NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

Integrated Basic Education Department

Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506

LESSON NOTES
Week 2: Functions, Nature, and Process of Communication

References:
• International Phonetics Alphabet. (n.d.). IPA chart. IPA Chart. https://www.ipachart.com/.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is vital to our daily lives. We cannot live without communicating because we need to
share thoughts, impart information, persuade others in our beliefs, and show our love and affection.
According to Wood (2004), communication is a systemic process in which individuals interact with and
through symbols to create and interpret meanings (as cited in Agnaou, 2012).

NATURE OF COMMUNICATION
(for a complete notes, refer to your book, pages 2-3)

1. Communication is a process
-It is creative, continuing condition of life, a process that changes as communicators' environments and
needs change.

2. Communication is systematic
-The components or elements of communication are linked to one another as parts of one system. The
absence of one can result to ineffective communication.

3. Communication involves meaning

-Meanings are assigned, given, invented, not received. How you interpret a message is not the same with
how others do it.

4. Communication is symbolic
-The words used to communicate are already symbols. The gestures, facial expressions, eye contact,
posture and the like are another.

PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION
(for a complete notes, refer to your book, pages 3-4)

The process of communication happens as components and elements work together. The success of
communication depends on the functionality of each element.

1. Sender- the source of the message

2. Message- any information or anything the speaker wants to communicate
3. Medium- any form in which the speaker conveys the message. It may be a speech, conversation, letter,
email, etc.
4. Channel- mode, method, or means of sending the message. It may be any of the senses, light and sound
waves in a face-to-face interaction, or digital audio and video signals in a mediated communication.
5. Listener/Receiver- the recipient of the message sent
6. Feedback- the receiver's response, verbally or nonverbally.
Page 1 of 2
 NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506

7. Context- is the situation or environment in which communication takes place.

8. Noise- is anything that impedes or distracts the communication process.

FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION
(for a complete notes, refer to your book, pages 30-32)

1. To provide information
-This function is used for grabbing and sharing information.

● Downward flow– from superiors or elders to the subordinates in the form of directives or
updates.
● Upward flow– from the subordinates or family members to the superiors or elders in the form of
feedback and reports or suggestions; and
● Horizontal Flow (peer to peer)– from worker, husband to wife and vice versa, sibling to sibling,
or manager in the form of data and reports.

2. To motivate
-This is used to power up references, desires, needs, wants, decisions, goals, and strengths. It is the
influence of a person's behavior in the pursuit of goals and objectives.

3. To control or regulate
-To exercise restraint or direction formally or informally. This is used in order to literally regulate or
control behavior of people and the nature or number of activities that they engage in.

4. To facilitate emotional expression

-It is the unloading of emotions resulting to catharsis or relief. It is used in persuading people to change
their mind or behavior.

5. To effect social interaction

-This function is utilized to make social relationships and is used to form bonds, intimacy, relations, and
connections with others.

Page 2 of 2