GST 141: COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

TOPIC: LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Language skills are essential for effective communication, encompassing the ability to understand and
produce spoken and written language in a way that conveys ideas clearly, persuasively, and
appropriately. These skills include speaking, listening, reading, and writing, all of which work together to
facilitate meaningful interactions. Proficiency in these areas ensures that messages are not only sent and
received but also comprehended accurately, leading to more successful communication outcomes.

Skill 1: Listening

Skill 2: Speaking

Skill 3: Reading

Skill 4: Writing

Listening and reading are receptive skills while speaking and writing are productive skills.

Oral written
Receptive Listening Reading
Productive Speaking Writing

1. Listening Skills

Listening is not just about hearing words; it involves actively understanding and interpreting the
meaning behind spoken messages. It is essential for learning, problem-solving, and relationship-building.
Without effective listening, misunderstandings and miscommunication can occur.

TYPES OF LISTENING

Listening can be broadly categorized into the following:

(i)Active Listening: It requires total concentration. It entails focusing fully on the speaker, avoiding
distractions, and providing feedback through nodding or verbal acknowledgments. Techniques like
paraphrasing, asking questions, and summarizing ensure that the message is clearly understood.

(ii) Passive Listening: It involves little personal involvement

(iii) Comprehensive Listening: The listener uses his mind to assess the information and draw inferences
and associations.

(iv) Reactive Listening: This type of listening transcends reflective listening; it involves taking actions on
what is received.

(v) Empathic or therapeutic Listening: This involves listening to provide emotional support for the
speaker.

PROCESS OF LISTENING

 Hearing

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  Sifting
 Interpreting and
 Reacting

Barriers to Effective Listening

Common obstacles include environmental noise, preconceived notions, lack of interest, emotional
biases, and physical barriers such as hearing impairments. Overcoming these barriers requires creating
conducive environments for listening and being consciously present in the conversation.

2. Speaking Skills

Speaking skills involve various elements that contribute to effective verbal communication,
enabling individuals to convey their message accurately and meaningfully. Speaking skills refer
to the ability to effectively communicate thoughts, ideas, and information verbally. These skills
encompass the use of clear pronunciation, appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and fluency, along
with the ability to adjust one's tone, pace, and volume according to the audience and context.
Clarity and Articulation: When speaking, the goal is to pronounce words clearly and use appropriate
intonation to ensure that the message is understood as intended. Articulation involves the precise
formation of sounds, which affects the comprehensibility of speech.

Tone and Intonation: The tone (emotion conveyed by the voice) and intonation (rise and fall in pitch) add
layers of meaning to spoken words. For example, raising the pitch at the end of a sentence can indicate a
question, while lowering it can signal finality or seriousness.

Use of Non-Verbal Cues: Non-verbal elements like gestures, facial expressions, and body movements
accompany verbal communication. They can reinforce or contradict what is being said. For instance,
maintaining eye contact can show confidence, while crossed arms might suggest defensiveness.

AREAS OF DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILLS

 Stress
 Intonation and
 Pronunciation

According to Obanya, the speech problems of a second language learner are:

(i)Phonological Differences

This indicates the difference in speech sounds and patterns between the mother tongue and the foreign
language.

(ii) Phonological Interference

This interference occurs when learners substitute English sounds that are non-existent in the mother
tongue with the nearest sounds available in their language. One of the sounds often confused is:

/I/ and /I:/ as in sin and seen, ship and sheep

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(iii) Orthographical Interference

This is where a learner pronounces words exactly as they are spelt. Many English words are not
pronounced as they are spelt, for example, sword, gnat, leopard and often

3. Reading Skills

Comprehension: This involves not just recognizing written words, but understanding their meanings,
identifying main ideas, and grasping supporting details. Effective reading requires interpreting text based
on prior knowledge, context, and the writer's intended message.

Skimming and Scanning: These are techniques used for different reading purposes. Skimming allows
readers to quickly grasp the overall message of a text, while scanning is used to find specific information
(e.g., dates or names) without reading the entire text.

Critical Reading: This involves evaluating the text by questioning the author’s assumptions, arguments,
and evidence. Critical readers do not accept information at face value but analyze it to form their own
conclusions.

Reading Skills are grouped into the following:

 Technical Skills: These include the ability to read fast and vary reading speed.
 Appreciative Skills: These skills include the ability to understand and appreciate language such as
imagery, irony, satire and humour.
 Reference Skills: These enable the reader to read for required information.
 Accurate Proof Reading Skills: These include the ability to fish out grammatical errors and judge
the mechanical accuracy of a material.

4. Writing Skills

Grammar and Syntax: Proper use of grammar rules and sentence structure is essential for making written
communication clear and effective. Errors can cause confusion or misinterpretation of the message.

Coherence and Cohesion: Coherence refers to the logical flow of ideas in a text, making it easy for
readers to follow the argument. Cohesion deals with the way different parts of the text are connected
using linking words, phrases, and other linguistic devices to ensure unity.

Style and Tone: Style relates to the manner of expression (formal, informal, descriptive, etc.), while tone
conveys the writer's attitude toward the topic or audience. Choosing the right style and tone ensures
that the writing aligns with the communication's purpose and audience.

There are various forms of writing:

 Argumentative and persuasive writing

 Minutes of Meeting
 Requests and keeping of dairies
 Creative writing (poetry, drama, novels)
 Technical reports (Scientific inquiry and legal proceedings)

PROCESS OF WRITING

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(a)Pre-writing

The writer asks two questions here:

(i)What is the purpose of this piece of writing? Is it a report, an explanation or a letter of invitation?

(ii) Who am I writing it for? The reader may be an individual, a group of colleagues, an institution or an
examiner.

(b) Writing and re-writing

This involves determining whether there is need to bring in new ideas, or rearrange those already
expressed. However, be careful of re-writing during examinations because the time allotted for the paper
may not be sufficient for you to rewrite.

(c) Editing

Editing involves reading through and making final readjustments.

The four language skills are closely related, and a deficiency in any of them invariably serves as an
impediment to a good command of language.

Other areas of consideration when discussing about language skills for effective communication are:

5. Vocabulary Development

Range and Appropriateness: Having a broad vocabulary allows speakers and writers to choose words
that precisely convey their intended meaning. It also involves knowing which words are appropriate for
specific contexts (e.g., formal vs. informal language).

Use of Idioms and Collocations: Idioms are phrases whose meanings are not deducible from the literal
meanings of the words, while collocations are common word combinations (e.g., "make a decision").
Both enhance language fluency and make communication more natural.

Word Choice: The choice of words should suit the audience and context. For example, using technical
jargon with a non-expert audience may lead to misunderstandings, while simpler language would be
more appropriate.

6. Non-Verbal Communication

Body Language: This includes gestures, facial expressions, posture, and other physical behaviors that
convey messages without words. Positive body language (e.g., open posture, smiling) can facilitate
communication, while negative body language (e.g., fidgeting, lack of eye contact) can hinder it.

Proxemics: This refers to the use of personal space in communication. Different cultures have different
norms about appropriate conversational distances, which can affect how messages are received.

Paralinguistics: These are aspects of spoken communication that do not involve words, such as tone,
pitch, and volume. Paralinguistic features can convey emotions and attitudes, adding nuance to the
spoken word.

7. Cultural Competence

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Cross-Cultural Awareness: Communication norms vary widely across cultures. Being aware of these
differences helps prevent misunderstandings. For instance, some cultures view direct eye contact as a
sign of respect, while others may see it as confrontational.

Language Register: This involves adjusting language use according to the audience and context. Formal
registers are suitable for official documents or speeches, while informal registers may be used in casual
conversations.

Avoiding Cultural Bias: Communicators should be sensitive to cultural differences and avoid making
assumptions based on stereotypes. This enhances inclusiveness and promotes mutual respect.

8. Interpersonal Communication Skills

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others help in building
rapport and trust. Emotional intelligence involves recognizing one's own emotions and those of others,
and managing them effectively in communication.

Conflict Resolution: Language can be used to manage conflicts by addressing misunderstandings,

clarifying intentions, and finding common ground. Effective communicators use techniques such as
active listening and negotiation to resolve disagreements.

Feedback Mechanism: Providing and receiving feedback allows for improvement in communication.
Constructive feedback should be specific, clear, and aimed at encouraging positive changes.

9. Digital Communication Skills

Adapting Language for Digital Media: Digital communication often requires brevity and clarity due to
the nature of electronic platforms. Formatting techniques, such as using bullet points, headings, or short
paragraphs, can help make digital content more readable.

Netiquette: This refers to the rules of conduct for communicating online. Being polite, avoiding offensive
language, and respecting others' opinions contribute to effective digital communication.

Use of Emojis and Visual Aids: While emojis can convey emotions in text-based communication, they
should be used judiciously. Visual aids like images, charts, or videos can supplement text to enhance
understanding.

10. Psycholinguistic Considerations

Cognitive Load: The human brain has a limit on how much information it can process at one time.
Keeping messages concise and breaking down complex information into smaller parts can help prevent
overload and improve understanding.

Language Processing Speed: Different individuals process spoken or written language at varying speeds.
Being mindful of this ensures that communication is delivered at a suitable pace, allowing time for the
audience to absorb the message.

Memory and Recall: Techniques such as repetition, summarization, or the use of mnemonic devices can
enhance retention. This is particularly important in educational or training contexts where information
needs to be retained for future application.

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Each of these areas contributes to the overall effectiveness of communication, enabling individuals to
express themselves clearly, understand others, and interact meaningfully in diverse contexts.