Communication Strategy

 is a plan of action or a technique that a communicator uses in order to help make the
communication process successful. There are many different communication strategies,
among which are the following:    
a. Nomination – This involves the selection of participants who can contribute to the conversation. 
b. Restriction – This involves limiting participants from contributing to the conversation or
discussion. 
c. Turn-taking – This refers to the process in which a participant stops speaking and yields the floor
to another participant so that he or she can speak.  
d. Topic control – This occurs when the main or assigned speaker manipulates the discussion in
order to maintain its flow without moving away from or changing the topic.  
e. Topic shifting – This occurs when one intentionally or unintentionally changes the direction of
the flow of ideas in a conversation.  
f. Repair – This refers to the act of fixing the violations in a communication situation.  
g. Termination – This refers to the act of ending a conversation.  

I. The Nature of Nomination and Restriction

Nomination refers to the act of the speaker wherein he or she invites a participant to join in
the conversation or discussion. Restriction, on the other hand, refers to the act of the speaker
wherein he or she limits a participant from contributing to the conversation or discussion so that
others can also contribute.  
Two Factors to consider for Nomination and Restriction
a. Social relationships determine the specific role of the participants, which is a factor for
whether they can nominate or restrict other speakers from joining the conversation. 
● Higher authorities- refer to those who are assigned to control the flow of the conversation.
Their role is to ask questions that will maintain the quality and productivity of communication. For
example, teachers are considered as a higher authority since they facilitate the discussion during
class.  
● Lower authorities- refer to the participants who start as listeners and are then nominated
to be speakers when called on by the higher authorities. They are usually called using their names.
They may also use nonverbal cues to indicate that they want to join the conversation or contribute to
the discussion.    
b. Environment refers to the setting of the conversation. It also determines the roles of the
speakers. For example, in a classroom discussion, teachers nominate or restrict the participants.
However, if the setting is a seminar led by students, there will be a segment for entertaining
questions or comments from the teachers. They may nominate the teachers who will join the
discussion and restrict others. 
● One-on-one communication – This refers to communication situations in which there are
only two participants. Interviews and tutorials are common settings for nomination and restriction.
For example, in a tutorial, the tutor may start the discussion by asking the student questions
regarding his or her lessons and what he or she needs help with. Once the tutor is done asking the
question, the student is nominated to answer. In one-on-one communication situations, the speaker
does not need to mention the other participant’s name in order to nominate him or her.  
● Group communication–This refers to communication situations in which there are more
than two participants. Some examples of group communication that involve nomination and
restriction are debates, panel discussions, class discussions, and forums. In a panel discussion, for
example, there is a moderator who is tasked with facilitating the discussion and nominating and
restricting participants. 
 Guidelines for Nomination and Restriction
When nominating or restricting participants in a discussion, you have to follow certain
guidelines. These guidelines are the following:    
a. The main speaker should state the topic that will be discussed. This is necessary because
the participants should have an idea of what will be talked about. This can be done by explicitly
stating the topic or by asking questions regarding the subject matter.    
b. To properly nominate participants in a conversation, call them by their names. As the main
speaker, you may also use nonverbal cues, such as gesturing at the person to signal that he or she
may already share his or her ideas.    
c. Participants who wish to contribute to the discussion can use verbal or nonverbal cues to
indicate their desire to speak. For example, a participant can raise his or her hand. He or she may
also say “May I be allowed to speak?” or “I have something to share relating to that.”    
d. When other participants try to join the discussion even without nomination, the speaker
may use verbal and nonverbal cues to restrict them. He or she can say “Let me finish first, and then
I’ll get back to your question” or announce before the discussion starts that “questions or comments
will be entertained after the presentation.” The speaker should also keep in mind that restricting
participants should be done politely. 
The class of Ms. Sanchez has just finished reading a story in which the main character had to
struggle with poverty. Ms. Sanchez wants to know her students’ thoughts regarding the story and
the issue it tackles.  
 II. Turn-Taking
Communication is supposed to be a two-way process. There must always be a sender and a
receiver, and they must exchange roles so the initial receiver can give feedback in return. Thus, we
should know when we should stop and give others a chance to express their thoughts. This lesson
will teach you how to take your turn and give way to someone else. 
Turn refers to the opportunity given to a speaker to talk, whereas turn-taking is a process in
which a participant stops speaking and yields the floor to another participant so he or she can
speak. There are three turn-taking acts: keep-turn, release-turn, and take-turn.    
a. Keep-turn suggests that a speaker must not stop until he fulfills his purpose in a
conversation.
b. Release-turn suggests that a speaker is finished talking and is ready to yield the floor to
another person to take his or her turn. He or she may use signals or pauses in a conversation.    
c. Take-turn suggests that another participant can take the role of the speaker. 
  Signals and cues indicate that a speaker wants to keep, yield, or take his or her turn.    
1. Intonation may signal when a speaker intends to keep or yield his or her turn. Falling
intonation indicates that a speaker is about to end his or her turn, while rising intonation implies that
a speaker is about to reach the climax of his or her point, asking the participants for clarification and
confirmation, or sometimes to express disbelief.    
2. Verbal cues may suggest that a speaker wants to yield or to keep his or her turn. For
example, calling the participants’ names indicate that a speaker is letting them take their turn.
Meanwhile, using sentence connectors such as additionally, on the contrary, furthermore,
consequently, or likewise suggests the speaker has something more to say.    
3. Nonverbal cues or gestures, such as raising one’s hand, show that a participant wants to
take the floor or speak. Also, when a speaker points to or fixes his or her gaze on a participant, it
may mean that he or she wants that participant to speak. Here is a sample conversation that shows
turn-taking:
Name:__________________________________ Date:___________________
Grade and Section:_____________ Score:__________________
Unit Test in Oral Communication
I. Identify the type of communicative strategy in each statement.

1. “Do you have anything to say?”

2. “One of the essential lessons I gained from the discussion is the importance of sports and
wellness to a healthy lifestyle.”
3. “Excuse me? I think we should speak one at a time, so we can clearly understand what we
want to say about the issue.”
4. “Go on with your ideas. I’ll let you finish first before I say something.”
5. “Have you heard the news about the latest achievement of our government?”
6. “Hey, how are you? I missed you!”
7. “Best regards to your parents! See you around!”
8. “Good to see you. Anyway, I came to visit you because I want to personally offer apologies for
what I did yesterday.”
9. “Sorry, I can’t decide on that now. I am still focused on my writing assignment. Let’s talk next
time, okay?”
10. “Now, it’s your turn to ask questions.”

II. Identify what is being described in each number.   

1. It is a plan of action or a technique that a communicator uses in order to help make the
communication process successful.
2. It refers to the act of the speaker wherein he or she limits a participant from contributing to
the conversation or discussion so that others can also contribute.
3. Under social relationship, this refer to those who are assigned to control the flow of the
conversation.
4. This determine the specific role of the participants, which is a factor for whether they can
nominate or restrict other speakers from joining the conversation. 
5. It refers to communication situations in which there are more than two participants.
6. This refers to the act of fixing the violations in a communication situation.  
7. This occurs when the main or assigned speaker manipulates the discussion in order to
maintain its flow without moving away from or changing the topic.  
8. It is a process in which a participant stops speaking and yields the floor to another participant
so he or she can speak.
9. This turn-taking act suggests that a speaker is finished talking and is ready to yield the floor
to another person to take his or her turn.
10. This turn-taking act suggests that a speaker must not stop until he fulfills his purpose in a
conversation.

III.
 Check Your Understanding
I. Identify whether each statement is true or false.   
1. Nomination involves giving another person a chance to contribute to the discussion. 
2. Restriction forbids another person from talking due to offensive remarks. 
3. The status of a person can determine whether he or she gets nominated or restricted in a
conversation. 
4. The size of the discussion group does not matter in nomination and restriction. 
5. Moderators of a group discussion can nominate or restrict a group member’s contribution. 

I. Check (✔) if the nomination or restriction practice is proper and cross (X) if not.   
1. Lay down the topics that will be discussed. 
2. Point your index finger at the person you want to nominate. 
3. Butt in immediately when you have something to contribute; do not waste your chance. 
4. Cut off the person dominating the conversation in the middle of his or her talking. 
5. Even if you are a leader, give your members equal chance to express their views. 

II. Identify what is being described in each number.   

1. It is a process in which a participant stops speaking and gives the floor to another participant
so he or she can speak. 
2. It is an act suggesting that a speaker must not stop until he fulfills his purpose in a
conversation.  
3. It is an act that shows that a speaker is finished talking and is ready to yield the floor to
another person to take his or her turn. 
4. These are words like additionally, on the contrary, furthermore, consequently, or likewise that
suggest that the speaker has something more to say. 
5. Eye contact is an example of this turn-taking signal.