MODULE 1

CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE,

AND COMMUNICATION
____________________________________________________________________________

“There are always three speeches,

for every one you actually gave. The
one you practiced, the one you
gave, and the one you wish you
gave.”

– Dale Carnegie

After you have finished studying Module One

you should be able to:

1. Tell the concepts and contexts of speech

communication.
2. Distinguish speech, language, and
communication.

Starter:

Speech, Language, and Communication are synonymous, but each of

them has its unique meaning.

What are the differences among the following terminologies?

1. Speech
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2. Language
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3. Communication
 Speech generally refers to the act of producing words as an avenue of
expression of thoughts and feelings through sounds, patterns of words, or
intelligibility. When speech is produced, you need to control your vocal
tract, larynx, pharynx, velum tongue, teeth, lips, oral, and nasal cavity.

Language refers to the ability to communicate either spoken or written

words in a structured and conventional way. It has a system of rules about
how words and phrases can be put together to communicate meanings. It
is used in a symbolic system. For instance, if you think about ‘cat’, what
comes to your mind is a small fury four-legged animal. Furthermore, it is
dynamic because it is constantly changing. New words are coined and
added to a language. Moreover, it is shared by a community of users.

Communication is the broadest of the three. It includes spoken

language and non-verbal cues like facial expression, gesture, and body
language which are essential for interacting and communicating with
others.

NATURE OF COMMUNICATION

Can you exist in a world without communication? Can you live with it?
How would you picture yourself dealing with life in this situation?

Yes, you have brilliant ideas, but you cannot share it with others. You
have an intense desire to achieve something, but you cannot verbalize
your desire because you lack the power of communication. Indeed, you
would feel useless and think that life would not be worth living.

The very nature of communication is a basic human activity. It involves

a speaker who sends his message to a receiver through verbal in a form
of greeting, praise, comment, question, reaction, and any other mode of
reply; or non-verbal, in a form of facial expression, gesture, posture,
distance and any other cue that is not conveyed verbally. Responses for
the speaker’s message are gathered through feedback which is either
positive (favorable) or negative (unfavorable) depending on the speaker’s
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interpretation of message based on his/her field of knowledge. As the

communication process takes place, there is an exchange or switch of
roles, from time to time, between the speaker and listener.

Communication, therefore, is a part and parcel of your life. As a social

being, you love to talk to survive, to form social bonds, to help others, to
manage how others perceive you, etc. Indeed, you cannot simply afford to
let a day pass without communicating with anyone because your nature
requires you to communicate with your fellow human beings.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

Communication is the key to progress and advancement in continuing

to learn things more accurately and effectively. People interact with words
that give them pleasure in transmitting information, ideas, and attitudes. In
this way, they increase learning and understanding of life.

Each person communicates with a message through one or more of

his/her senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Effective
communication implies good and pleasant speech and requires a clear,
adequate voice to be easily understood; accurate in the production of the
individual sounds; and in the selection of words. Oral communication is a
cycle that always involves at least two persons: a decoder and an encoder,
of a message sent through a channel and a reaction through feedback.

FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION

“No man is an island”, a very popular saying. Man is a social being.

You, as one, cannot survive alone the rest of your life without people to
get along well every day. Your nature requires you to communicate with
members of your family, friends, and people in the community whom you
could express your feelings, ideas, opinions, etc. Thus, communication is
designed to increase your store of information and your understanding of
yourself and the world in which you live. With your communication; you
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can change people’s attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and actions. Hence, your
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ability to communicate should be made clear to everyone involved in your
day-to-day activities.

a. Information Function. The basic requirement of adapting and

adjusting oneself to the environment is information. There must be some
information about what is going on in the environment which concerns the
people. The receiving or giving of information underlines all
communication functions, either directly or indirectly.

b. Command or Instructive Function. Those who are hierarchically

superior in the family, society or organization, often initiate communication
either to inform their subordinates or to tell them, what to do, how to do
when to do, etc. The command and instructive functions of communication
are more observable in formal organizations than in informal
organizations.

c. Influence or Persuasive Function. According to Berlo (1960), the

sole purpose of communication is to influence people. The persuasive
function of communication i.e. to induce people is extremely important for
extension in changing their behavior in the desired direction.

d. Integrative Function. A major function of communication is

integration or of continuously offsetting any disintegration at the
interpersonal or at the organizational level. This helps in maintaining
individual, societal or organizational stability and identity

PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION

Every oral or written communication material serves certain purposes

to achieve depending on the speaker or writer’s intention. They are as
follows:

a. To inform - The speaker provides the listener facts, data, or a body

of knowledge or to offer the listener information.

b. To enlighten – The speaker offers a clear explanation of a certain

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topic by clarifying points of difficulty.

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 c. To persuade – The speaker appeals to his listener’s feelings and
emotions to gain support.

d. To entertain – The speaker aims to amuse his listener by providing

cheer which may lead to hilarity.

e. To give praise – The speaker’s motive is to commend the listener

for laudable acts of accomplishments done by the listener.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

A. Define in your own words the following terms:

1. Speech
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
________________________________________________

2. Language
______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

3. Communication
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

B. Using no props, create a minute video of pantomime in which you try to

communicate an emotion e.g. fear, love, range, confused.

Note: submit your definitions and video to my email:

stephen.soliguen@.urs.edu.ph
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 SAQ 1

Directions: Match column A to column B and write your answer in the

parentheses before the number.
( ) 1. A nurse demonstrating the proper a. a campaign speech
way wearing of a face mask.
( ) 2. The chief purpose of the writer to invite b. non-verbal
his reader to be amused.
( ) 3. The one who initiates the flow of c. to persuade
communication.
( ) 4. A congressman giving his summation d. to give praise
of ABS-CBN franchise renewal before voting
( ) 5. The sender of the message. e. verbal
( ) 6. An art of everyday human activity. f. communication
( ) 7. Communication by body movement. g. to entertain
( ) 8. An impressive movement to solicit h. to inform
support
( ) 9. Expressing an idea through words. i. speaker
( )10. A television host giving tribute to j.
Eddie Garcia

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