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Functions, Nature and Process

The document outlines the nature, functions, and process of communication, emphasizing it as a two-way process essential for sharing messages and fostering mutual understanding. Key elements include the sender, message, encoding, channel, receiver, decoding, feedback, context, and barriers that affect communication flow. It also highlights the various functions of communication such as information dissemination, control, motivation, emotional expression, and social interaction.

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Sheila Mae Andales
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14 views2 pages

Functions, Nature and Process

The document outlines the nature, functions, and process of communication, emphasizing it as a two-way process essential for sharing messages and fostering mutual understanding. Key elements include the sender, message, encoding, channel, receiver, decoding, feedback, context, and barriers that affect communication flow. It also highlights the various functions of communication such as information dissemination, control, motivation, emotional expression, and social interaction.

Uploaded by

Sheila Mae Andales
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ORAL COMMUNICATION

The Functions, Nature, and Process of Communication

What is communication and why do we communicate?


Nature of Communication
Communication is a two-way process of connecting to both living and nonliving things. It is also a means of
sharing and exchanging messages, information, ideas, and feelings for mutual understanding (Gregoriom, J.C., 2015).
Communication connects people and the world they live in. It is through communication that people are able
to express their thoughts and ideas or convey information and messages through word of mouth, gestures and
signals, signs, and others. People have always communicated with one another in various forms.

1. Communication is a process.
2. Communication occurs between two or more people (the speaker and the receiver).
3. Communication can be expressed through written or spoken words, actions (nonverbal), or both spoken words and
nonverbal actions at the same time.

Let us further define communication using the two key terms stated above, “message” and “understand”.
1. Communication is a message understood.
Unless a message is understood, we cannot say that communication has taken place. Let us send a
message to someone and say, “where came first”. The person who gets this message would wonder what it means,
for the arrangement of the words does not make any sense. The message is sent but the receiver does not
understand it. Therefore, for communication to take place, we have to consider two conditions. First, there should be
a clear message. Second, the message must be understood by the receiver for whom it is meant.
2. Communication is social interaction through messages.
Think of someone telling, “It is very warm today.” In this case, we are communicating what ‘we experience’.
The weather being warm is what we feel or experience physically. In this scenario, we are sharing our feeling or
experience with someone else. Thus, we may say that “communication is a sharing of experience.” In our society, we
all interact with messages. Without interactions, a society cannot survive. Social interaction is always through
messages.

The Elements in The Process of Communication


SENDER - the source of information or message.
The sender is the one who initiates the message that needs to be transmitted. He sends the message that
may be in different forms such as pictures, symbols, postures, gestures, or even just a smile. After generating the
idea, he sends it in such a manner that can be understood clearly by the receiver.

MESSAGE - the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or in actions.
Message refers to the information intended to be communicated by words as in speech, letters, pictures, or
symbols. It can be verbal or non-verbal. It is the content the sender wants to convey to the receiver.

ENCODING - the process of converting the message into words actions, or other forms that the speaker understands.
It is the process of expressing the idea into appropriate medium. It may be verbal or non-verbal. The sender
may put the message into a series of symbols, words, pictures or gestures.

CHANNEL - the medium or the means, such as personal or non-personal, verbal or nonverbal, in which the encoded
message is conveyed.
It refers the medium or passage through which encoded message is passed to the receiver. It may be
transmitted through face-to-face communication, telephone, radio, television, memorandum, or computer.

RECEIVER - the recipient of the message, or someone who decodes the message.
Receiver refers to whom the message is meant for. He plays a significant role in the communication process
like the sender. He needs to comprehend the message sent. His translation of the message received depends on
his/her knowledge of the subject matter of the message, experience, and relationship with the sender.

DECODING - the process of interpreting the encoded message of the speaker by the receiver.
It means translating the encoded message into a language that can be understood by the receiver. After
receiving the message, the receiver interprets it and tries to understand it.

FEEDBACK - the reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver.


It refers to the response of the receiver to the message sent to him/her by the sender. Feedback ensures that
the message has been effectively encoded and decoded.

CONTEXT - the environment where communication takes place.


BARRIER - the factors that affect the flow of communication.
Functions of Communication
Function 1. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
The first and foremost function of communication is to provide information. This function is performed in many
ways. Before providing or delivering an information, one has to receive, collect or gather information from various
sources, both external and internal, and through various media, verbal or non-verbal, body language or paralanguage,
sign language or audio-visual aids, books, journals, newspapers, advertisements, brochures etc. It is essential that
these pieces of information will provide relevant and meaningful facts for the consumption of the people as they live on
their daily lives.
Example:
A teacher to students: “I will present to you the steps in writing an argumentative essay.”
A bystander to a tourist: “Yes. There is an apartment near the Apple building. You can check it out.”
Function 2. CONTROL
The next very important function of communication is to control ‘one’s behavior’ in several ways. In every oral
context or conversation, it is necessary to facilitate a conversation so that the monopoly of sharing ideas will not occur.
Various rules and protocols in communication may it be formal or informal must be strictly adhered in order to achieve
a meaningful conversation.
Example:
A speaker to the audience: “Before I start, please turn off your mobile phones.”
Doctor’s Prescription: “Take your medicine 3 times a day.”
Function 3. MOTIVATION
What we need nowadays are words that inspire and encourage us. Basically, the most significant function of
oral communication is to motivate. Pep talks or inspirational words are the common examples of this function.
Example:
A teacher to student: “Believe in yourself. You can always do it.”
A counselor to a student: “You can do better than this. Always look the positive side of the situation.”
Function 4. EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
The small-group communication is a primary source for social interaction. The communication that takes place
within the group is of vital importance in the sense that it gives them the best opportunity to share their frustrations as
well as feelings of satisfaction. Communication, in this way, provides them a release of their feelings which is the
fulfillment of an important social need.
Example:
A friend to a friend: “I’m so glad that you came into my life.”
Mother to a daughter: “I am always at your side. I will be your greatest supporter.”
Function 5: SOCIAL INTERACTION
Social Interaction is used to produce social relationships; used to develop bonds, intimacy, and relationship;
used to express preferences, desires, needs, wants, decisions, goals, and strengths.
Example:
A friend to a friend: “What would you like to order?”
Costumer to a seller: “How much is a sack of rice?”

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