CONTEXTS OF

COMMUNICATION
INTRAPERSONAL CONTEXT
INTERPERSONAL CONTEXT
SMALL GROUP CONTEXT
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
ACADEMIC CONTEXT
PUBLIC CONTEXT
INTERCULTURAL
 CONTEXTS OF
COMMUNICATION

◼ INTRODUCTION

◼ Whether we are aware or not, we are

constantly communicating with ourselves and
others. There are no set time or place at which
communication occurs. We sometimes
communicate even when we do not intend to.
 DEFINITION OF CONTEXT OF
COMMUNICATION
◼ The circumstances/ situation/location/position
within which communication takes place is
referred to as the context of communication.

◼ Within that context several things must be

observed, including the nature and style of
communication as well as relate the forms and
process to the actual context in which the
communication takes place.
INTRAPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ Intrapersonal refers to what happens in the
mind and relates to the internal aspect of a
person, especially emotions. (Encarta
dictionary). Therefore it involves the inner
thoughts of an individual.

◼ The individual therefore becomes his/her own

sender and receiver providing feedback to
him/herself in an ongoing internal process.
INTRAPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ According to Harriet B Braiker (1989) ‘talking to
oneself in public isn’t a sign of mental health, but
holding an internal dialogue is quite normal and very
useful’.

◼ This is so because intrapersonal communication is the

processing of stimuli that may come from internal or
external forces.

◼ We react to these stimuli and the initial reaction takes

place in our minds.
 INTRAPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ FORMS OF INTRAPERSONAL CONTEXT

◼ Daydreaming
◼ Nocturnal dreams
◼ Speaking aloud to oneself
◼ Writing one’s thoughts or observations, writing notes to aid in
memorizing
◼ Making gestures while thinking
◼ Making sense of maps, texts, signs or symbols
◼ Interpreting non-verbal communication
◼ Communication between body parts
INTERPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ Interpersonal communication refers to
communication that takes place between two
or more persons which is usually face to face
or in close proximity. It occurs between
people who have known each other for a long
time.
INRERPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ 4 PRINCIPLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION

◼ It is inescapable- as human beings we must

communicate. Even when we ignore some one we are
communicating something.

◼ It is irreversible- you cannot rewind and delete the

words spoken. According to a Russian proverb ‘once
a word goes out of your mouth, you can never
swallow it again’.
 INTERPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ 4 PRINCIPLES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

◼ It is complicated- It is inevitable that if there are two or

more personalities involved, there will be misunderstanding
and misinterpretation.

◼ If we think about it, we are not always clear in what we say

therefore the other party’s understanding is based on what
he/she has heard and internalized.

◼ It is contextual
 ASPECTS OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
◼ Speech
◼ Nonverbal communication
◼ Sub-conscious communication- transfer of
information through body language between humans.
◼ Summarizing- restating the other person’s ideas in a
shortened form thus testing the accuracy of your
understanding.
◼ Paraphrasing- restating the other person’s comments
in order to clarify your understanding
 ASPECTS OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
◼ Turn taking- alternating opportunities of
dialogue
◼ Listening- paying close attention to what the
other person is saying.
◼ Questioning- asking questions.
 INTERPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ Having good interpersonal communication skills is
important in one’s private life and career .

◼ Each day we engage in a number of interpersonal

interactions at work, school and socially.

◼ Good interpersonal communication assist in

relations/situations such as: parenting, intimate
relationships, management and selling.
*INTERPERSONAL CONTEXT
◼ Interpersonal communication is affected by
many things such as shyness, mental
incapacity, sensory deprivation, arrogance or
even a communication disorder such as
stuttering. However, it is most often our style
of communicating that determines how
successful our interactions are.
 6 STYLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
◼ CONTROLLING- This style is a one way type of
communication where directives are given. This style
is one where you do not want feedback but the
compliance of the receiver. This style is often seen in
parent/child relationship.

◼ This style is beneficial in certain situations such as:

times of crisis, in schools or other institutions where a
leader must control large groups.
 6 STYLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
◼ EGALITARIAN STYLE: This is the opposite of the
controlling style as it encourages feedback from
receiver thereby coming to some mutual
understanding.

◼ This style is more effective in the work environment

where cooperation is imperative.

◼ Those who use this style do so to encourage

cooperation and to give others the feelings that their
ideas are valued.
 6 STYLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
◼ STRUCTURING STYLE: It is associated with business and
school situation. This style is characterized by references to
rules and regulations and is used to establish or impose
schedules.

◼ DYNAMIC STYLE: This is associated with energy and

enthusiasm. The sender uses pleas to motivate the receiver.
The use of persuasive techniques is characteristic of this type
of communicator. This style can be counterproductive if the
receiver do not have enough knowledge to take the action
needed. Also receiver may feel over whelmed and confused.
 6 STYLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
◼ RELINQUISHING STYLE: This style allows the receiver to
take control of the decision-making process. This style
assumes a certain level of competence in the receiver.
◼ For example: in the classroom, the teacher may lay out
objectives of the lesson and let the students determine the
activities they would like to pursue in order to achieve the
lesson goals.

◼ WITHDRAWING STYLE: This is where little effort is made by

the participants. Example: the manager in the workplace may
avoid making decisions and give the impression of a lack of
interest in the organization and the decisions that must be
made.
 SMALL GROUP CONTEXT
◼ Small group refers to the nature and style of
communication that occurs in groups between 2-12
persons.

◼ This type of communication takes place in different

context and mixes interpersonal with social
clustering.

◼ Small group communication takes place almost every

day in our lives in different contexts.
 CONTEXT OF SMALL GROUP
COMMUNICATION
◼ Group discussion in the classroom
◼ A particular group of students who sit together
at lunch break
◼ A chat room on line
◼ Audio or video conferencing
◼ Discussion boards and list servers
 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
◼ ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION takes place within
an organizational context such as, schools, work environment,
banks, post office, the supermarket, and the water company to
name as few.
◼ Organizational communication is said to be:
central: that is, of great importance to the running of the
company
pervasive: meaning there is a significant amount of
communication taking place
complex: there are several patterns of communication all
taking place at the same time.
 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
◼ Organizational communication has specific patterns such as:

◼ Downward: refers to directives or other information coming

from management to employee.

◼ Upward: information that is passed up the management chain.

◼ Horizontal: the sharing of information across the levels of the

organization/ institution.

◼ Grapevine: is the informal passage of information in the office

or organization. It is sometimes deliberately used to pass new
information.
 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
◼ There are both formal and informal means of communicating
in the organization which are both appropriate in cretain
circumstances. Every communication does not have to be
documented and therefore verbal means are used sometimes to
share information.

◼ Examples of formal means:

◼ Email (internet and intranet)
◼ Memos
◼ Newsletters
◼ Policy documents
◼ Job descriptions.
 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
◼ Examples of Informal methods of communication
◼ Face to face
◼ Grapevine
◼ Telephone

◼ Note: written correspondences is often considered as

formal communication while spoken is considered
informal.
 ACADEMIC CONTEXT
Academic communication comes in various forms.
Aural( refers to the ear or hearing), oral (to
the mouth or speaking) and written communication
are the genre Of academic communication.
◼ Students academic communication includes:

◼ Listening attentively
◼ Taking good lecture notes
◼ Asking productive questions
◼ Working in groups for formal and informal class projects
◼ Presenting clear summaries
 ACADEMIC CONTEXT
◼ Academic communication is often not emotive but expository.
◼ It is used not only by students but also lecturers.
◼ Lecturer academic communication includes:
◼ Lecturer notes
◼ Lectures (with or without the use of media such as power
point).
◼ Course outlines
◼ Academic research paper
◼ Books
◼ Professional/scholarly journals.
 PUBLIC CONTEXT
◼ Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group
of people in a structured, deliberate manner to
inform, influence or entertain the listener.

◼ In public speaking as in any form of communication

there are five basic elements which are often
expressed as “ who is saying what to whom using
what medium with what effect”.
 PUBLIC CONTEXT
◼ The purpose of public speaking can range from
simply transmitting information, to motivating
people to act, to simply telling a story.

◼ Good orators should be able to change the

emotions of their listeners and not just inform
them.
 PUBLIC CONTEXT
◼ Interpersonal communication and public speaking
have several components that embrace such things as
motivational speaking, leadership/personal
development, business, customer service and large
group communication.

◼ Public speaking can be a powerful tool to use for

purposes such as motivation, influence, persuasion,
informing, translation, or simply entertaining.
INTERCULTURAL CONTEXT
◼ Intercultural communication, also known as cross-cultural
communication, is a field of study that looks at how people
from differing backgrounds attempt to communicate.

◼ In order to communicate with others of a different cultural

background, it is important to be aware of and analyze the
differing cultural patterns of the world.

◼ One must accept that there are different ways of

communicating both verbally and non-verbally and different
things are communicated by certain behaviors.
INTERCULTURAL CONTEXT
◼ By nature human beings are culturally biased, refusing to be
anything but ethnocentric, so acknowledging and remembering
the differences is not always easy.

◼ Within communities that are ethnically and culturally diverse,

the recognition of differences and sameness is more acute than
in a mono-cultural situation.

◼ In this technological world effective communication requires

greater acknowledgement of cultural diversity and greater
attention paid to the social skills that could reduce cultural
misunderstandings.
INTERCULTURAL CONTEXT
◼ Knowing symbols and their cross-cultural meanings
can protect the communicator from committing a
cross-cultural faux pas.
◼ Knowing issues such as eye contact, dress, voice
levels and handshaking versus embracing as you go
into business partnership with some one from Ghana
or Singapore or Italy or Japan is important.
◼ Being able to communicate without being offensive is
important to a productive relationship.
 CONCLUSION
◼ We have seen how communication takes place in
various contexts and how the context determines the
type of communication engaged in as well as the
forms that the communication takes.
◼ The nature of the context, the culture of the society in
which the communication takes place and the social
orientation of the individuals all play a part in
determining how people relate to each other. The
majority of our communication takes place through
language.