and emotional release. It has a system of rules (also known as
grammar), a sound system (phonology), and a vocabulary (lexicon). These are the
requirements for identifying a means of communication as a language. When people
use language, they can understand each other because they belong to the same
speech community. They can understand each other because in their speech
community, people share the same set of rules in the language system. While growing
up, people acquire the languages used by those in the community. This is the process
of language acquisition. The languages acquired while growing up are known as
mother tongues, which may also be referred to as first language. People discover later
on that other language are needed various reasons. These other languages may be
referred to as second language. People learn these languages by studying formally in
school or informally on their own. This is a process of language learning.

What is Communication? Communication as a term takes on different contexts resulting

in people having different views in communication types. Since communication is
generally defined as the exchange of thoughts, ideas, concepts and view between or
among two or more people. Context is the circumstances or environment in which
communication takes place. Such circumstances may include the physical or actual
setting, the value positions of a speaker/listener, and the relevance or appropriateness
of a message conveyed. It focuses on certain communication process and even
groupings of people that constitute a communication situation. Different contexts can
impact one‘s communication. Each communication type is governed by a particular
circumstance. Hence, it is essential to pay attention and interplay of factors surrounding
the context of communication which may be physical, cultural, social, and
psychological in nature.
Purposive Communication

MODULE 1: Introduction to Communication

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION ACCORDING TO MODE

A message may be impart 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.

 VERBAL-NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Effective communication calls for the

blending of these two types. One cannot be separated from the other. For
example, door-to-door sales persons who demonstrate product knowledge can
only be effective if they know how to properly punctuate what they say with
proper gestures and facial expressions. Their communication with the customer
begins upon greeting him/her with a welcoming smile then assessing customer
needs and answering customer queries enhanced by gestures and a friendly,
happy and pleasant disposition. It is through this mode that sales pole with
excellent communication skills are able to provide the best information needed,
by that means convincing the client to patronize their products.

 VISUAL COMMUNICATION Visual communication, on the other hand, is the type

of communication that uses visuals to convey information and/or messages.
Some examples are signs, symbol, imagery, maps, graphs, charts, diagrams,
pictograms, photos, drawings or illustrations, and even various forms of electronic
communication. Visual communication now occupies an important place in any
work environment. For instance, during presentations, instructors, managers,
doctors, lawyers, legislators and the like use visuals to transfer data into digestible
information. Very likely, they have greater success in catching the attention of
the audience making the latter easily recall the information. What makes visual
communication even more advantages is that it makes use of communication
even more advantages is that it makes use of technology that provides apps(
applications), videos and images that rely less on the printed word making
presentations more interesting. This leaves a powerful effect on the audience
and prospective clients. Speakers/presenters should be mindful of the content of
their presentation since wrong and irrelevant information may lead to
miscommunication. Likewise, they should pay attention to graphic elements,
such as position, color, size, shape and orientation as all these play an important
role in the presentation of slides. Audience size should be considered as well
when preparing slide presentations or other forms of visuals.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION ACCORDING TO CONTEXT

In 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
Purposive Communication

MODULE 1: Introduction to Communication

 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 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.

 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.
Purposive Communication

MODULE 1: Introduction to Communication

SYNTHESIS

 Language is a system of conventional spoken, manual, or written

symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group
and participants in its culture, express themselves.
 Communication is defined as the process of transmitting information and
common understanding from one person to another.
 There are two types of communication according to mode: 1. Verbal
and Non-verbal communication; 2. Visual Communication
 Two types of communication according to context: 1. Intrapersonal
Communication; 2. Interpersonal Communication