What is Communication?
“Any act by which one person gives to or receives
from
another person information about that person’s
needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or
affective
states.”
Julia Scherba de Valenzuela
“the act or instance of transmitting either
information or a verbal or written message”
“a process by which information is exchanged
between individuals through a common system of
symbols, signs, or behavior”
Merriam-Webster
“the exchange of thoughts, messages, or
information, as by speech, signals, writing,”
free dictionary.com
“the act of conveying information for the purpose
of creating a shared understanding”
communication.com
Communication
 includes writing and talking, nonverbal
communication ( such as
facial expressions, body language, or
gestures),visual communication
( the use of images or pictures such as painting,
photography, video or
film) and electronic communication ( telephone
calls, electronic mail, cable television or satellite
broadcast)
Nature and Process of Communication
The Communication Process
Basic Facts
1. Perfect Communication is impossible.
2. Meaning of Message – Mind/Perception
of the receiver.
3. Personality affects the effectiveness of
communication.
“To communicate effectively, one should develop
not only skills but also sense of empathy with
others.”
-Aspiras, Lauro S. et. al.
Elements of Communication
Source
The source is the origin of the idea. Source is also
famously known as sender. He may be an
individual or group though ultimately, it is an
individual who will act on behalf of the group. The
sender conceives the idea, prepares the
message, selects the channel of distribution and
decides who the receiver will be.
: Sender, Encoder, Speaker
Message
It refers to the content that the sender passes on
to the receiver. It is the core of communication.
Messages can consist of symbols or words.
Transformation of an idea into a message by the
sender is known as encoding and converting this
message into some meaning by the receiver is
known as decoding. The message should be clear
so that the receiver understands it.
Encoding
It is the process where the information you would
like to communicate gets transferred into a form to
be sent and decoded by the receiver.
Channel
The channel is the medium through which a
message travels from sender to receiver. The
channel may be mass media or interpersonal.
Selection of channel depends on the message to
be conveyed, availability of channel, cost and
effectiveness of channel of distribution.
Decoding
This stage is just as important as encoding.
Communication can go downhill at this stage if the
receiver is not practicing active listening skills or if
they do not possess enough information to ➢ shows a straight path of relaying information
accurately decode the message. ➢ one-directional/straight-line comm.
➢ proposed by Aristotle
Receiver

The receiver is the person for whom the message = Legal – Courts ; Deliberative - Political
is intended. He is the most important aspect of the Assemblies ; Ceremonial - Celebrations
communication process which is a two way
process and incomplete without the receiver. Any Laswell’s Model of Communication
change or neglect on the part of the receiver will
hamper the entire process.

:Listener, Decoder

Feedback

Feedback is the response the receiver gives to

the sender after the element of effect. Feedback
can be negative or positive depending on how the
message is encoded and decoded by the sender
and receiver respectively. It is an optional element
of communication that may or may not happen. ➢ Speaker speaks and the listener listens
➢ Laswell’s (1948) model
Context
Shannon-Weaver’s Model of Communication
Communication does not take place in a vacuum. ➢ the beginning of modern field
The context of any communication act is the
environment surrounding it. This includes, among
other things, place, time, event, and attitudes of
sender and receiver.

Noise (also called Interference)

This is any factor that inhibits the conveyance of a

message. That is, anything that gets in the way of
the message being accurately received,
interpreted and responded to. Noise may be
internal or external. A student worrying about an
incomplete assignment may not be attentive in
class (internal noise) or the sounds of heavy rain
on a galvanized roof may inhibit the reading of a Berlo's SMCR Model of Communication
storybook to second graders (external noise).
➢ In 1960, David Berlo postulated Berlo's
Models of Communication
Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver (SMCR)
model of communication from Shannon Weaver's
1. Linear Model
Model of Communication (1949). He described
2. Interactive Model
factors affecting the individual components in the
3. Transactional Model
communication making the communication more
efficient.
Linear Mode
Four Components of Communication Process
➢ found typically in mass communication- think
TV, radio, newspaper
1. Sender
➢ no means for immediate feedback
2. Message
➢ signifies that noise is a barrier to effective 3. Channel
communication (Shannon and Weaver’s model 4. Receiver
(1949)

Aristotle’s Model of Communication

 • Helix is compared with evolution of
communication of a human since birth to
existence or existing moment.

• The model is linear as well as circular combined

and disagrees the concept of linearity and
circularity individually.

Interactive Model

➢ introduced by Wilbur Schramm, father of mass

communication
➢ takes into consideration feedback from the
receiver
➢ message originates from two sources: the
message from the sender and the feedback from
the receiver
Transactional Model
➢ considers context and field of experience
➢ shows communication as a give-take- give
interaction

Wilbur Schramm and Wood’s Model of

Communication

➢ cyclical model

Elaboration of Shannon’s Model of

Communication

People do not simply send and receive messages

Hexical Model of Communication
• Frank Dance proposed a communication model
inspired by a helix in 1967, known as Helical
Model of Communication.
and send them back again. Instead, they send
and receive messages simultaneously and build
shared meanings during the interaction; the
channel, environment, communicators, shared
meanings, and even noise are part of the
message.

• a three dimensional spring like curve in the

shape of a cylinder or a cone. Communication Noise
 • Gesture
Noise is the technical term used to refer to all the
possible barriers to effective communication.
Noise can be physical, physiological, What do we consider to achieve effective
psychological, semantic or cultural. communication?

1. Physical noise ➢ socio-linguistic

- context (appropriate place of content)
- is interference that is external to both
speaker and listener; created by
➢ strategic competence
environment= Environmental Noise
- ability to maintain the flow/aura
of the conversation
Example:

• loud party at the neighbors

while you’re trying to record ➢ linguistic competence
- (language usage, grammar)
2. Physiological noise

- is created by barriers within the sender or What are the characteristics of an effective
receiver; Physical condition communication?

Example: 1. Clear
2. Substantive
• articulation problems 3. In Good Faith
• mumbling 4. Appropriate
• talking too fast
• talking too slow How to Overcome Noise in Communication?

3. Psychological noise
Eliminate or Reduce the Noise

- is mental interference in the speaker or Detect the source of the noise. If it is possible to
listener; Psychological factors eliminate the noise, consider whether its removal
is practical.
Example:
Raise speech volume
• wandering thoughts
The speaker can raise his voice if he believes the
• preconceived ideas listener cannot hear his well.

Listen actively
• sarcasm
The listener should attempt active listening. This
4. Semantic noise means paying close attention to the speaker's
words -- not merely hearing what the speaker has
- is interference created when the speaker to say, but interpreting it from the speaker's point
and listener have different meaning of view as well.
systems.
Use clear, straightforward language
Example:
By using clear and straightforward language, you
are preventing needless confusion and
• Jargon
misinterpretation.
• Abstract ideas Ensure all technology works effectively

5. Cultural Noise Omit irrelevant or wordy material from written

documents
- created from the wrong explanation of
another person’s behaviours Clear feedback

Example: The need for feedback should be clearly

understood.
• Eye contact Dimensions of Communication

• Dress -up
1. Verbal or Linguistics Aspect

 Makes use of words C. Metalinguistic Elements

 Oral or written,formal or informal
2. Non-verbal or Extra Linguistic Aspect
Three Elements
Abstract elements that take place in the mind
of communicators- their awareness of the
component units of language- sounds, words,
phrases and sentences.

Intercultural Communication
A. Nonlinguistic Elements
What is ‘culture’?
• used in conveying messages without entirely
relying on speech of language Culture is the characteristics of a particular group
of people, defined by everything from language,
religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
a. Kinesics-Language of the body
Why do cultures differ?
• Facial expressions
History
• Posture and personal appearance
Educational Backgrounds
• Language of gestures
Social backgrounds
1. Emphasizing
Ethnic
2. Regulating
Religion
3. Illustrating
Ecology
4. Emblems
Technology
b. Chronemics-Language of time
Types of Cultural Communication
c. Language of Flower
- Cross cultural communication
d. Language of colors - International communication
- Multicultural communication
e. Proxemics-Language of space - Intercultural communication

f. Haptics----Language of touch
Intercultural Communication
g. Olfactics----Language of smell
- pertains to communication among people
h. Artefactual-Language of objects from different nationalities (Gudykunst,
2003)
- communication that is influenced by
different ethnicities, religions, and sexual
orientations (Sipacio and Balgos, 2016)
B. Paralinguistic Elements - takes place when people draw from their
cultural identity to understand values,
= attributes of voice that accompany the words we prejudices, language, attitudes, and
say relationships (Gudykunst & Kim, 2003)
- the sending and receiving of messages
a. Vocal quality across languages and cultures (Sipacio
and Balgos, 2016)
b. Pitch - Situated communication among persons
of different cultural and linguistic
background (Redoblado,2016)
c. Tempo

d. Volume
What hinders the exchange of ideas between two
people from different cultures?
e. Juncture
 1. Knowledge
2. Skills
3. Attitudes
The Developmental Model of Intercultural
Sensitivity: Six Stages [Bennett and Bennett
(2004)]
Stage 1: Denial
The individual does not recognize cultural
differences.
An individual in the denial stage might be heard
saying: “All cities are the same; they all have tall
buildings, fast food chains, and coffee shops.”
Stage 2: Defense
The individual starts to recognize cultural
differences and is intimidated by them, resulting in
either a superior view on own culture or an
unjustified high regard for the new one.
An individual in the defense stage might be heard
saying: “This culture does not view life the way we
do; our culture is certainly better.” “Their ways are
better than my own; I wish I were one of them.”
Stage 3: Minimization
Although individuals see cultural differences, they
bank more on the universality of ideas rather than
on cultural differences.
An individual in the minimization stage might be
heard saying: “Once we see through the cultural
differences, we really are just the same!”
Stage 4: Acceptance
The individual begins to appreciate important
cultural differences in behaviors and eventually in
values.
An individual in the acceptance stage might be
heard saying: “These people and I have different
values and experiences, and I think we can learn
from one another.”
Stage 5: Adaptation
The individual is very open to world views when
accepting new perspectives.
An individual in the adaptation stage might be
heard saying: “To address our issue, I have to
adjust my approach to consider both my own and
my counterpart‟s background.”
Stage 6: Integration
Individuals start to go beyond their own cultures
and see themselves and their actions based on
multifarious cultural viewpoints.
An individual in the integration stage might be
heard saying: “I can look at things from the
perspective of various cultures.”
Characteristics of Competent Intercultural
Communicators
1. flexibility and the ability to tolerate high
levels of uncertainty
2. reflectiveness or mindfulness
3. open-mindedness
4. sensitivity
5. adaptability
6. ability to engage in divergent thinking (or
thinking creatively) and systems-level
thinking (or thinking how each one in a
system or organization influences each
other)
7. politeness
Note that in addition to culture, other elements
such as gender, age, social status, and religion
must also be taken into consideration when
communicating with others. Refrain from showing
bias when talking to someone by following the tips
below.
1. Avoid stereotypes, i.e., generalizations
about a certain group.
2. Challenge gender norms; avoid using “he”
and “man” to refer to a general group of
people. To remedy this, you may use
plural pronouns or rewrite a sentence to
avoid using pronouns. The use of his/her
is also acceptable.
3. Do not talk down on younger people and
the elderly.
4. Be sensitive to the religious practices of
others.
5. Be polite at all times; do not belittle
people you
perceive to be on a lower social class
than you.
Functions of Communication
Regulation/Control
- a rule or directive made and maintained
by an authority
- an action or process of regulating or being
regulated
Communication is mainly used by persons in
authority or representing authority to regulate or
direct others under
them.
Examples/Situation
The traffic aide in the middle of an intersection
gestures or blows his whistle to direct the flow of
vehicles and pedestrians. In doing so, he avoids a
chaotic scenario of vehicles crisscrossing without
regard for other motorists and accidents that may
happen.

Religions all over the world have set of laws they

prescribe for their faithful. These laws are moral
guides that direct the faithful on how to live.

Social Interaction

“a spontaneous verbal exchanges occurring in

natural settings that are typically familiar to the
interactants”
Handbook of Language and Social Interactions
Emotional Interactions

- a manifestation of one’s internal

emotional state
- an important social signal that conveys a
variety of information regarding a person’s
state of mind and his/her intentions
- It is used by a speaker for the purpose of
moving another person to act, to move in
the particular direction the speaker wants
that person to move.

Motivation

- literally the ‘desire to do things’and the

‘crucial element in setting and attaining
goals’
- purpose or reason
- There is a goal to be achieved, a motive
that must be accomplished.

Example

The motivation to talk with the teacher is perhaps

to ask him/her for more time to finish a class
project.

Information

- apparent in the information-dissemination

function of news agencies
- can be technology-based To convince,
to motivate