HEN 111Module 1

“Effective teamwork ends and begins with communication.”

As much as teamwork needs cooperation, communication is the key element for an effective teamwork.
From the beginning up to the end, we communicate with our team members to relay our own thoughts,
ideas, and opinions. We communicate to gain information from them or give information ourselves as
well as to understand their messages. It can also resolve the conflicts and challenges the group may
encounter. Thus, without proper communication, we can’t build an effective teamwork among our
members.

Lesson 1: Fundamentals of Communication

Communication

Latin terms: communicare (to make common, to share)

- It is a process of exchanging messages or information from one person to another within and across
channels, contexts, media, and cultures.

- Communication happens anywhere and it may take various forms:

*personal or impersonal situations

*face to face conversation

*phone conversation

*meeting

*group discussion

During the process, people make meaning or sense of what is happening during communication.

Nature of Communication

Communication is a process

Elements of Communication

1. Speaker – the source of information or message.

2. Message – the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or actions.

3. Encoding – the process of translating the idea in a language that can be understood. This can be
through writing or speaking, or gestures.

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 message. This is the part were the receiver tries to make
meaning out of what was said.

6. Receiver – the person who receives the message.

7. Feedback – the reaction, response, or reply of the receiver to the speaker.8. Context – the situation or
environment of the speech event.

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

Process of Communication

1st The source or sender conceives an

2nd The sender encodes the message appropriate for the receiver.

3rd The sender transmits the message through a channel.

4th The receiver receives the message.

5th The receiver decodes the message and tries to understand its meaning.

6th The receiver then provides feedback.

The process of communication makes aware of the things that are happening during a conversation,
prepare for our next encounters, and possibly detect what step in the process breakdown happened

Lesson 2: Models of Communication

1. Shannon-Weaver Model (1949)

- mother of all communication models

- for mass communication- one-way or linear process (ex. television)

- has been criticized for missing one essential element: feedback

-developed by engineer and mathematician Claude Shannon and scientist Warren Weaver

2. Transaction Model

- proposed by Dean Barnlund

- two-way communication as it includes feedback- interactive

- considers multiple-noise sources

- aka circular model

3. Schramm Model
- introduced by Wilbur Schramm

- updated version of Transaction model

- two-way communication- added feedback in his model

- included field of experience-field of experience

– life experiences, attitudes, values, and beliefs that each communicator brings to an interaction and that
shape how messages are sent and received

VERBAL COMMUNICATION AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Communication is a natural occurrence that we experience on a daily basis. This is an act of interaction
with people and sharing information with them. However, whether we

speak or not we are conveying a message since communication is not limited to spoken words. It is
necessary that we are aware of the vocal and non-vocal elements of communication to ensure that we
are sending and receiving our messages accurately.

There are two types of communication

VERBAL COMMUNICATION

1. Verbal Communication refers to an interaction in which words are used to relay a message. For
effective and successful verbal communication, use words which can be easily understood by the person
you are talking to. Consider the following when engaging in this type of communication

.Appropriateness – The language that you use should be appropriate to the environment or occasion
(i.e., whether formal or informal).

Brevity – Speakers who often use simple yet precise powerful words are found to be more credible.
Try to achieve brevity by being direct with your words. Avoid fillers and insubstantial expressions which
do not add to the message, such as “uh’, “you know”, “I guess,” and others.

Clarity – The meaning of words, feelings, or ideas may be interpreted differently by a listener; hence it
is essential for you to clearly state your message and express your ideas and feelings.

Ethics - Words should be carefully chosen in consideration of the gender, roles, ethnicity, preferences,
and status of the person or people you are talking to.

Vividness – Words that vividly or creatively describe things or feelings usually add color and spice to
communication; hence, you are encouraged to find ways to charm your audience through the use of
vivid words.

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
2. Nonverbal Communication refers to an interaction where behavior is used to convey and represent
meanings. All kinds of human responses that are not expressed in words are classified as nonverbal
communication. Examples are stares, smiles, tone of voice, movements, manners of walking, standing
and sitting, appearance, style of attire, attitude towards punctuality and space, personality, and
others.

Mastery of nonverbal communication is important for several reasons:

It enhances and emphasizes the message of your speech.

It can communicate feelings, attitudes, and perceptions.

It can sustain the attention of the listeners.

It gives the audience a preview of the type of speaker you are.

It makes you appear more dynamic in your delivery.

It serves as a channel to release tension and nervousness

It helps make your speech more dramatic.

It can build a connection with listeners.

It makes you a credible speaker.

It helps you vary your speaking style and avoid a monotonous delivery.

FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION

Communication serves five major functions within a certain group or organization. These are 1)
Regulate/Control, 2) Social Interaction, 3) Motivation, 4) Emotional Expression, and 5) Information
Dissemination. We need to identify these major functionsin order for us to know how to use them in
various time, place, and situations. These also enable us to use both verbal and nonverbal
communication for different purposes.

Regulation/Control – This is what we use when we need to regulate or control the situation or
activities that we engaged in. This is usually imperative because the message is expected to be followed
by the receiver

.Social Interaction - It is natural for us, humans to develop and maintain relationships and associations
with different people. Social interaction allows us to develop bonds, intimacy, and connections with
other people.

Motivation - As a function, motivation allows us to motivate or encourage people to live better

.Emotional Expression – Expressing emotions when communicating is necessary to enhance the

message. This can be in a form of statements, interjections, or exclamations.
Information dissemination – This function fulfills our inquisitions and enables us to process and
structure the information we learn from others. Getting and giving information can be in the form of
questions, imperative, and declarative statements.

BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

Communication means sharing information. With no sharing, there is no communication.To

communicate successfully with others, we have to understand the communication process and the
barriers. A communication barrier is anything that prevents us from receiving and understanding the
messages others use to convey their thoughts. It leads to misunderstanding and conflict among the
members of an organization. Below are the different kinds of barriers.

1. Psychological barrier- emotional character and mental limitations of human beings. This results to
absent-mindedness, fear of expressing one’s ideas to others, excitement, and emotional instability—all
accounting for an overwhelming number of communicationproblems.

Example: Mariel is frustrated that is why she cannot accept the explanation of her friend.

2. Physical barrier- environmental and natural condition that act as a barrier in communication in
sending message from sender to receiver.

Example: Aldrin is having a conversation with his friends when a song was played loudly.

3. Physiological barrier- related with the limitations of the human body and the human mind. This may
result from individual's personal discomfort, caused by ill-health, poor eye sight, or hearing difficulties.

Example: Phoebe who has short term memory loss is unable to convey the message after a while as she
forgets the message.

4. Semantic barrier- the difference in meaning attached to words used in communication.

Example: Mr. Leo, a scientist, discusses a weather phenomenon with his neighbor who does not know
much about the topic

Intercultural Communication

In this unit, we will explore the relationship between culture and communication.

Intercultural communication is the verbal and nonverbal interaction between people from two different
cultural backgrounds

The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivit

The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) offers a structure that explores how people
experience cultural differences. According to Dr. Milton Bennett (2004), it has 6 stages. These are the
following:
Stage 1: Denial. The individual does not recognize cultural differences. People with this predominant
experience are “in denial” about cultural differences – they are unable to experience differences in other
than extremely simple ways. They may be perplexed when asked about their own culture because they
have not considered how culture impacts their own or others’ lives

An individual in the Denial stage might be heard saying:

All cities are the same—lots of buildings, too many cars, McDonalds.

With my experience, I can be successful in any culture without any special effort”

Stage 2: Defense. The individual starts to recognize cultural differences and is intimidated by them,
resulting in either a superior view on culture or own culture or unjustified high regard for the new one.
People with a predominant experience of Defense experience the cultural differences in a polarized
way–us and them. They feel “under siege” by people that they stereotype in simplistic and negative
ways, protecting themselves with a hardened boundary between themselves and the “others.

An individual in the Defense stage might be heard saying:

This culture doesn’t 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.”

I wish I could give up my own cultural background and really be one of these people.

Stage 3: Minimization. Although individuals see cultural differences, they bank more on the universality
of ideas rather than cultural differences. The familiar cultural worldview is protected by believing that
deep down we are all alike, either physically/psychologically or spiritually/philosophicall