MESSAGES

- as denotatively defined are pieces of

information sent or given to someone. It is
one of the most important components of
communication for it refers to ideas, feelings,
thoughts or information that people send
and receive when they communicate with
their audience.
 A message is basically composed of
three variables, namely:
1. CONTENT – in communication context, content maybe classified as
referential and relational.
- REFERENTIAL- when the ideas contained in a message or
the ideas the speakers says as he thinks about something is called
referential.
- RELATIONAL – when the speaker’s ideas or messages
insinuate that there is a relationship between him and his listener, the
content of his message may be considered as relational. A typical
example of which is when the speaker talks to someone and he
mentions his name and hints at his familiarity with him in his talk.
2. STRUCTURE - in every communication
situation, achieving clarity of the message or
information shared is deemed important. It is
much needed that the speaker guides or directs
his listeners to the topics or arguments that he
intends to bring and to discuss with them. The
message to be shared should be well structured
and organized.
3. STYLE - it is referred to the careful manner of
gathering and arranging the words to express the
speaker’s message which somehow reveals what
kind of person he is when speaking.
- Styles can be personal or impersonal, literal
or ironic, plain or elevated, philosophical or
poetic. The use of variations in sentence
structures determines the speaker’s style in
expressing his spoken message.
 WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES OF THE MESSAGE?
1. INFORMATIVE MESSAGES. Refer to pieces of information shared
with someone for the purpose of communicating different forms of
routine, repeated daily tasks, instructions, symbols and codes, steps
and procedures and the like in the workplace. The messages should be
very clear, direct and easy to understand.

2. PERSUASIVE MESSAGES. A persuasive message occurs when a

person tries to influence an individual or group to take certain detailed
actions. Also, persuasive message tackles and solves any doubts and
objections.
3. GOODWILL MESSAGES. Goodwill messages are
used in the work place to demonstrate a sense of kind
heartedness, benevolence and responsiveness.
Messages of appreciation, congratulations or positive
feedback are some of the examples of goodwill
messages. This kind of message should have a you-
attitude with a pleasing introduction and use the words
“I” or “We” to begin the conversation.
 WAYS TO CONVEY MESSAGES MORE CLEARLY
(NIELSEN, 2015)
1. Provide an example. It is much easier to understand the ideas shared
if examples are given.
2. Refer to the source. If you are discussing topics taken from different
chapters of the reading materials, articles, journals paper, videos, etc.,
provide your listeners with the source to analyse.
3. Check for understanding. If you want to be sure that your listeners
understand what you are talking about, ask them to explain the
thought back to you for the purpose of clarification.
4. Ask for feedback. After you have shared the messages to the
listeners, ask for their reactions and responses for possible feedback.
 IDENTIFYING THE TARGET AUDIENCE:
1. PRIMARY TARGET AUDIENCE. This type of target audience refers to
the group a communicator is objectively trying to convince. There may
be more than one primary target audience for the communication
tactic.
2. SECONDARY TARGET AUDIENCE. This includes people or groups
who are less important and relevant to the communication efforts,
but who need to be given the opportunity to receive the message.
They will also profit from hearing the messages, and they may be able
to stimulate the target audience now or in the future.
 OTHER WAYS TO PRESENT A MESSAGE:
The following methods can be utilized to present a message:

1. PRINT. Brochures, fliers, ads, catalogs, reports, memos or letters are

the typical examples of print that are commonly used in presenting the
ideas to the target audience. Print media have an advantage over
electronic communication for you don’t have to worry about how the
message looks on devices and computers with diverse display settings.

2. FACE-TO-FACE. Face-to-face meetings allow you to get more personal and

peculiar intimacy with the target audience for you can easily assess the body
language of your listeners, you can demonstrate what you are presenting
and you can use visual aids. Feedback is readily available after the face-to-
face meeting.
3. TELECONFERENCE. If you cannot accommodate a big number in the
same room, teleconferencing is quite advisable for it gives you many of
the same benefits of face-to-face communications without sacrificing
your time and your listener’s time too.

4. VISUAL AIDS. Using visual aids will better engage the target audience
and make your ideas clear to them. Charts and graphs give visual
importance and intellectual impact to the ideas you are presenting to
your defined audience.