INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION

Nature of Communication

Your day-to-day life is spent mainly in spoken or written communication. So, you know, now that communication is the basic need of
life. We cannot imagine a day without some kind of verbal and non-verbal communication. When we look at our surroundings or
when we talk to people in person or in the telephone, or when we write a letter or send an e-mail or when we read a book or listen
to the radio or watch a program on television. We are communicating with the world in which we live. Thus, communication is an
integral part of our life.

The greater your skill in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, the more chances you becoming a popular student and a successful
person in life. You have also more chances of success in your job. Outstanding student leaders, sales individuals, politicians, company
workers, secretaries, and computer technologists attribute their success to good communication. You have to acquire a tool that fits
you for the expectations of this highly demanding world. One tool is a skill in communication. If you want to be a positive force and if
you want to move up to the ladder of success, then be serious in this subject and really try to be an effective communicator now.

Definition of Communication

The word communication comes from the Latin word “communis,” which means shared understanding. It is the exchange of ideas,
views, or information by speech, writing, signals, or behavior. Hence, communication is something imparted, transmitted, and
interchanged. It is a variety of behaviors, processes, and technologies by which meaning is transmitted or derived from Information
Communication is an important aspect of life. It is considered the center of all human activities; it gives meaning to human life.
Communication enables people to nurture love and understanding, thus making living worthwhile.

Communication is a wide-ranging phenomenon with so many definitions owing to the various disciplines associated with it. Hence, it
can be said that communication does not have a single definition. It is dynamic and ever-changing. Various scholars have coined
their own definition of communication depending on their perspectives and orientations. Communication is defined as a process
that involves the transmission of a message from a sender to the receiver. Communication simply means ― the transmission of a
message from a source to a receiver. In general, communication is how people exchange meaningful information.

Nature of Communication

 Communication is a process. (T-L-P-R)

 Communication occurs between two or more people (the speaker and the receiver).
 Communication can be expressed through words (verbal), actions (nonverbal), or both at the same time.

Types of Communication

1. Verbal Communication. The basis of communication is the interaction between people. Verbal communication is one way for
people to communicate face-to-face. Some of the key components of verbal communication are sound, words, speaking, and
language. At birth, most people have vocal cords, which produce sounds. As a child grows, it learns how to form these sounds into
words. Some words may be imitative of natural sounds, but others may come from expressions of emotion, such as laughter or
crying. Words alone have no meaning. Only people can put meaning into words. As meaning is assigned to words, language
develops, which leads to the development of speaking.

Through speaking, we try to eliminate this misunderstanding, but sometimes this is a very hard thing to do. Just as we assume that
our messages are clearly received, so we assume that because something is important to us, it is important to others. As time has
proven, this is not at all true. Many problems can arise in speaking, and the only way to solve these problems is through experience.
Speaking can be used as a tool to accomplish your objectives. But, first you must break the habit of talking spontaneously without
planning what you are going to say or how you are going to say it. You must learn to manage the impression you create by
consciously tailoring your remarks and delivery style to suit the situation.

Remember that various situations call for different speaking styles, just as various writing assignments call for different writing
styles. Here are four different styles that will suit every occasion:

 Expressive Style is spontaneous, conversational, and uninhibited. Use this when you are expressing your feelings,
joking, complaining, or socializing.
 Directive Style is an authoritative and judgmental style. We use this style to give orders, exert leadership, pass
judgment, or state our opinions.
 Problem-Solving Style is rational, objective, unbiased, and bland.
 Meta Style is used to discuss the communication process itself. Metalanguage enables us to talk about our
interactions.

2. Non-Verbal Communication. Numerous books have been written on the importance of non-verbal messages. Some studies
suggest that from 60% to 90% of a message‘s effect comes from non-verbal cues. It presents a brief overview of non-verbal
communication:

 Body Language is the way the body communicates by its physical movements. It specifically looks for inner states
of emotion as expressed through different parts of the body and their physical movements. It includes the
following subparts: facial expression, eye contact, posture, gestures, body shape, smell and touch, and silence.
  Sign Language is the most basic elements of communication. A sign is a symbol. A symbol is something that stands
for something else. Everything in our world that we can visualize or sense has a symbolic meaning and can be used
in communication.

 Paralanguage is the closest to actual communication. ―Para means like; thus paralanguage literally means like
language. This like language is where we use our voice in uttering words. It is everything other than words
intonation, pitch, regional accent, sarcasm, hesitations, truthfulness, emotions, etc.
 Pitch variation refers to how high or low your vocal tones are.
 Volume refers to the loudness of the voice.
 Speed and pause refer to the speaker’s use of normal pace
 Stress on words refers to the emphasis of different keywords in a sentence you can purposely indicate
your feelings about what is important.

3. Circumstantial Language is one of the very interesting aspects is that it is not the person only who communicates. Actually,
everything about him/her and his/her surroundings communicate. Some of the circumstantial factors which communicate about the
person is presented as space language (proxemics), surroundings, and time (chronemics).

Components of Communication

 Sender. In a speech communication process, everything starts with the speaker or the source of the message. In a public
speaking setting, the speaker typically presents his or her speech without any interruptions. The source is the bearer of the
message to the audience. The success of a speech mainly depends on the source.

 Message. The message is the information being communicated by a source to an audience. In public speaking, the ultimate
objective of the speaker is to send the message to the listeners as intended. It is always a challenge for the speaker as to
how he or she could deliver the actual message to the audience.

 Encoding. The communicator of the information organizes his idea into series of symbols (words, signs, etc.) which, he/she
feels will communicate to the intended receiver(s).

 Medium or Channel. The sender has to select the channel for sending the information. The communication channel is the
media through which the message passes. It is the link that connects the sender and the receiver.

 Receiver. The receiver is the person who receives the communicated information of the source. In public speaking, it is
understood that a speaker speaks in front of many listeners. Hence, the receivers‘ frame of reference is something that the
source should always take into consideration when making his or her speech.

 Decoding. It is the process of interpreting an encoded message into understandable meaning. It helps the receiver to drive
the meaning from the message.

 Feedback. It is understood that not all listeners will just automatically absorb the message being communicated by the
speaker. The receiver’s message or reaction after hearing the speaker’s speech is called response or feedback.

 Noise. It refers to any signals that may interfere with the message being carried. This again would depend on the method of
communication. The receiver is the instrument or the person on the other side that receives the message. The transmission
of the sender‘s ideas to the receiver and the receiver‘s feedback or reaction to the sender constitute the communication
cycle.

Barriers in Communication

 Use of jargons
 Emotional barriers
 Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver
 Differences in perception and viewpoint
 Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties
 Physical barriers to nonverbal communication—not being able to see the nonverbal cues
 Language differences and the difficulty in understanding unfamiliar accents
 Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or stereotyping
 Cultural differences
Basic Models of Communication

The act of communicating has been evaluated extensively for many, many years. One of the classic analyses of communication took
place in the 1940s and 1950s when researchers, including Claude Shannon, Warren Weaver, Wilbur Schramm, and others, offered
models describing how communication takes place. In general, communication is how people exchange meaningful information.

Linear Model of Communication. This is the Aristotelian Model, the earliest model, which shows only three elements: speaker,
message, and listener. This model says that the speaker may also be called the sender; the source, or the encoder. The speaker
encodes or puts ideas into symbols- the message. The message is sent to a listener. He decodes the message or attaches meanings
to the word or gestures received.

Interactional Model of Communication. This model was introduced in 1948 by Claude Shannon. This model can be considered as
granddaddy of many later communication models. The figure clearly illustrates how communication takes place and also helps
determine what could go wrong. In Shannon‘s model, the information source typically refers to a person, who then sends a message
with the use of a transmitter. This transmitter could be any instrument today, from phones to computers and other devices. The
signals that are sent and received vary depending on the method of communication.

Levels of Communication

 Intrapersonal Communication. It is a type of communication wherein one’s self is the center of the communication process
– the source and receiver of the message. It involves mental processes for the purpose of information processing and
decision making.

 Interpersonal Communication. It is a type of communication that transpires between two people, but it may involve more
than two. Both partakers in the communication process function as the sender and the receiver.

 Group Communication. It involves a small number of people gathered together to discuss important matters such as
making a decision over a serious matter. This type of communication only involves fewer participants for the reason that
each participant should be able to interact with each other.

 Public Communication. In this type of communication, the speaker usually conveys a structured message to the audience.
In public communication, the same channel as in interpersonal or group communication is used. It involves a larger number
of people compared to group communication.

 Mass Communication. It is a type of communication wherein a large portion of the public or a community is involved. The
message is usually disseminated through the use of different mediums in mass communication such as radio, television,
print, or even the internet.

Ethics of Communication

Communication ethics is primarily concerned with people‘s verbal and non-verbal interactions with their fellow human beings with
the use of various channels such as print media, television, radio, and the internet.
Communication ethics is defined as a type of communication that is concerned with certain values relating to human conduct which
include being truthful, accurate, responsible, and ethical not just with the verbal and non-verbal words but including their resulting
actions. The ethics of communication is focused on the ethical responsibilities of individuals such as the obligation to speak truthfully
and seeks to reflect on how these carry over into the complex circumstances that arise with the development of communications
science and technology. On the other hand, unethical communication threatens the quality of all communication as well as the
welfare of the people and the community in general.

Various characteristics of communication are essential to upholding the integrity of communication such as to:

 advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty;

 recommend freedom of expression, diversity of perspectives, tolerance of dissent;
 endorse respect for other communicators; and
 condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity

Ethical Communication in the Digital World

The advent of technology has provided people with a lot of opportunities whether it is in their place of work or school. Technological
advancement has also changed the way we communicate with one another. It has made the transfer of information so convenient
and accessible. However, this advancement has also created a lot of challenges among people who have been using these
technologies and/or have been exposed to these Internet platforms. So, how do we know if we are communicating ethically?

It is said that you will know if you are communicating ethically if you are aware of how you communicate or how you share your
ideas with another individual. You might not realize it, but the way you communicate your ideas online has an impact on the people
who have read or seen them, may it be a simple post on your social media sites or a text message to another person, or even when
you share content online.

Communicating online is one of the guaranteed freedoms under a democratic society. In spite of this Constitutional freedom to
express oneself either online and offline, freedom of speech is still not absolute. There are laws in the Philippines which punish
libelous offenses whether it is committed online or offline. It is certain that one can use social media as their means of
communication, but the concept of ethical communication must not be ignored. Unfortunately, as people shift to social media when
communicating with other individuals, many have resorted to unethical social media usage leading to criminal offenses such as cyber
libel. This can be avoided if only people learn how to ethically engage one another online. One has to remember that everything we
do online leaves a digital footprint which includes what you said, what was said about you, what you liked and share as well as
where you are or have been.

Here are some tips on how to be ethical online:

 Keep your personal and professional identities separate

 Always check your social media’s security settings
 Communicate positively, not negatively
 Always check the validity of news stories or any information before sharing or commenting on it
 Avoid using social media to complain or vent frustrations
 Avoid connecting with people that you do not personally know
 Help report disinformation or fake news stories
 Always think before you click