What Is a Mode of Communication?

Jess and her classmates are studying speeches. After reading about persuasive
speeches in their textbooks, they each wrote a speech to present to the class. Jess was
worried about her presentation. Before giving her speech she took one of her classmates
aside and said, 'I'm not sure if I'm prepared.' Her classmate laughed and said, 'C'mon
Jess. You're always ready.' A few minutes later, Jess took her place in front of the class
and presented the argument that local hunters are a valuable link in the chain of animal
and habitat conservation. Afterwards, she took her seat with a feeling of relief.

Jess doesn't know it, but she just engaged in three modes of communication. She read
about persuasive speech-making, conversed with her classmate, and presented a speech
to the class. Let's dig a little deeper into the different modes of communication and
explore how they work.

Mode is a term used to describe the way something is done or experienced. When we use
the phrase mode of communication, we are describing the way communication is
expressed. In other words, we are discussing the method of communication. There are
three modes of communication:

 Interpersonal communication
 Interpretive communication
 Presentational communication

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is a two-way means of communication that allows the

participants to evaluate and respond to each other. For example, two people who are
speaking and listening to each other, either in a face-to-face conversation or over the
phone, are participating in interpersonal communication. When people converse with
each other through letters, email, text messages, or conversations on social media, they
are also using the interpersonal mode of communication.

The key characteristic of interpersonal communication is that it involves a spontaneous

exchange of information: One participant states information or expresses feelings, and
the other participant listens to what is said and responds accordingly. Consider our
earlier example. Jess expressed her nervousness about the speech to her classmate.
The classmate listened to what Jess said and then responded with an encouraging
statement. If Jess had shown confidence in her abilities, the classmate 

THE THREE MODES OF COMMUNICATION—AN OVERVIEW

14Jul

The lessons in the Sonrisas Spanish Curriculum give students an opportunity to interact in all three modes of
communication—interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Click here to request a free sample. The three
modes of communication describe how learners use and interact with language in real-world contexts. Here,
we present a brief overview of these modes and the types of activities in our curriculum that engage them.

In Interpretive Communication students comprehend written, oral, or visual communication on a variety of

topics without any active negotiation of meaning. In the Sonrisas Spanish curriculum students engage in this
mode by listening to stories, reading brief text excerpts and viewing images in various activities, and reading
instructions for portfolio activities.

In Interpersonal Communication students engage in two-way oral or written communication with active

negotiation of meaning to share information, feelings, and opinions. This is the meat of the Sonrisas lessons.
In every segment—Circle Time, Story Time, Art Time, and Partner Time—students have the opportunity to
engage in interpersonal communication with the teacher and their classmates. Students engage in this mode
by singing songs, playing games, doing lesson activities, engaging in shared reading, conversing about art
projects, and completing Partner Time activities.
In Presentational Communication students present spoken or written information that is prepared for an
audience. In the Sonrisas lessons students present completed art projects, they share information from
Partner Time activities, and they present written work from portfolio activities.

Obviously, beginner students are not going to be able to read long texts, engage in complex conversations, or
present large amounts of information. The activities in the Sonrisas lessons are designed so that students are
taught language concepts that enable them to interact in the three modes at an age-appropriate level. Through
routine, repetition, and spiraling of content, students develop their Spanish so that they are able to
communicate effectively in order to function in a variety of age-appropriate situations and for multiple
purposes.

1.3 Communication in Context

PLEASE NOTE: This book is currently in draft form; material is not final.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

1. Identify and describe five types of communication contexts.

Now that we have examined the eight components of communication, let’s examine this in context. Is a quiet

dinner conversation with someone you care about the same experience as a discussion in class or giving a
speech? Is sending a text message to a friend the same experience as writing a professional project proposal or

a purchase order? Is working in a team or group the same as working together as a family? Each context has an
influence on the communication process. Contexts can overlap, creating an even more dynamic process. You
have been communicating in many of these contexts across your lifetime, and you’ll be able to apply what
you’ve learned through experience in each context to group communication.

Intrapersonal Communication

Have you ever listened to a speech or lecture and gotten caught up in your own thoughts so that, while the

speaker continued, you were no longer listening? During a phone conversation, have you ever been thinking
about what you are going to say, or what question you might ask, instead of listening to the other person?

Finally, have you ever told yourself how you did after you wrote a document or gave a presentation? As you
“talk with yourself” you are engaged in intrapersonal communication.

Intrapersonal communication involves one person; it is often called “self-talk.”Wood, J.

(1997). Communication in Our Lives. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, p.22. Donna Vocate’sVocate, D. (Ed.).

(1994). Intrapersonal Communication: Different Voices, Different Minds. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence

Erlbaum.book on intrapersonal communication explains how, as we use language to reflect on our own

experiences, we talk ourselves through situations. For example, the voice within you that tells you, “Keep on
Going! I can DO IT!” when you are putting your all into completing a five-mile race; or that says, “This report

I’ve written is pretty good.” Your intrapersonal communication can be positive or negative, and directly
influences how you perceive and react to situations and communication with others.

What you perceive in communication with others is also influenced by your culture, native language, and your
world view. As the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas said, “Every process of reaching understanding takes
place against the background of a culturally ingrained preunderstanding. ”Habermas, J. (1984). The Theory of
Communicative Action (Vol. 1). Boston: Beacon Press, p. 100.

For example, you may have certain expectations of time and punctuality. You weren’t born with them, so where
did you learn them? From those around you as you grew up. You learned from your family, or the group of

people who raised you. What was normal for them became normal for you, but not everyone’s idea of normal, is
the same.

When your supervisor invites you to a meeting and says it will start at 7 p.m., does that mean 7:00 sharp, 7-ish,
or even 7:30? In the business context, when a meeting is supposed to start at 9 a.m., is it promptly a 9 a.m.?

Variations in time expectations depend on regional and national culture as well as individual corporate
cultures. In some companies, everyone may be expected to arrive 10-15 minutes before the announced start

time to take their seats and be ready to commence business at 9:00 sharp. In other companies, “meeting and
greeting” from about 9 to 9:05 or even 9:10 is the norm. When you are unfamiliar with the expectations for a

business event, it is always wise to err on the side of being punctual, regardless of what your own internal
assumptions about time and punctuality may be.

Interpersonal Communication

The second major context within the field of communication is interpersonal communication. Interpersonal

communication normally involves two people, and can range from intimate and very personal to formal and
impersonal. You may carry on a conversation with a loved one, sharing a serious concern. Later, at work, you
may have a brief conversation about plans for the weekend with the security guard on your way home. What’s
the difference? Both scenarios involve interpersonal communication, but are different in levels of intimacy. The

first example implies a trusting relationship established over time between two caring individuals. The second
example level implies some previous familiarity, and is really more about acknowledging each other than any

actual exchange of information, much like saying hello or goodbye.

Group Communication

Have you ever noticed how a small group of people in class sit near each other? Perhaps they are members of
the same sports program, or just friends, but no doubt they often engage in group communication.

“Group communication is a dynamic process where a small number of people engage in a

conversation.”McLean, S. (2005). The Basics of Interpersonal Communication. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, p.

14. Group communication is generally defined as involving three to eight people. The larger the group, the
more likely it is to break down into smaller groups.

To take a page from marketing, does your audience have segments or any points of convergence/divergence?
We could consider factors like age, education, sex, and location to learn more about groups and their general

preferences as well as dislikes. You may find several groups within the larger audience, such as specific areas of
education, and use this knowledge to increase your effectiveness as a communicator.

Public Communication
In public communication, one person speaks to a group of people; the same is true of public written
communication, where one person writes a message to be read by a small or large group. The speaker or writer

may ask questions, and engage the audience in a discussion (in writing, examples are an email discussion or a
point-counter-point series of letters to the editor), but the dynamics of the conversation are distinct from group

communication, where different rules apply. In a public speaking situation, the group normally defers to the
speaker. For example, the boss speaks to everyone, and the sales team quietly listens without interruption.

This generalization is changing as norms and expectations change, and many cultures have a tradition of “call
outs” or interjections that are not to be interpreted as interruptions or competition for the floor, but instead as

affirmations. The boss may say, as part of a charged-up motivational speech, “Do you hear me?” and the sales
team is expected to call back “Yes Sir!” The boss, as a public speaker, recognizes that intrapersonal

communication (thoughts of the individual members) or interpersonal communication (communication

between team members) may interfere with this classic public speaking dynamic of all to one, or the audience

devoting all its attention to the speaker, and incorporate attention getting and engagement strategies to keep
the sales team focused on the message.

Mass Communication

How do you tell everyone on campus where and when all the classes are held? Would a speech from the front

steps work? Perhaps it might meet the need if your school is a very small one. A written schedule that lists all
classes would be a better alternative. How do you let everyone know there is a sale on in your store, or that your

new product will meet their needs, or that your position on a political issue is the same as your constituents?
You send a message to as many people as you can through mass communication. Does everyone receive mass

communication the same way they might receive a personal phone call? Not likely. Some people who receive
mass mailings assume that they are “junk mail” (i.e., that they do not meet the recipients’ needs) and throw

them away unopened. People may tune out a television advertisement with a click of the mute button, delete
tweets or ignore friend requests on Facebook by the hundreds, or send all unsolicited email straight to the

spam folder unread.

Mass media is a powerful force in modern society and our daily lives, and is adapting rapidly to new

technologies. Mass communication involves sending a single message to a group. It allows us to communicate

our message to a large number of people, but we are limited in our ability to tailor our message to specific

audiences, groups, or individuals. As a business communicator, you can use multimedia as a visual aid or
reference common programs, films or other images that your audience finds familiar yet engaging. You can

tweet a picture that is worth far more than 140 characters, and are just as likely to elicit a significant response.
By choosing messages or references that many audience members will recognize or can identify with, you can

develop common ground and increase the appeal of your message.

KEY TAKEAWAY

Communication contexts include intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication.
Types Of Communication Context
Context is one of the basic components of human communication. It refers to the setting in which
communication is taking place. However, there are several different kinds of communication context to
consider.

The first is physical context. This refers to the tangible environment in which the communication is taking place.
It is important to tailor one's communication to the physical area; someone would scarcely speak the same way
in a sports bar as they would in a place of worship. 

The second is cultural and psychological context. Communication will be interpreted in different ways based on
the general feeling of the audience as well as the zeitgeist of the time. It goes without saying that there's a time
and a place for most points to be made. This context narrows the points that can be made effectively to a
certain group of people. 

Finally, there is temporal context, or context within context context. This is the context of when a certain point
can be made, or a message sent, within a conversation itself. Those skilled in rhetoric know that you can't just
blurt out the most stirring part of your speech—you have to build to it. Similarly, when delivering grave or tragic
news, it is best to place the hard-hitting information where the blow can best be softened.

4 Types of Communication Styles

Every person has a unique communication style, a way in which they interact and exchange
information with others.

There are four basic communication styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and
assertive.

It’s important to understand each communication style, and why individuals use them. For
example, the assertive communication style has been found to be most effective, because it
incorporates the best aspects of all the other styles.

When we break down these four styles, we’ll better understand the characteristics of each style,
standard phrases and what makes them unique.

Passive

Individuals who use the passive communication style often act indifferently, yielding to others.
Passive communicators usually fail to express their feelings or needs, allowing others to express
themselves. Frequently, a passive communicator’s lack of outward communication can lead
to misunderstanding, anger build-up or resentment. At the same time, these communicators can
be safer to speak with when a conflict arises, because they most likely will avoid a confrontation
or defer to others.

Passive communicators often display a lack of eye contact, poor body posture and an inability to
say “no.” Passive communicators also act in a way that states “people never consider my
feelings.”

But passive communicators are also easy to get along with as they follow others and “go with the
flow.”

Examples of phrases that those who use a passive communication style would say or may
believe include:

 “It really doesn’t matter that much.”

 “I just want to keep the peace”

Aggressive

It’s often apparent when someone communicates in an aggressive manner. You’ll hear it. You’ll
see it. You may even feel it.

The aggressive communication style is emphasized by speaking in a loud and demanding voice,

maintaining intense eye contact and dominating or controlling others by blaming, intimidating,
criticizing, threatening or attacking them, among other traits.
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Learn more about effective communication with Alvernia University’s fully online B.A. in
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Aggressive communicators often issue commands, ask questions rudely and fail to listen to
others. But they can also be considered leaders and command respect from those around them.

Examples of phrases that an aggressive communicator would use include:

 “I’m right and you’re wrong.”

 “I’ll get my way no matter what.”
 “It’s all your fault.”

Passive-Aggressive

Passive-aggressive communication style users appear passive on the surface, but within he or
she may feel powerless or stuck, building up a resentment that leads to seething or acting out in
subtle, indirect or secret ways.

Most passive-aggressive communicators will mutter to themselves rather than confront a person
or issue. They have difficulty acknowledging their anger, use facial expressions that don’t
correlate with how they feel and even deny there is a problem.

Passive-aggressive communicators are most likely to communicate with body language or a lack
of open communication to another person, such as giving someone the silent treatment, spreading
rumors behind people’s backs or sabotaging others’ efforts. Passive-aggressive communicators
may also appear cooperative, but may silently be doing the opposite.

Ultimately, passive-aggressive communicators are aware of their needs, but at times struggle to
voice them.

Examples of phrases that a passive-aggressive communicator would use include:

 “That’s fine with me, but don’t be surprised if someone else gets mad.”
 “Sure, we can do things your way” (then mutters to self that “your way” is stupid).

Assertive

Thought to be the most effective form of communication, the assertive communication style
features an open communication link while not being overbearing. Assertive communicators can
express their own needs, desires, ideas and feelings, while also considering the needs of others.
Assertive communicators aim for both sides to win in a situation, balancing one’s rights with the
rights of others.

Assertive communicators can express their own needs, desires, ideas and feelings, while also
considering the needs of others.

One of the keys to assertive communication is using “I” statements, such as “I feel frustrated
when you are late for a meeting,” or, “I don’t like having to explain this over and over.” It indicates
ownership of feelings and behaviors without blaming the other person.

Examples of phrases an assertive communicator would use include:

 “We are equally entitled to express ourselves respectfully to one another.”

 “I realize I have choices in my life, and I consider my options.”
 “I respect the rights of others.”
How to Become an Assertive Communicator

Understanding how others communicate can be key to getting your message across to them. In
order to develop a more assertive communication style, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

 Take ownership (use “I” statements)

 Maintain eye contact
 Learn to say “no”
 Voice your needs and desires confidently

Establish Yourself as a Key Communicator

Now that you’ve learned about the four basic communication styles, take that knowledge and
apply it to a degree. You’ll learn even more about effective communication with Alvernia
University’s fully online B.A. in Communication. Choose your track — either Strategic
Communications or PR & Advertising — while learning the fundamentals of mass communication.

Alvernia’s students can take advantage of a rich liberal arts education grounded in Franciscan
values and taught by personable faculty who have your success in mind. At Alvernia, our program
features a flexible online format, allowing you to balance your studies with your busy life.