LESSON 1: NATURE AND

PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION
“Effective Communication is 20 what you know and 80 how you feel about
what you know” ~ Jim Rohn
WHAT I NEED TO KNOW
In this lesson you are expected to:
1. understand why we need to study communication;
2. give the definition of communication;
3. explain the nature and process of communication; and
4. Identify the characteristics of communication.

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
Webster defines communication as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a
common system of symbols, signs or behavior.

Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one person to
another using different means, medium, context, media, and cultures.

There are different ways and terms in which communication can be manifested. It can be through face-to-
face, a phone conversation, a group discussion, a meeting or interview, a letter correspondence, a class recitation,
and many others. In other words, the basic functions of communication are to achieve understanding or shared
meaning and to persuade, inform, entertain and manage relationships.

NATURE OF COMMUNICATION

1. Communication is a process.
Communication as a process means it is a step by step activity and it is essentially a two-way process
that involves the active participation of both the sender and receiver. It is the act or process of using words,
sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings,
etc., to someone else.
Communication is a dynamic process which is influenced by the communicator’s mood and thinking.
It is a complex process too. By complex
process, it means, one message may be
interpreted in many ways by different people.
In the sample image, a teacher explains a
lesson in a class of 20 students. There may
also be 20 different understanding of the
lesson. That is why there is a need to seek for
clarification called feedback.

2. Communication is much more of an ART than a science. There is no right or wrong way to communicate –
no set of absolute rules to be followed but there are underlying principles to guide us into effective
communication.

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 3. Communication has a sender and receiver. Communication occurs between two or more people acting as
the speaker or the receiver of the message. In other words, it is a two-way process of reaching mutual
understanding, in which participants do not only exchange (encode-decode) information, news, ideas and
feelings but also create and share meaning. In general, communication is a means of connecting people or
places.

4. Communication is verbal or non-verbal.

Communication can be expressed through written or spoken words (verbal) or actions (non-verbal) of
both spoken words and nonverbal actions at the same time. Communication is not all about sending or
receiving facts in words. It does involve ideas and emotions that are expressed through signs, symbols and
gestures.

The sample image shows both verbal or spoken words and non-verbal actions. The man uses both
verbal and non-verbal cues when he winked at the lady and at the same time greeted her and offered her a
drink. On the other hand, the girl’s smirk is a gesture of disgust or dislike. Even without the use of words, the
lady’s gesture is still understood as a form of communicating her disapproval towards man.

5. Communication is inevitable.
Inevitability means communication is taking place even when someone does not want or intend to
communicate. This “does not want to communicate” feeling of someone actually does communicate something.
What does this mean? It simply means that you cannot avoid communicating. Why?
The truth is, we are communicating constantly because even when you do not want to communicate, you
are communicating! Isn’t that ironic? Yes, you are
sending a message by the way you smile, or frown, sit or
move or by the way you walk or dress up yourself and by
your actions. And even when you are sleeping in class,
you are communicating that you are either bored or sick
or whatever your reasons be!
This notion tells us that communication is
everywhere.
Thus, it is impossible to n o t
communicate. The dark clouds, the deep blue sea, the howling dogs, your empty room or even the silence of the
night, these are all communicating and telling us something. Try discovering that yourself.

6. Communication is irreversible. This means that what you have said can never be unsaid.
Irreversibility happens the very minute you click the “OK” button for a comment or post on your social media and
that it would be too late to take it back when a lot of people have already reacted, and commented to it. The
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 same thing when you perhaps throw a hurting or offensive word to your enemy because of your anger.

You can later be sorry for what you have said but once the damage has already been done, it can never be undone. You may ask
for forgiveness, or say you did not mean what you said but it takes time for another person to heal and forget. That person may forgive
you for what you have said but the effect of what you have said is lasting. This characteristic of communication implies that as senders
of message, we must be careful and choose the appropriate words to say before saying them.

7. Communication is Unrepeatable.
Unrepeatability means that an act of communication can never be duplicated. We may say the same
thing over and over again but the effect of what you said the second or third or fourth time will not be the
same as the first time you said it.
Even if we intend to say the same thing again which is possible but the ideas here is, the outer world
has changed by the second utterance. The listeners may be different, our mood may be different, or our
relationship might be in a different place. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
One of the best examples is at home when you hear your mother or sister rants about your laziness.
The first time you heard it, your reaction would have been bad. You probably cried or stayed in your
bedroom for the whole day. But when you heard it the second time or the third, there is that different effect.
You probably wouldn’t react to it at all, or perhaps just laugh it out! The sure thing is, you cannot duplicate an
act of communication.

This time let’s take a closer look at the illustration on how the communication process takes
place in any given situation.

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Diagram 3: The Communication Process

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 As you can see in Diagram 3, communication goes through a certain process involving the sender,
who is the source of the message, the message, which is the shared information, the receiver, whose
function is to decode the meaning of what was received and of course, the feedback, referring to the
receiver’s reply to the message.

LESSON 2: ELEMENTS OF
COMMUNICATION
“There’s only one rule for being a good talker - learn to listen.” ~ Christopher Morley ~
WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

In this lesson you are expected to:

1. discuss the elements of communication;

2. explain the roles of each element in the communication process; and
3. perform an actual conversation involving the elements.

ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
So what are the elements involved in the communication process be it in the sample image shown or in
any given communication context?

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 Communication is composed of elements that help us better understand its process. Study the illustration
below.

The Elements of the Communication

Let us discuss briefly each of the elements shown in the illustration. You have to remember that
every element has its own importance that greatly affects effective communication.

1. Sender
The sender is also known as the source of the message or information. The sender is responsible for
making putting meaning into his/her message. A sender is also known as the speaker or encoder.
In the illustration, you will see the teacher being labeled as the sender since she is the one giving the information to her
audience
The message is the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or in actions. As
in the illustration above, the message is all about communication which is lesson of the day. The message
by the way is an important element that is being shared by the sender and the receiver.

2. Encoding
This is referring to the process of converting the message into words, actions, or other forms that the
speaker understands. The sender is also considered as the encoder in the illustration shown because it is
her who puts meaning into her message.

3. Channel
The channel is the medium or the means, such as personal or non-personal, verbal or nonverbal,
wherein the encoded message is conveyed. In the example, the channel or the medium of communication
or how the message was conveyed is through personal or face-to-face communication using verbal
language. Other channels of communication will be discussed in the succeeding modules.

4. Decoding
Decoding is the process of interpreting the encoded message of the speaker by the receiver. The
receiver analyzes the message received before giving his/her response. In the illustration, there are
actually several recipients or receivers of the message but directly, the teacher addressed Mr. Lance
Dacer. This suggests that the teacher as the sender is expecting Lance Dacer as the receiver to give his
feedback or response.

5. Receiver
The receiver acts as the recipient of the message, or someone who decodes the message. Again, all
those present in the class are considered receivers of the message.

6. Feedback
Feedbacks are the reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver. It could come in
many forms. It could be through words, gestures, or actions. If you look at the illustration, there are implicit
or not direct feedbacks such as one student is jokingly courting his seatmate. The misbehavior of the
student while the discussion is going on is already a feedback in itself. It suggests that the student’s
attention was not on the teacher but on his seatmate.
7. Context
The context is the environment where communication takes place. It is a communication situation. If we are to look again at the
illustration, we can say at once that the setting is in the classroom which is true. Why, the presence of the teacher, the students, the
discussion are taking place in a classroom setting. Without context, communication cannot take place. There has to be a context for

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communication to happen. In a picnic, a wedding, in the church or dinner, at a basketball game or a bus ride are just a few of the many
contexts where communication can take place.
8. Barrier
Barriers are also called noise in communication. These are factors that affect the flow of
communication. Students’ talking to one another while the class discussion is going may distract the
attention of other students, or someone who has a toothache may not be able to concentrate at the
meeting. In the illustration above, one student is not attentive to the class as she was instead bothered by
the thought of someone she hates.

LESSON 3: FUNCTIONS OF
COMMUNICATION
WHAT I NEED TO KNOW
In this lesson you are expected to:
1. discuss the functions of communication;
2. identify the speaker’s purpose(s); and
3. express yourself in writing away your emotions.

The 5 Functions of Communication

1.Control - to exercise restraint or direction formally or informally. This happens particularly among members or
acquaintances.
Using communication to regulate or control means you use verbal and nonverbal cues to manage an
individual or group. This kind of communication is meant to encourage the other person to reciprocate
encouraging or positive feedback from the initial interaction. This kind of communication also controls the
behavior of person and this control will adhere to the rules or culture/practices of their organization,
group, or fellowship.
Example: An interviewee trying to control herself to meet the expectations set by the interviewer. The interviewee
changes her behavior according to how the interviewer manages the conversation.
One of the reasons why we communicate is to connect with others or with ourselves. Social

2.Social Interaction -
Communication allows acting
and reacting to the behavior of
people around us. By revealing
our thoughts and feelings, we
elicit reactions from others.

Interaction and Emotional expression are the most used form of communication we use. We use it every
day when we hold conversations with our friends or classmates, or when we express how we feel when

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we felt offended or when we feel happy and state our opinion.

However, the way we communicate with others will depend on how close we are to them or how
much we value them. How you talk to your best friend will be very different with how you talk to someone
you just met or to someone with high authority.

3. Emotional Expression -
Communication makes possible the
release or unloading of emotions,
resulting in catharsis. It facilitates
people’s expression of their feelings
and emotions.

Emotional expression is also a form of communication. As with how you talk with someone depending on
your relationship with that person, emotional expression can also be communicated differently depending
on how emotionally close you are to the person.

5. Information dissemination
- It is the most basic function of
communication that provides data
and information for effective
completion of tasks, solution of
problems, and elimination of
uncertainty.
Information exchange is the core reason why we communicate. Information is needed for an
individual to build a harmonious relationship with others and with its environment. Information and
communication will always be linked to each other.

These are the five functions of communication. As an effective communicator, you must set your
goal as to what you want to achieve before you proceed so that you can utilize your knowledge in verbal
and non-verbal cues to your advantage.

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