Purposive Communication

Lesson 3
Types and Forms of Communication
Module 3-Week 3

Hello my dear students!

The time you wake up and think of what to do for the day you are now
communicating with yourself. Communication is not just about interacting and
sharing thoughts and opinions with other people. It is much more than that. In
communication, there are different types and forms of it depending in its context
(when andhow it was use).

Knowing the different types and forms of communication will help you to
better understand how our world works. To know more about this topic, sit back,
relax,and enjoy the rest of this module.

To get the most from this module, you need to do the following:

1. Begin by reading and understanding the learning outcomes.

2. Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities diligently.

3. Answer all the given tests and exercises through practical questions to enhance your understanding and
toimprove your thinking faculty through your involvement in situational exercises.

4. Read carefully the discussion section. It contains important notes or basic information that you need to
know.
5. You must be able to apply the lessons in real- life situations for better understanding.

6. Each lesson also provides you with guide questions, and references for your guide. They can be of great
help. Use them fully

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 LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

a. define what is communication;
b. identify and explain the various communication modes and how they help in expressing one ‘s
communication intent;
c. distinguish the difference between and among the communication modes and forms ; and
d. use these communication modes appropriately depending on the context of the
communicationsituation

DEFINE ME!

1. Through a slogan, give your own definition of communication.

Please be guided by the following questions as you navigate the discussion of the first lesson:

1. What is communication?

2. What are the different types of communication according to mode, context, and style?

3. Why is it important to learn and differentiate communication and its types?

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
Communication can be defined as the process of transmitting information and common
understanding from one person to another (Keyton, 2011 in Ederio et.al. n.d.).
The word communicationis derived from the Latin word, ― “communis”, which means common.

Purposive 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
andeven groupings of people that constitute
a communication situation. Different contexts
can impact one ‘s communication.

Each communication type is governed by a particular circumstance. Thus, it is essential to pay

attention to the interplay of factors surrounding the context of communication which may be physical,
cultural, social, and psychological in nature. Communication may then be classified to (1) communication
mode, (2) context, and (3) purpose and style. (Madrunio & Martin, 2018)

Types of Communication According to MODE

1 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 isthrough
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.

2 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.

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 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 advantageous 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 formsof
visuals (Madrunio & Martin, 2018).

Types of Communication According to CONTEXT

1 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, actsof imagination and
visualization, and even recall and memory (McLean, 2005)
.
You read on your phone that your friends are going to have dinnerat your
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 youhit
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, andevaluations 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.

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 2 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.

3 Extended Communication

Extended communication involves the use of electronic media.

Unlike before when it only called for theuse of television and

radio, nowadays, the description of extended communication
may be expanded as to include tele, audio, or phone
conferencing; video conferencing; Skype calls; and other
technological means.

For example, linked by a telecommunication system, people who are far apart, or are far
from thevenue, can participate in a meeting or a conference.
In an e-conference like this, participants may not bephysically present but are still able to track
down the lectures and participate actively because of the mass articulation and dissemination of
information, allowing speakers to reach a wider group of listeners. Since extended communication is
public in nature, speakers are expected to be prepared when they speak, making their language
more formal.

With the use of electronic media, messages are transmitted quickly. For instance, with the use
ofinternet, recorded videos may be transmitted in seconds/minutes and may be viewed by a great
numberof people.
With extended communication, your own thinking, behavior, and attitude may be influenced
by other people and you may be persuaded to take the views you hear. It is important that you
weigh what you hear and assess them against those beliefs that you hold onto so you do not get
easily swayed by other people’s convictions.

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 4 Organizational Communication

With this type, the focus is on the role that

communication plays in organizational contexts.
Organizations comprises individuals who work for the
company.
When you graduate, for example, you become
aprofessional, either working for a company or putting
up your own. Whichever, you should know that each
organization has expectations that you as a
communication professional should meet or that you as
the owner may establish.

For an organization to be successful, a system of communication should be put in place. A set

of rulesor standards for communication protocol should be made clear so that interaction patterns
are established. On the part of the individual, you should be equipped with the needed oral and
written communication skills that the organization expects you to possess.

There are two (2) types of organizational structure:

1. Formal structure
Allows communication to take place via designated channels of message flow
betweenpositions in the organization.

This may make use of four approaches:

a. Downward communication – As the term implies, downward
communication is the type that flows from upper to lower
positions, i.e., president to a manager or supervisor, a manager
to an ordinary staff. The flow of communication is top-down or
from a superior to a subordinate, usually asking certain
individuals to perform a certain task.

b. Upward communication – Conversely, message transition in

upward communication is bottom-up in which subordinates
send communication to their superiors/bosses bearing their
views/feedback on organizational policies, issues related to their
jobs, and the like.

c. Horizontal communication – It is lateral in approach as it takes place among

people belonging to the same level but coming from different department or
units to facilitate performance of tasks through proper coordination

d. Crosswise/Diagonal communication – It is diagonal in nature as employees from

different units or departments working at various levels communicate with
each other.

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 Each of these communication approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Note that these structures are usually presented in the company’s organizational chart and policy
manuals.

2. Informal structure
Informal structure, on the other hand, comes from unofficial channels of message flow.
Also known as ‘grapevine,’ messages coming from the different levels of the organization
are transmitted.
This occurs due to the dissatisfaction of some employees accompanied by
uncertainty, such as superiors playing favorites and unfavorable orunacceptable company
rules and regulations. Some employees even resort to baseless gossips and rumors which they
spread like wild fire.

5 Intercultural Communication

As the term implies, it is communication between or

among people having different linguistic, religious, ethnic,
social, and professional backgrounds.
Even gender differences affect communication.
Individuals having different orientations communicate and
interpret messages differently. This particularly happens with
non- verbal communication.

For instance, Australians consider eye contact as important in assessing the sincerity of a
person while for Indians, looking straight into the eyes of a person while talking is inappropriate. This
does not,however, mean that they are dishonest or insincere. Moreover, Indians interpret waving of
hands from side to side as no or go away while it means hello among Westerners.
For Filipinos, twitching of lips means to refer to something or someone. When someone asks:
“Where is my book?” instead of responding: “There it is,” the response may be twitching or
puckering lips. When seen by people from other cultures, such facial expression may be taken to
mean as “seduction.” It is important then not to be judgmental or to rush into interpretations as
cultures sometimes vary enormously.
Similarly, linguistic differences are of the essence. With the advent of World Englishes, different
cultures develop different lexicon peculiar only to the speech community. In the Philippines, a local
variety of English called Philippine English has been developed which has introduced lexical
innovation, not found nor used in other varieties, such as thrice, batchmates, CR (comfort room),
salons, barangay captain, and high blood. Even in terms of pronunciation, words are pronounced
differently by Filipinos, which, to some, are considered erroneous. For instance, these supposedly
pronounced with hard /th/ represented with a / / is pronounced instead with a /d/ by the average
Filipino since hard /th/ is not part of the Filipino phonology.

Types of Communication According to STYLE

Communication may be classified according to purpose and style. Earlier, formal and
informal communication have been discussed in relation to organizational communication. Similarly,
the types ofcommunication in relation to purpose and style are formal and informal. However,
rather than focusingon the transmission of message and message flow, the focus here is on the
communication setting and the mode of delivery.

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 Formal Communication

Formal communication employs delivered orally or in written Lectures,

public talks/speeches, research and project proposals, reports, and
business letters, among others are considered formal situations and
writings. Note that while lectures and speeches are delivered orally, the
text have been thought out carefully and written well before they are
delivered. To inform, to entertain, and to persuade are the main
objectives of this type of communication.

2 Informal Communication

Informal communication, on the other hand, certainly does

not employ formal language. It involves personal and ordinary
conversations with friends, family members, or acquaintances about
anything under the sun.
The mode may be oral as in face-to-face, ordinary or
everyday talks and phone calls, or written as in the case of email
messages, personal notes, letters, or text messages. The purpose is
simply to socialize and enhance relationships.

COMMUNICATION MODE
Communication mode refers to the channel through which one expresses his/her communicative
intent. It is the medium through which one conveys his/her thoughts. Views or feelings can be
communicated through face-to-face interaction, video, or audio. The mode may also be text-based.

FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION
It is an informal or casual conversation between
two or more people.
People engage in social conversations to establish
relationships or maintain them. It is one way of gaining
new acquaintances or friends.
How to speak, what to say, when to speak, and
whom one is speaking are essential considerations in
building relationships.

Face-to-face is an effortless communication style that

everyone has experienced. It requires no extra materials,
making this the cheapest option for communication.
It is also instant. You get the benefit of visual cues from the
person or people to whom you are communicating.

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 One advantage of face-to-face interaction: aside from directly hearing in the message
being conveyed, you can note nonverbal cues through facial expressions, gestures, movement, or
even objects or realize form the person you are communicating with.

MEDIATED COMMUNICATION refers to a communication that happens using the

technological tools of Information and Communication Technology as a mode of exchanging
information to one person or another. These include the following;

1. VIDEO COMMUNICATION

Video communication can be achieved

by using Web cameras to connect two or more
parties. This type of communication is the next
best communication option after face-to-face.
You get most of the same benefits.
However, there is always the possibility of
bad connections or other technical issues that
hinder communication.

If there are no technical glitches

encountered, this could be a beneficial
communication mode, especially for people
separated by distance.
For example, you may engage in a conversation via Skype with your loved ones, especially
during significant, meaningful, or memorable occasions. This communication mode is convenient for
people who want to reach out to each other despite the distance.

2. AUDIO COMMUNICATION
This mode is a voice-only form of communication,
such as a conversation on a telephone.

This is an excellent instant communication tool if

you catch the person instead of getting an answering
machine or voice mail. Still, it does not have the benefit
of allowing you to see the other person. It is also more
challenging to include more than two parties.
An apparent downside of this mode is not seeing
the body language or cues of the person you are talking
to. However, suppose good listening skills are applied. In
that case, one may detect the tone and rise of intonation
or pitch of the voice, which may indicate the feeling or
mood of the speaker or listener.

3. TEXT-BASED COMMUNICATION

The last mode is text-based communication. Although it can be linked or traced back to the
traditional mode of communication, however, we learned to adapt and integrate it into our daily
living to address such necessities because of our communication evolution.
Like e-mail, text messaging and instant messaging and social networking sites such as
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram likewise offer text-based interaction.

Purposive Communication
 Text communication includes Internet communication,
such as email, instant messaging and forums, text
messaging, and printed papers.
Text communication does not have the benefits of
audio and video. Still, it is much easier to distribute
information to many people and save communication
records.

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