Purposive Communication

What is Communication?

Depending on what is being considered,

communication as a term takes on
different contexts resulting in people
having different views on communication
types. Since communication is generally
defined as the exchange of thoughts,
ideas, concepts, and views between or
among two or more people, various
context come into play.
Types of Communication
Types of Communication
According to Context
 In this sub-section, context in
communication is referred to as a
composite of people interacting with
each other. Communication may
also be classified according to
context: (1) intrapersonal; (2)
interpersonal; (3) extended; (4)
organizational communication;
and (5) intercultural
communication.
Intrapersonal Communication
 The Latin prefix intra- means
within or inside. Intrapersonal
communication then means talking
to oneself. Some label it as self or
inner talk, inner monologue, or
inner dialogue. Psychologists call it
with other names such as self-
verbalization or self-statement.
 If you find yourself talking to yourself,
there is really no need for you to answer
back. You talk to yourself because you
think that there is the need to: boost your
confidence when you are nervous to speak
in front of an audience, apprise yourself
that you did a task poorly. Moreover,
engaging in inner speech such as
fantasizing or daydreaming is not bad as
long as you are able to distinguish it from
reality.
 Self-talk can be advantageous as it
can enable you to practice what you
ought to say in times when you lack
the motivation and confidence to
speak. One magic statement that
you can try is: “I can do it!”

I CAN DO IT!
Furthermore, as you respond to life’s
challenges, you may also find
yourself verbalizing your thoughts
and feelings. It is then important
that as you introspect, you are able
to improve on your decisions in life
and likewise enhance your self-
worth as a person.
Interpersonal Communication
 As opposed to intra-, the Latin
prefix inter- means between,
among, and together. An interactive
exchange takes place as
interpersonal communication takes
place.
However, as it occurs, a transaction
does not necessarily take place since
it can only be a simple interaction
such as greetings, getting to know a
person, or ordinary conversations
that happen between or among the
interactants. This may occur in
dyads or small groups, also known
as group communication.
 A communication situation is
interpersonal if it is meant to
establish or deepen one’s
relationship with others. However, if
the objective is to achieve something
at the end of the conversation, it
becomes transactional.
 Interpersonal talks are meant for
maintaining social relationships,
transactional talks aim to
accomplish or resolve something at
the end of the conversation.
Speaker A: Hello! I am _______________. And you?
Speaker B: Oh, I am _______________. Glad to meet you.
How are you related to the bride?
Speaker A: She is my cousin. Her mom and mine are
sisters. How about you?
Speaker B: She was my high school classmate. I never
knew anything about her personal life so we were kind of
surprised when she sent us the invitation. As always, she
is very private.
Speaker A: I see. Well, she’s really like that. Ever since
we were kids, she has always been a very quiet person.
Speaker A: Excuse me. Would you know how to get to
the nearest mall?
Speaker B: Yes. In fact, you may go there on foot or
simply take a jeepney. If you walk, it will take you about
20 minutes to get there. You can just take the exit gate
near the hospital then turn left and walk straight ahead.
You won’t miss it because of the big sign. Jeepneys take
the same route and it should not take you more than 10
minutes even with the traffic.
Speaker A: Thank you very much. I think I will just take
the public transportation as I am running out of time.
You have been really helpful. Thanks again.
Extended Communication
 Extended communication involves
the use of electronic media. Unlike
before when it only called for the use
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
apart, or are far from the venue, can
participate in a meeting or a conference. In
an e-conference like this, participants may
not be physically 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 of the
Internet, recorded videos may be
transmitted in seconds/minutes and
may be viewed by a greater number
of people.
Organizational Communication
With this type, the focus is on the role that
communication plays in organizational
contexts. Organizations comprise
individuals who work for the company.
When you graduate, for example, you
become a professional, 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.
There are two types of organizational
structure: (1) formal and (2)
informal.

Formal structure allows

communication to take place via
designated channels of message flow
between positions in the
organization.
Informal communication, 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.
 Each organization has its own
culture. This is referred to as
“organizational culture.” Based on
its history and development, an
organization develops its own core
values, vision, and mission
statements, goals, and objectives
“Company cultures are like country
cultures. Never try to change one.
Try instead, to work, with what
you’ve got.”

- Peter Drucker
Intercultural Communication
 As the term implies, it is a
communication between or among
people having different linguistic,
religious, ethnic, social and
professional backgrounds. Even
gender difference affects
communication. Individuals having
different orientations communicate
and interpret messages differently.
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.
 Even in terms of pronunciation,
words are pronounced differently by
Filipinos, which, to some, are
considered erroneous. For instance,
these supposedly pronounced with
a hard /th/ 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 Mode
 A message may be conveyed via
these types: verbal – non-verbal
and visual. Though communication
is 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 instance, door-to-door
salespersons 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.
 When meeting people for the first
time, as what you may have
experienced many times, the initial
meeting when you speak during the
first few minutes is significant as it
leaves a lasting impression on your
listeners.
Visual Communication
 It is a type of communication that
uses visuals to convey information
and/or messages. Some examples
are signs, symbols, imagery, maps,
graphs, charts, diagrams, photos,
drawings or illustrations, and even
various forms of electronic
communication.
How these symbols are interpreted is
very crucial in visual
communication. There are some
instances when visual
communication is classified under
non-verbal communication.
It is then important that the receiver
of the message is able to decode the
meaning correctly by contextualizing
the information received.
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.
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.
Likewise, they should pay attention
to graphic elements, such as
positions, color, size, shape, and
orientation as all these play an
important role in the preparation of
slides.
Audience size should be considered
as well when preparing slide
presentations or other forms of
visuals.
 GENERALIZATION
Communication is one of the
essential social skills required for
any individual to survive in the
world. Effectively communicating
ensures that you not only convey
your message to someone but also
let them know about your feelings
and emotions.
Purposive Communication