CHAPTER 1

The Communication
Process and
Its Components
OBJECTIVES
01

02

03

04

05
 LESSON 1
The Communication Process and Its
Components
 As the process of sharing meaning in any context. In
addition, Wood (2003), in her book Communication in
our Lives, defined communication as systematic process
in which people interact with and through symbols to
create and interpret meanings.
Figure 1. Communication Process

Communication is a process.
This process includes 1.
context, 2. participants, 3.
messages, 4. channel, 5.
presence or absence of noise,
and 6. feedback.
1. Context
01
Context is the setting in which
communication occurs. This could
02 be physical, social, historical,
cultural, or psychological.
03
Physical Context
• Refers to where communication
takes place. Temperature,
lighting, noise level are factors
that affect the communication
process.
Social Context
is the relationship that exist
between and among participants.
We communicate with our friends,
family, workmates or strangers.
For instance, we communicate
differently with our parents or
siblings at home and this changes
when we talk to our professor or
classmates
Historical Context
is the background provided by the
previous communication between
the participants that influences
understanding of the current
encounter
Psychological Context
includes the moods and feelings
each person brings to the
communication
Cultural Context
includes beliefs, values, norms,
that are shared by a large group of
people (Lusting and Koester, 1993
in Verderber, 1999).
2. Participants

Participants are the people

communicating-the sender and the
receiver. As sender, we form
messages and send them through
different means. The receiver
processes the message and reacts
to them
3. Message

Communication takes place

through sending and receiving of
messages. Messages are encoded
or decoded information in a
communication process.
4. Channel

During communication, the message is

carried through a channel. A channel,
according to Verderber (1999), is both
a route traveled by the message and
the means of transportation. Messages
are transmitted through sensory
channels. Face-to-face communication
has two basic channel: sound (verbal
symbols) and light (non-verbal cues).
5. Noise

Noise is anything that interferes

with communication. It can be:
External Noises
are sights, sounds and other
stimuli in the environment that
draw people’s attention away from
what is being said. For instance,
your professor is giving
instructions for a class activity but
your attention is on the student
outside the classroom laughing out
loud
Internal Noises
are thoughts and feelings that
intervene with the communication
process. For instance, day
dreaming in class
Semantic Noises
are unintended meaning aroused
by certain symbols that prevent
comprehension.
 Examples of semantic noise:

• Lengthy messages that never ever

end
• Bad grammar
• Too much information in one
message
6. Feedback

Responses to message are

called feedback.
Lesson 2. Levels of Communication
Lesson 2. Levels of Communication

Verbal communication
encompasses any form of
communication involving words,
spoken, written, or signed
Non-verbal communication
includes body language, such as
gesture, facial expression, eye contact,
and posture. Touch is a non-verbal
communication that not only
indicates a person’s feelings or level of
comfort, but illustrates personality
characteristics as well.
Intrapersonal communication
occurs within the person, this is
sometimes referred to as cognitive or
personal communication or “self-talk.”
Activities such as thought-processing
and decision-making are
intrapersonal communication.
Interpersonal communication
refers to communication that occurs
between two persons who establish a
communicative relationship.
Interviews, small group discussion
and conversation are forms of
interpersonal communication
Public communication
is a speaker sending message to an
audience. It could be a direct, face-to-
face message delivery of a speaker to
an audience, or it could indirect, using
radio or television.
Lesson 3. Function of Communication

01
We communicate to meet needs.

02 We communicate to enhance or
maintain our sense of self.

03 We communicate to fulfill social

obligations.
04
Communicate to develop relationship.

05
Communicate to exchange information.

06
Communicate to influence others.
Lesson 4. Principles of Communication

01
Communication is purposive.

02
Communication is continuous.

03 Communication messages vary in

conscious encoding.
04
Communication is relational.

05
Communication has ethical implications.

06
Communication is learned.
Lesson 5. Communication Ethics
01 Speaks with sincerity,

02 Does not knowingly expose an audience to

falsehood or half-truths that can cause
significant harm,
03
Does not premeditatedly alter the truth’

04
Presents the truth as she or he understand it,
05 Raises the listeners level of expertise by
supplying the necessary facts,
06 Employs message that is free from mental as
well as physical coercion,

07
Does not invent or fabricate information,

08
Gives credit to the source of information.