Lesson 1

Review on the Nature and Importance of Oral Communication

“Public speaking is ordinarily regarded as an instrument of power over others for

the achievement of personal ends.”
- Angelo M. Pellegrini

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. exhibit understanding on the nature, importance, and process of communication;

2. appreciate the importance of communication;

3. create a speech which highlights the “Millennial Generation”.

Activity 1. Choose an object around you which you can compare communication. Introduce the
object and explain why you choose that object. Be creative with your answer.
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Activity 2. This is a self-audit activity. Tick the column that determines how often you practice
what the statements say. Do this as objectively as possible. Bear in mind that there are no
wrong answers.

Usually Sometimes Seldom Never

1. I communicate to convey my messages and

express my ideas.

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 2. I describe communication as a process.

3. I understand that communication can be

expressed in words and/or in actions.

4. I can distinguish the features of the

communication process

5. I can differentiate the models of

communication.

6. I effectively convey a message both in words

and actions.

7. I can identify the elements of communication.

8. I can explain the cause of communication

breakdown.

9. I use strategies to avoid communication

breakdown.

10. I know the functions of communication.

TOTAL

GRAND TOTAL /30

Scoring Score Level of Proficiency

28 – 30 Advanced
Usually – 3 points 25 – 27 Proficient
Sometimes – 2 points 23 – 24 Approaching Proficiency
Seldom – 1 point
21 – 22 Developing
Never – 0
20 and below Beginning

Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from

one person to another within and across channels, contexts, media, and cultures (McCornack,
2014). There is a wide variety of contexts and situations in which communication can be

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manifested; it can be a face-to-face interaction, a phone conversation, a group discussion, a
meeting or interview, a letter correspondence, a class recitation, and many others.
Oral communication is the process of verbally transmitting information and ideas from
one individual or group to another. Oral communication can be either formal or informal. Examples
of informal oral communication include:

-Face-to-face conversations -Telephone conversations

-Discussions that take place at business meetings -Presentations at business

meetings
-Commencement speeches given at a graduation ceremony -Classroom lectures

Nature of Communication
1. Communication is a process.
2. Communication occurs between two or more people (the speaker and the receiver).
3. Communication can be expressed through written or spoken words, actions (nonverbal), or
both spoken words and nonverbal actions at the same time.
Elements of Communication
Communication is divided into elements which help us better understand its mechanics
or process. These elements are the following:
1. Speaker – the source of information or message
2. Message – the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or in actions
3. Encoding – the process of converting the message into words, actions, or other forms that the
speaker understands
4. Channel – the medium or the means, such as personal or non-personal, verbal or nonverbal,
in which the encoded message is conveyed
5. Decoding – the process of interpreting the encoded message of the speaker by the receiver
6. Receiver – the recipient of the message, or someone who decodes the message
7. Feedback – the reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver

8. Context – the environment where communication takes place

9. Barrier – the factors that affect the flow of communication

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Models of Communication
1. Shannon-Weaver Model- known as the mother of all communication models, the Shannon-
Weaver model (1949) depicts communication as a linear or one-way process consisting of five
elements: a source (producer of message); a transmitter (encoder of message into signals); a
channel (signals adapted for transmission); a receiver (decoder of message from the signal); and
a destination. This model, however, has been criticized for missing one essential element in the
communication process: feedback. Without feedback, the speaker will not know whether the
receiver understands the message or not.

2. Transaction Model- unlike the Shannon-Weaver Model, which is a one-way process, the
Transaction Model is a two way process with the inclusion of feedback as one element.

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 As shown in Figure 2, this model is more interactive. There is a collaborative exchange of
messages between communicators with the aim of understanding each other. It also shows that
a barrier, such as noise, may interfere with the flow of communication.

Functions of Communication
Basically, there are five functions of communication. These are control, social interaction,
motivation, emotional expression, and information dissemination.
1. Control – Communication functions to control behavior.
2. Social Interaction – Communication allows individuals to interact with others.
3. Motivation – Communication motivates or encourages people to live better.
4. Emotional expression – Communication facilitates people’s expression of their feelings and
emotions.
5. Information dissemination – Communication functions to convey information.

Features of an Effective Communication

In their pioneer book Effective Public Relations, Professors Broom, Cutlip, and Center (2012) list
the 7 Cs of Effective Communication. This list is widely used today, especially in public relations
and advertising.
1. Completeness

Complete communication is essential to the quality of the communication process in general.

Hence, communication should include everything that the receiver needs to hear for him/ her to
respond, react, or evaluate properly.
2. Conciseness

Conciseness does not mean keeping the message short, but making it direct or straight to the
point. Insignificant or redundant information should be eliminated from the communication that
will be sent to the recipient.
3. Consideration

To be effective, the speaker should always consider relevant information about his/her receiver
such as mood, background, race, preference, education, status, and needs, among others. By
doing so, he/she can easily build rapport with the audience.
4. Concreteness

Effective communication happens when the message is concrete and supported by facts, figures,
and real-life examples and situations. In this case, the receiver is more connected to the message
conveyed.
5. Courtesy

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The speaker shows courtesy in communication by respecting the culture, values, and beliefs of
his/her receivers. Being courteous at all times creates a positive impact on the audience. 6.
Clearness
Clearness in communication implies the use of simple and specific words to express ideas. It is
also achieved when the speaker focuses only on a single objective in his/her speech so as not to
confuse the audience.
7. Correctness
Correctness in grammar eliminates negative impact on the audience and increases the credibility
and effectiveness of the message.

Exercise 1. Write T before each number if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.

_____1. Consider ethics in your speech at all times.

_____2. Effective use of nonverbal communication can strengthen your message.
_____3. How you communicate reflects who you are as a person.
_____4. One way to help you build credibility is through effective nonverbal communication.
_____5. There are certain words that are only appropriate at certain times and places.
_____6. To achieve clarity, we must speak the same language as our listeners.
_____7. The use of too many fillers can distract your listeners.
_____8. Verbal communication is better than nonverbal communication.
_____9. When you talk to others, you should not assume too quickly that they understand the
message that you convey.
_____ 10. When you communicate, choose what you want to say and how you want to say it.

Exercise 2. Complete the semantic web below with a word or group of words relevant to
communication.

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Imagine that you are addressing a group of parents and teachers in an assembly on
understanding your generation known as the “Millennial Generation.”
•Prepare a two-minute speech that communicates your ideas about the topic.
•Your speech should highlight who the millennials are and how they are different from other
generations.

•Evaluate your own speech using the rubrics below.

•You can write your speech on the space below.

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References:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/oral-communication-definition-types-
advantages.html#:~:text=Oral%20communication%20is%20the%20process%20of%20verbally%20trans
mitting%20information%20and,be%20either%20formal%20or%20informal.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/studentsuccess/thinkliteracy/files/Oral.pdf

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