FUNCTIONS OF
COMMUNICATION
 Function refers to the
particular purpose for
which a thing is used,
something exists, or a
person is fitted to meet his
or somebody else’s needs.
- To provide information
- To motivate
- To control or regulate
- To facilitate emotional
expression
- To effect social interaction
To Provide Information
• The most basic function
-Communication provides data
and information for effective
completion of tasks, solution of
problems and elimination of
uncertainty.
a.Downward Flow – superiors to
subordinates
b.Upward Flow – subordinates to
superiors
c.Horizontal Flow – peer to peer
(Lombardo, 2015)
To Motivate
• Communication fosters
motivation.
-It helps us to set goals and gives
us update or feedback on our
progress, whether positive or
negative toward the
accomplishment of these goals.
 The coach boosts his
players’ morale by
building their self-esteem
through pep talks and
team building sessions.
To Control or Regulate
The priest or the leader of a
religious organization preaches to
his parish to motivate them to live
a Christian way of life.
-The expression of needs and want
is a way to regulate the behavior
of another person to obtain
something or get something done
(Murphy, 2014).
 A Parent’s Instruction to a
Child
 Doctor’s Prescription
To Facilitate Emotional
Expression
-Communication makes possible
the release or unloading of
emotions, resulting in catharsis.
Appreciation
 “I’m so glad that you came
into my life.”
 “I like you so much!
 “Are you false teeth? It’s
because I can’t smile
without you.”
To Effect Social Interaction
-Communication allows us to act
and react to the behavior of
people around us.
Thus, it facilitates social closeness
to establish, maintain and enjoy
relationships with others.
“No man is an island.”
 Exchange
 Competition
 Cooperation
 Conflict
 Coercion
What is a Speech Context?
- Context in speech is the
situation that brings
people to a conversation
or speaking event.
- It includes the shared
understanding of the
communicators on the
topic of communication.
Intrapersonal Communication
 It is often called “Self-
Talk”
- This happens when we use
language to reflect on our
own experiences, we talk
ourselves through
situations.
• Self-reflection
• Self-motivation
• Worrying
• Making decisions
Interpersonal Communication
 This involves two people
or more. It can range from
intimate and very personal
to formal and impersonal.
 Solomon and Theiss
{2013) state that “the
inter part of the word
highlights how
interpersonal
communication connects
people… when you engage
in interpersonal
communication, you and
another person become
linked together… The
 personal part means that
your unique qualities as a
person matter during
interpersonal
communication…” (p. 5)
Kinds of interpersonal
Communication
Dyadic Communication
 It refers to an interaction
between two persons.
 You offered feedback on
the speech performance
of your classmate.
 You provided comfort to a
friend who was feeling
down.
Group Communication
 A dynamic process where
a small number of people
engage in a conversation.
 Group communication is
generally defined as
involving three to eight
people.
Small Group Communication
 An interaction of five or
more people who work
together to achieve a
common goal.
Types of Small Discussion Groups
Panel Discussion
A public or open discussion
composed of a moderator and
four to six members.
Symposium
Also, a public or open discussion
group that combines instruction
and discussion
Lecture Panel
Also known as lecture forum, a
public discussion
group headed by a chairperson.
Round-Table Discussion
A closed discussion-group where
all the members are required to
interact.
 Brainstorming session
 Buzz session
 Meeting
 Committee
Public Communication
In Public Communication, one
person speaks to a group of
people.
The speaker may or may not
engage the audience in a
discussion, but the audience
normally defer the speaker.
Mass Communication
It involves sending a message to a
group which allows us to
communicate our message to a
large number of people.
• News Reporting
• Advertisement
• State of the Nation Address
SPEECH STYLES
• These are patterns of speaking
characterized by distinctive
pronunciation, vocabulary, intent,
participants, and grammatical
structures.
experiences and have a lot of
experiential knowledge in
common.
Casual Style
• It is a conversational style used
among friends. A very common
characteristic of this is the use of
slang. Thus, the speaker does not
need to be careful of the
pronunciation and grammar.
Also known as informal style, it is
usually used between, friends, or
even insiders who have things to
share.
Casual VS Intimate

• According to German linguist, • Casual uses informal language

Martin Joos, it is the form of
language that the speaker used
characterized by the level of
formality.
• Joos categorized the speech
styles into five types: frozen,
formal, consultative, casual, and
intimate
which follows a structure that
does not abide by the grammar
rules.
• Intimate uses a more vulgar
language.
• Casual uses nonverbal
communication as an aide.

Intimate Style

• This is used between people

who have very close relationship
such as family members, best
friends, and couples.
• Intimate can be completely
People involved in this type of
nonverbal.
speech style have shared a lot of
Consultative Style
• It is a conversational style in
which the speaker constantly
observed the listener’s verbal and
nonverbal cues for feedback.
Hence, the speaker will supply
background information, while
again, the listener participates
continuously.
It happens in two-way
participation.
Formal Style
• Formal style is called upon when
speaking in formal settings no
matter how the participants are
related to each other.
It does not allow the use of
ellipsis, contractions, etc.
Formal VS Consultative
• Consultative is less restricted in
the structure of sentences used.
• Formal is bound by language
structure rules.
Frozen Style
• It is used in respectful situations
or formal ceremonies as it is
considered as the highest form of
communication.
It follows a script or pattern.
Frozen VS Formal
• Frozen cannot be used in a
regular conversation
• Formal can be used in regular
conversation but with certain
conditions.
Speech Act Theory
 Theorizes that the words
that we say does not
simply hold information
but actions as well.
 Speech acts are defined as
actions that are
performed by produced
utterances. 
 Speech act theory
attempts to explain (a)
how speakers use
language to accomplish
intended actions, and (b)
how listeners understand
intended meaning from
what is said. 
John Langshaw Austin
 a British philosopher of
language, proposed the
speech act theory which
has been hugely
influential in pragmatics. 
Speech Acts
Locutionary Act EXAMPLE - “OUCH!”

 Act of making a Locutionary act – Expressing pain

meaningful utterance
Illocutionary act – Informing the
Austin describes it as belonging to other person that they hurt them
a certain vocabulary and
Perlocutionary act – Getting the
confirming a certain grammar
other person to apologize 
with more or less a definite sense
and reference. 

Ex:  EXAMPLE – “I AM HERE FOR YOU”

Ernie: Honey, do you want to go Locutionary act – Telling the
out and watch the movie tonight?  person that they will help them 
Fe: I’m feeling ill! (Expressing Illocutionary act – Comforting the
pain/discomfort)  other person

Perlocutionary act – Make the

Illocutionary Act other person feel at ease/relieved
 It is a way by which a
sentence is used to
express an attitude with a Categories of Speech Acts
certain function.

 What one does IN saying

it 

Perlocutionary Act

 Utterances that bring

about certain
consequences for the
audience to whom the
utterance is directed.
 Locutionary is what we
 What one does BY saying say.
it
  Illocutionary is what we Locutionary act – Giving a
mean when we say it. suggestion

 Perlocutionary is what we Illocutionary act –To show that

accomplish by saying it. only the two of them can solve
their problem

Perlocutionary act –The other

“I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO
person gets a realization/will try
DO”
the suggestion
Locutionary act – Expressing
Types of Communicative
confusion
Strategies
Illocutionary act – Trying to ask
“We have the mastery of the
advice 
language when we know when to
Perlocutionary act –The other speak, when not to speak, and
person provides solution  what to talk about with whom,
when, where, in what manner.” 

7 Types of Communicative
“WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?” Strategy
Locutionary act – Asking further  The use of communicative
details strategies ensures the
Illocutionary act – To clarify what achievement of the
happened purpose and the
enrichment of the
Perlocutionary act –The other communication
person answers experience.

 In these, a combination of
Speech Styles and Speech
Acts are employed.

“WHY DON’T YOU GUYS TALK

ABOUT IT?” Topic Nomination
  Choosing a topic and  Directing and regulating
opening or starting it for the flow or development
discussion.  of the interaction. 

 This strategy is used when  Keeping the interaction

beginning a conversation going by asking questions
or a new topic. and eliciting a response

 Suggesting, introducing, or  This is simply a question-

proposing a topic, activity, answer formula that
choice of preference moves the discussion
forward.
Topic Restriction
Topic Shifting 
 Confining or limiting the
development of the topic  Changing the topic or its
and keeping it within direction and emphasis. 
bounds. 
 Introducing a new topic
 The speaker has the following the continuation
control in the of the previous topic.
communication as the
 This strategy works best
listener simply complies
when there is follow-
with what the speaker
through.
chooses.
Repair
Turn Taking 
 Fixing and correcting
 The exchange of turns or
anything negative, or
instances when each
providing any kind of
speaker talks in an
amends and remedy to
interaction. 
something that has gone
 Turn-taking is dependent wrong in the exchange
on the speech style used. between the two
speakers. 

 This includes requesting

clarification, not
Topic Control acknowledging, topic
 shifting, not responding,
repeating, recasting, and
adding. 

Termination

 Ending, concluding, or
closing the conversation
or interaction. 

 Using or looking out for

verbal and nonverbal
signals to end the
interaction.