ENG.

203 SPEECH AND THEATER ARTS

Lesson 1 Basic Communication Concepts

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of communication

2. Identify and analyze basic elements of communication
3. Describe the types of communication contexts
4. Differentiate the levels of communication
5. Illustrate barriers and other essential concepts of communication

Definition of Communication

 Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one

person within and across channels, contexts, media and culture (McCornack, 2014).
 Communication is the transference of meaning between individuals and the means of
reaching understanding and influencing others (Jayasree, n.d).

Communication Universals

1. You cannot “not” communicate.

2. All communication has content and relationship dimensions.
 Content – literal meaning, information
 Relationship – defines the relationship between sender and receiver
 Features of relationship that get defined in message exchanges include

 Liking
 Responsive (intensity)
 Control, and
 Trust
3. Communication is a series of punctuated events.
4. Communication is irreversible and unrepeatable.
5. Communication is culture-specific.

The Essential Components/Elements of Communication

1. The source (sender) is the one who carries and sends the message. Thus, he or she creates the
message.
2. The message is the though for which the source shares to the receiver or audience.
3. The receiver is the one who interprets the message from the source which may be done
intentionally or unintentionally.
4. Channel/Medium is the way in which the message travels from the source to the receiver.
5. Feedback is composed of messages the receiver sends back to the source. Verbal or
nonverbal, all these feedback signals allow the source to see how well, how accurately (or
how poorly and inaccurately) the message was received.
6. Encoding is the process of converting ideas into understandable messages.
7. Decoding is the process where the receiver interprets the information into meaningful
messages.
8. The environment is the space where you send and receive messages.
9. Context is the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in
terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.
10. Interference, also called noise, can come from any source and has the ability to block or
change the intended meaning of the message.
FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION
 Lumen Learning enumerated the major functions of communication within a group or
organization. These are:

1. Control – to comply with or control behavior

2. Motivation – to encourage and motivate people
3. Information – to disseminate information
4. Emotional Expression – to express emotions and interact socially

THE BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

 Semantic Barriers – It is concerned with faulty words or problems with translations. It is

more about the encoding and decoding of the message.
 Psychological Barriers – These include emotional and psychological factors both from the
sender and the receiver, which may also include their mental state.
 Organizational Barriers – These barriers refer to the obstructions, which can take place
due to strict organizational structures.
 Personal Barriers – These are the hindrances from personal reasons of both the sender and
receiver.

LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION

1. Intrapersonal communication involves one person. It is often called “self-talk.”

2. Interpersonal communication normally involves two people.
3. Group communication involves a number of people from three to eight.
4. Public communication usually involves one who speaks to a group maybe in written or
oral communication.
5. Mass communication involving technology whereby it allows us to communicate our
message to a large number of people.

Learning Task 1 Communication Situation

Complete the table by identifying the elements of communication based on the three given
situations.
1. Alisa, a junior high school student, together with her classmates sat in the school auditorium
as audience in a seminar organized by the guidance office. The topic was about mental health
and ways of coping stress. The speaker, a laudable psychologist explained the topic showing
her PowerPoint presentations while in the podium.
2. My best friend and I always end our day with a telephone conversation. Since it was
pandemic, we could not go out as easy as it was for a lunch or coffee date, so instead we share
stories of what we have done while at home quarantine. My best friend calls me every 6 in the
evening just an hour before I eat my dinner in my condo unit.
3. Yesterday, while eating our dinner, my dad, Albert, shared his day’s experience working in
the bank. We all listened to his story of an interesting client who withdrew all his money and
gave it all to the bank staff. We were all in shock and we just kept on listening and did not
give any rebut.

Elements of Situation 1 Situation 2 Situation 3

Communication

Sender

Message

Receiver

Channel

Feedback

Environment

Context

Interference

Learning Task 2 Communication Situation

Draw a chart below of the communication process and indicate the elements of
communication present. The message is transmitted via text.

Keziah: Hey Raymond! What time the movie start?

Raymond: It will start at 5pm. Don’t be late, Keziah.

 Keziah: Okay! I’ll be there!

Learning Task Communication Intimacy

Below is an infographic about the levels of intimacy in today’s communication. Explain how
our communication has been transformed by the Web and technology in general. Write your
reflection on the space provided.
 Talking video chat phone letter

text msg email Facebook msg twitter

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