Communication in Multicultural

Contexts
Alexander (1984) stated that communication occurs when a sender
expresses an emotion or a feeling, creates an idea, or senses the need to
communicate. The communication process is triggered when the sender
makes a conscious or unconscious decision to share the message with
another person—the receiver. It is a process wherein the exchange of
information between two or more people (Bernales, Balo,n and Biligan,
2018). Keyton (2011) supported this notion of communication when he
defined it as Communication can be defined as the process of transmitting
information and common understanding from one person to another.
For communication to succeed, both the participants must be able to exchange
information and understand each other. If this flow of information is interrupted
or blocked communication fails. The word communication is derived from the Latin
word, ― “communis”, which means common. In our everyday lives, for
communication to be effectively transmitted, elements of communication must be
present, and these include a) Speaker, b) Message, c) Receiver, d) Channel, e)
Feedback, and f) Communicative Situation.
Alexander (1984) further explains that every communicative act is based on
something that conveys meaning, and that conveyance is the message. The
message may be either verbal (spoken or written) or nonverbal (body language,
physical appearance, or vocal tone). Messages may also come from the
context—or place and time—of the communication. For instance, if you choose to
make a critical comment to someone, the place and the time you choose to make
that comment will make a big impact on how it will be received.
Moreover, every message is sent and received through one of our five senses—it
is seen, heard, touched, tasted, or smelled. The sensory media through which
messages are sent and received are communication channels. In a work setting,
messages may be seen through body movement, letters, memos, newsletters,
bulletin board notices, signs, emails, and so on. Messages that are heard come
through conversations, interviews, presentations, telephones, radios, and other
audio media. Sight and sound are the two most frequent communication channels
used in our society.
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
 Let's Brainstorm!
―If all my talents and powers to be taken
from me by some inscrutable Providence
and I had my choice of keeping but one, I
would unhesitatingly ask that I be allowed
to keep my power of speech for through it, I
would regain the rest.” - Daniel Webster
 Let's Brainstorm!
―To speak and to speak well are two
different things.”
- Ben Johnson
 Let's Brainstorm!
―We listen a book a day, we speak a book
a week, read the equivalent of a book a
month and write the equivalent of a book a
year.” - Walter Loban
 DEFINITIONS OF
COMMUNICATION
1. Communication is a process by which we assign and convey
meaning in an attempt to create shared understanding.
❖ This process requires a vast repertoire of skills:

✓ Intrapersonal and interpersonal processing

✓ Listening
✓ Observing
✓ Speaking
✓ Questioning
✓ Analyzing
✓ Evaluating
2. It can be seen as processes of information transmission
governed by three levels of semiotic rules:

❖ Syntactic
❖ Pragmatic
❖ Semantic
3. It is therefore a social interaction where at least two interacting
agents share a common set of signs and a common set of semiotic
rules.
4. The Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary defines
communication, as the act of passing news, information…, the act
of sharing or exchanging thoughts, ideas, feelings with others or
with a group; the act of participating with or sharing in common, the
―we-belong-to-same-feeling‖ as in communication with… or the
act of thinking about oneself.
5. Communication is derived from the Latin word ‗communis,‘which
means, ―Belonging to many‖ or ―equally‖ and ―communico‖ –
to confer with others. It is the mutual exchange of information,
ideas, and understanding by any effective means (Ballesterros,
2003)
6. Communication refers to the process of human beings
responding to the symbolic behavior of other persons (Adler and
Rodman, 1997).
❖ COMMUNICATION IS HUMAN.
❖ COMMUNICATION IS A PROCESS.
❖ COMMUNICATION IS SYMBOLIC.
7. The communication done by animals is relatively different from
humans. The manner by which we communicate or use different
gestures, facial expression, etc. to communicate is different from
the dance that is done by bees to instruct their hive-mates on the
location of food or the chimpanzees that have been taught to
express themselves using sign language like deaf humans.

8. We often talk about communication as if it occurred in discrete,

individual acts. In fact, communication is a continuous, ongoing
process.
Consider, for example, a friend‘s compliment about your
appearance.
This example shows that it‘s inaccurate to talk about “acts” of
communication as if they occurred in isolation. To put it differently,
communication isn‘t a series of incidents pasted together like
photographs in a scrapbook; instead, it is more like a motion picture
in which the meaning comes from the unfolding of an interrelated
series of images. The fact that communication is a process is
reflected in the transactional model.
9. Symbols are used to represent things, processes, ideas, or
events in ways that make communication possible. The most
significant feature of symbols is their arbitrary nature.

10. In addition to this, nonverbal communication can have symbolic

meaning. As with words, some nonverbal behaviors, though
arbitrary, have clearly agreed-upon meanings.
 OTHER CONCEPTS OF
COMMUNICATION
1. Allen Louis – Communication is the sum of all things (telling,
listening and understanding). It is a systematic activity under any
given circumstances.
 OTHER CONCEPTS OF
COMMUNICATION
2. Henry Kuntz – Communication is the transferring of information
from one person to another whether or not he/she elicits that
confidence.
 OTHER CONCEPTS OF
COMMUNICATION
3. George Terry – Communication is the exchange of ideals, feelings,
and emotions between two or more persons.
 OTHER CONCEPTS OF
COMMUNICATION
4. Keith Davis – The purpose of passing information and
understanding between two persons… without the bridge of
communication no one can cross the river of understanding.
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
ACCORDING TO MODE
A message may be imparted through these types; verbal-non-
verbal and visual. While communication is often thought of as
verbal, the non-verbal mode is equally essential as it
enhances one's message.
 A. VERBAL VERBAL COMMUNICATION: ORAL
COMMUNICATION ❑ Spoken words are used
❑ It includes face-to-face conversations,
speech, telephonic conversation, video,
radio, television,
➢ (Linguistics) The process of voice over internet.
sending and receiving messages ❑ Communication is influenced by pitch,
with words, including writing and volume, speed and clarity of speaking.
sign language. VERBAL COMMUNICATION: WRITTEN
❑ In written communication, written signs
➢ It refers to the form of or symbols are used to communicate.
communication in which message ❑ In written communication message can
is transmitted verbally. be transmitted via email, letter, report,
memo etc.
➢ Communication is done by ❑ Written communication is most common
word of mouth and a piece of form of communication being used in
writing. business.
 B. NONVERBAL It has three elements:
COMMUNICATION
1. Appearance (speaker) - Clothing,
hairstyle, neatness, use of cosmetics;
Appearance (surrounding) – room size,
➢ Nonverbal communication is lighting, decorations, furnishings
the sending or receiving of
wordless messages. Such 2. Body language - facial expressions,
gesture, body language, posture, gestures, postures
tone of voice or facial
expressions is called nonverbal 3. Sounds - voice tone, volume, speech rate
communication.

➢ It is all about the body

language of speaker.
❑ Speaking and listening are vital elements of
communication. Therefore, in any communication situation,
you are both speaker and listener. (Villamarzo, 2003).
❑ Eugene White (1960) mentions eight stages in the cycle of
communication. These are:
❖ Thinking
❖ Symbolizing
❖ Expressing
❖ Transmitting
❖ Receiving
❖ Decoding
❖ Reacting, and
❖ Monitoring
❑ Roman Jacobson mentions the following as components
of communication:
❖ Addresser (speaker)
❖ Addressee (listener
❖ Context (situation)
❖ Contact
❖ Code, and
❖ Message
❑ Gronbeck defines model as ―a picture or a representation
of a thing or process that identifies the key parts or elements
and indicates how each element affects the operations of all
of the elements.

❑ Communication Model, therefore, is a sketch that shows

the basic elements of the communication process, and how
each element affects the other elements in the entire
communication process as a system
HOMEWORK 101
Research the different functions of
communication and prepare for an
oral recitation at the next meeting.

Evaluation Criteria:

Content: 5
Grammar: 3
Delivery: 5
 Functions of
Communication
Informative Function Instructive Function

We want to inform other Informing their

people of what we know— subordinates or for the
facts, information, and purpose of telling them,
knowledge. what to do, how to do,
when to do , etc.
 Functions of
Communication
Persuasive Function Motivation Function

Art of influencing others to Motivation refers to giving

agree with your point of employees a strong reason
view, accept your proposal, to accomplish something.
or take action on your
behalf.
 Functions of
Communication
Aesthetic Function Therapeutic Function or
Emotional Expression

We use communication for Communication is curative

pleasure and enjoyment. and serves to maintain
good health.
 Functions of
Communication
Regulation/Control Social Interaction

People use communication Communication helps us

to maintain control over start, maintain, regulate, or
other people’s attitude and even end relationships with
behavior. other people.
 ? ? ?

QUESTIONS?
 ? ? ?
In what settings do we usually
encounter group communication?
Thank you for
listening!
Resource
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