I.

Topic – Functions of Communication

II. Objectives
At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:
 Define the functions of communication
 Determine the different kinds of the functions of communication
 Give examples of the different functions of communication
III. Concept Notes
Functions of communication
Plato once said. “Wise men speak because they have something to say.” Every time a person
thinks of an idea and opens his/her mouth to share this idea, he/she is already giving
meaning to communication. Every action and every word have their function in any
communication.

1. Regulation/ Control in communication

The control or regulation function occurs when an individual is quite uncertain towards
another’s expected behavior that may be unusual from the usual friendly, initial encounters.
Most initial encounters are expected to involve polite, friendly interaction.

2. Social interaction and emotional expression

Emotions coordinate social interaction. A person’s emotional expression serves as a social

expression which suggests prepared responses in others. For example, anger elicits fear-
related responses. Another example is distress which elicits sympathy from observer.
Emotional expression has facilitated several new insights into human emotional
communication through facial muscles movements, vocalization, posture and touch.

3. Communication and motivation

Every communication starts with a motivation. The key to communicative competence of a

person is finding motivation to communicate better than he/she currently does. People are
motivated to communicate in two ways – by approach or by avoidance – which show the
positive and negative sides of motivation.

4. Communication and Information

Information appears often in the definitions of communication. Some say that in order to
define communication, information must be considered. So they say, communication is the
transmission of information between or among people. But it is not as simple as that. The
link between communication and information is complex. Identifying it in human actions
especially presents a challenge.

IV. Activity
Direction: Identify the functions of communication using socially relevant images. Write the
functions of communication that you experience upon looking at these images.
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V. Application
Direction: Express your social interaction and emotional expression about the pictures in the
activity and complete the table below for your answers.

Names: _______________________________________ Date :______________________

_______________________________________ Class Time :__________________

Photo What is happening in each What feeling does the image What do you think is the
Number photo? evoke from both of you? message of the picture?

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