MODULE 1: WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
Historical context- the kind of
previous encounter that the
COMMUNICATION
participants had in the past. If the
: a process by which people share participants had a favorable history
information, thoughts, ideas, feelings, and then it will have a positive impact to
even attitudes. It is a very important part of the present encounter.
human civilization. Psychological context- refers to the
moods and feelings that each person
: It is through communication where people brings to the communication process.
get to provide information, build Sad, happy, angry, bored, etc.
relationships, persuade behaviors and share Cultural context- includes the beliefs,
opinions. values, norms, that are shared by a
: Wood (2003), also defined communication large group of people.
as a systematic process in which people 2. PARTICIPANT- participants are the people
interact with and through symbols to create involved in the communication process. As a
and interpret meanings. In addition, participant you can either be sender or
communication is simply a process of sharing receiver or vice versa.
meaning in any context.
3. MESSAGE- another component of
COMMUNICATION PROCESS communication. Messages are information
that are encoded and decoded in a
communication process. It may be in the form
of verbal or non-verbal messages.
4. CHANNEL- component of communication
that carries the message. It is both the route
travelled by the message and the means of
transportation.
COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION 5. NOISE- anything that interferes with
communication. It is not as relevant as the
1. CONTEXT- context refers to the setting in
others, because even without it,
which communication takes place.
communication will still be successful.
Physical context- the actual place
External noise- sights, sounds, and
where the communicators are in. If it
other stimuli in the environment.
is classroom discussion, then the
Internal noise- thoughts and feelings
physical context is the classroom.
that intervenes with communication.
Also, physical includes lighting,
Semantic noise- language-related.
temperature, weather condition and
Refers to unintended meaning caused
other environmental factors.
by symbols. Examples are words with
Social context- meaning the kind of
double meaning.
relationship that the communicators
maintain, whether they are husband 6. FEEDBACK- response to the message. How
and wife, 3 | P a g e mother and the message sent is heard, seen, and
daughter, father and son, etc. understood.
Remember that when you
communicate to other people it varies
depending on the relationship that
you have with them.
LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION obligations if we greet, talk and
communicate with people.
Communication may either be verbal or non-
4. We communicate to develop
verbal.
relationships- Relationships are
Verbal communication- any form of developed, deepened and maintained
communication involving words, through communication.
spoken, written, or signed. 5. We communicate to exchange
Non-verbal communication- includes information- Through communication
body language, such as gestures, we become well informed.
facial expression, eye contact, and 6. We communicate to influence
posture. others- We persuade and encourage
others to take actions like motivating
Three levels of communication: a sibling to pursue his/her desired
1. Intrapersonal- occurs within one course.
person (yourself). The sender and the PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION
receiver of the message is oneself. It
is often referred to as personal 1. Communication is purposive. When
communication or self-talk. you communicate with other people
2. Interpersonal- communication the purpose can be anything under
between individuals. Interviews, small the sun, and the success of
group discussion and casual communication is only achieved if the
conversations are forms of purpose is accomplished.
interpersonal communication. 2. Communication is continuous.
3. Public communication- speaker sends Communication does not stop the
a message to an audience. Public moment you stop talking.
communication could be face-to-face 3. Communication messages vary in
delivery or indirect through radio and conscious encoding. Communication
television broadcast. may be spontaneous or could also be
based on learned script, or it could be
FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION based on the understanding of a
1. We communicate to meet needs - In situation.
order to meet our human needs like 4. Communication is relational. In
water, food, shelter, clothing, etc. we communication, you not only share
need to communicate. In addition, meanings but also negotiate and
humans are social being, we need to enhance relationships.
be with people and communicate Communication develops, maintains
with them. and even dissolves relationships.
2. We communicate to enhance or 5. Communication has ethical
maintain our sense of self- We get to implications. Ethics is non-negotiable
know more about ourselves by in communication, when you
communicating with others. We communicate you always have to
discover who we really are and we are recognize some ethical standards.
capable of doing. 6. Communication is learned.
3. We communicate to fulfil social Communication is a skill that can be
obligations- Being a social being learned. To say that talking is
means we have social obligations to communicating is a misconception,
fulfil. We can only fulfil these because communication involves
listening, processing of thoughts and
then speaking. Communication skills
is learned through practice.
COMMUNICATION ETHICS
Ethics- values that have been instilled in us,
we have knowingly or unknowingly accepted
them and govern our actions.
Ethical communicators or speakers
according to Berko (1995) should;
1. speak with sincerity;
2. not knowingly expose an audience to
falsehood or half-truths that can
cause significant harm;
3. not premeditatedly alter the truth;
4. present the truth as she or he
understands it;
5. raise the listeners level of expertise by
supplying the necessary facts;
6. employs message that is free from
mental as well as physical coercion;
7. not invent or fabricate information;
and give credit to the source of
information.
