Nature and Processes of Communication
Oral Communication in Context | STEM-11
Language is one of those things that we
take for granted - Holtgraves (2002)
➔ Language touches every part of
our lives: it gives us words to our
thoughts, voice, to our idea, and
expression to our feelings.
➔ One we can use effortlessly and
acquire automatically.
Verbal Communication
-used to relay a message
-one must make use of language
Oral Communication (Vocal) and
Written Communication (Non-vocal)
Language
-speak the same medium, determines
how the symbols will be used to
communicate
Words
-symbols used by specific speech
community
The Relationship between
Language and Meaning
➔ Meaning of words is in people
➔ Two levels: denotation and
connotation
➔ Denotation - direct, explicit
meaning of a word
➔ Connotation - the feelings or
evaluations we associate
➔ Meaning may vary depending
on syntactic context Z(position of
word)
➔ Change over Time
➔ Dominant culture will be affected
by other cultures
You communicate nonverbally in two
ways:
1. Body movements
2. Spatial Relationships - how you
distance yourself and to other
person
Dr. Albert Mehrabian Rule
Elements of Personal Communication
➔ 7% = spoken words
➔ 38% = voice, tone
➔ 55% = body language
Nonverbal Communication
- “Action speaks louder than
words”
Types of Nonverbal Communication:
➔ Kinesics - body motion
➔ Haptics - how touch
communicates
➔ Vocalics - use of voice (tone,
pitch, volume, quality, intonation)
➔ Proxemics - space and distance
➔ Chronemics - interpretation of a
person’s use of time
Types of Speech Context
We actively design our language - Gee
2014
1.)Intrapersonal - the speaker acts both
as the sender and the receiver of the
message. The channel is your brain.
 Nature and Processes of Communication
Oral Communication in Context | STEM-11
2.)Interpersonal - communication and
between among people.
Types of Interpersonal
1. Dyad - communication between
two people.
2. Small group - involved at least
three but not more than twelve
people. All participants can
freely share ideas in a loose and
open discussion.
3. Public - Face-to-Face: More than
12, the channels are more
exaggerated. The voice is louder
and the gestures are more
expansive.
4. Mass communication -
takes place through television,
radio, newspapers, books or
other types of media.
Speech Types and Styles
Style - manner of communication
Influenced by factors such as the topic,
audience, relations and conventions of
culture.
Five speech styles:
1. Intimate
2. Casual
3. Consultative
4. Formal
5. Frozen
Intimate - style is private, which occurs
between close family or individuals.
Casual - common among peers and friends.
Jargon or slang or the vernacular language
are used.
Consultative - professional or mutually
accountable is a must in this style.
Formal - used in formal settings and this
is one-way.
Frozen - mostly occurs in ceremonies
and remains unchanged.
Speech Acts
-achieve an intended effect.
Speech Act Acct. Austin (1962)
● Locutionary (Speaker) - literal
meaning of utterance
● Illocutionary (Speaker) - intention
of the speaker when uttering the
words
● Perlocution (Listener) - effect or
result of the utterance to the
thoughts of the listener.
Indirect Speech Acts
-there is no direct connection between
the form and the utterance and the
intended meaning.
Inferred
Indirect
Performatives - to perform something by
uttering it. It is uttered by the right
person at the right circumstances that
result change.
Categories Searle (1975)
a. Asservtives - expressed
proposition
b. Directives - hearer to take a
particular action
 Nature and Processes of Communication
Oral Communication in Context | STEM-11

c. Commissives - commit a speaker

to some future action.
d. Expressives - speaker’s attitude
and emotions.
e. Declarations - proposition of the
declaration.

Cohen (1996)
Representatives - used to describe some
state affairs
Directives - used to get the hearer to do
something

Gricean Maxims
- Also known as the Cooperative
Principles
- Communicator must work toward
a common goal
Paul Grice
- aim to understand speaker’s
meaning rises from sentence
meaning
- Cooperative behavior, therefore
proceeds by the rules of
cooperative conduct.
Four sub parts
1. Maxim of Quality
2. Maxim of Quantity
3. Maxim of Relevance
4. Maxim of Manner