SPEECH AND STAGE ARTS

MODULE 1: SPEECH ARTS- AN OVERVIEW

 Basic Communication Concepts
 Communication Process
 Types of Communication
 Levels of Context of Communication
 Models of Communication

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify basic communication concepts and principles
2. Imbibe the purpose of communication through slogan synthesis
3. Demonstrate understanding of basic communication concepts and principles in speech preparation

PRESENTATION OF THE LESSON

Activity 1: Talk to Me
Before you start with this module, try to answer the questions that follow:
1. Can you let the day pass without talking to anybody? How long can you stand be
ing uncommunicative?
2. Why do you think people can’t help but talk?

3. What is there in communication that we cannot live without?

4. What for you is a good communicator?

Basic Communication Concepts

"Communication is the process of sharing meaning through continuous flow of symbol

ic messages." (Froemling 5)

Communicator (Sender/receiver) - the participants in communication. Typically, the

roles reverse regularly.

Message - a single uninterrupted utterance. Verbal or nonverbal

Code - a system suitable for creating/carrying messages through a specific medium

 encode (put into code) and
 decode (take out of code)

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Channels (verbal, nonverbal, etc.) - the specific mechanism (“pipeline”) used to
transmit the message

Medium (face-to-face, television, web, phone, etc.) - form or technology of transm

ission —determines kind of code used.

Noise - interference with message — external (physical), internal (mental) or sem

antic (misunderstanding/reaction

Environment (part of context) - that which surrounds and provides a basis for the
meaning of a message:
 Physical(surroundings)
 Temporal (point in time)
 Relational (the existing relationship between communicators - friends, stra
ngers, etc.)
 Cultural (language and behaviour community the communicator(s) come from)

Feedback - checks effects of messages

 positive feedback - "keep doing what you’re doing"
 negative feedback - change what you’re doing.

The Communication Process

The communication process refers to a series of actions or steps taken in order to

successfully communicate. It involves several components such as the sender of the
communication, the actual message being sent, the encoding of the message, the rec
eiver and the decoding of the message. There are also various channels of communic
ation to consider within the communication process. This refers to the way a messa
ge is sent. This can be through various mediums such as voice, audio, video, writi
ng email, fax or body language. The overall goal of the communication process is t
o present an individual or party with information and have them understand it. The
sender must choose the most appropriate medium in order for the communication proc
ess to have worked successfully.

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How does Communication Process Work?

1. The sender develops an idea to be sent

The beginning of the communication process involves the sender creating an idea th
at they plan to send to another person or group of people. Essentially, they're pl
anning the overall subject matter or information they want to transmit.

2. The sender encodes the message

Once the sender develops an idea, they translate it into a form that can be transm
itted to someone else. This means they transform the thoughts of the information t
hey want to send into a certain format. For example, if you are writing a letter,
you'll translate your idea into words. The message can also be nonverbal, oral or
symbolic.

3. The sender selects the channel of communication that will be used

Next, the sender decides how the message will be sent. This involves selecting the
most suitable medium for the message they're relaying. Some communication mediums
include speaking, writing, electronic transmission or nonverbal communication. If
you're communicating at work, make sure to select the proper and most professional
channel of communication.

4. The message travels over the channel of communication

After the medium is chosen, the message then begins the process of transmission. T
he exact process of this will depend on the selected medium. In order for the mess
age to be properly sent, the sender should have selected the appropriate medium.

5. The message is received by the receiver

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Next, the message is received by the recipient. This step in the communication pro
cess is done by hearing the message, seeing it, feeling it or another form of rece
ption.

6. The receiver decodes the message

The receiver then decodes the sender's message. In other words, they interpret it
and convert it into a thought. After they've done this, they analyze the message a
nd attempt to understand it. The communication process is performed effectively wh
en the sender and receiver have the same meaning for the transmitted message.

7. The receiver provides feedback, if applicable

Lastly, unless it's a one-way communication, the receiver will provide feedback in
the form of a reply to the original sender of the message. Feedback provides the r
ecipient with the ability to ensure the sender that their message was properly rec
eived and interpreted. Between two people, this is two-way communication.

Tips for improving the communication process

Here are some tips to consider to improve your communication skills and the commun
ication process overall:

 Simplify your message: In order to ensure your message is properly understoo

d, you should keep your language simple and to the point.
 Know your audience: It's also important to consider the audience that will r
eceive your message as well as their needs and interests.
 Be a good listener: As a communicator, it's important to actively listen to
what those around you are saying. This will ensure that you're sending the r
ight message.
 Ask questions: It's also important to ask good questions to keep the communi
cation flowing. Make sure your questions are insightful and engaging.
 Take the time to respond: When communicating, it's important to consider how
you might reply to a person to ensure you know what you want to say.

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 Consider your body language: If you're communicating through a different med
ium, it's important to be mindful of your body language. In addition, be awa
re of the body language of the person you're communicating with, as well.
 Maintain eye contact: It's also important to make contact with the person or
group you're communicating with. This will show that you're actively listeni
ng to who you're communicating with.
 Clarify your message if needed: If the recipient of your message is unclear
about what you're trying to say, it's important to clarify your message. Thi
s will help them to better understand you.

Types of Communication

We communicate with one another on many different levels. Because we do not have d
irect access to the thoughts and feelings of other people, we must rely on communi
cation to convey messages to one another. There is more to communication than simp
ly using language to speak to one another. Communication exists on a number of lev
els and in variety of forms.

1. Verbal Communication

Verbal communication refers to the use of symbols in the form of spoken words to t
ransmit messages. Verbal communication is complicated by the fact that language is
arbitrary, meaning that words change over time; ambiguous, meaning that many words
lack clear-cut meanings; and abstract, meaning that words are not the phenomena to
which they refer. Thus, miscommunication occurs when the meaning we attach to a wo
rd changes with time, when a word lacks a clear-cut, precise meaning or when words
are used that are too general. For example, the word "love" is a very imprecise te
rm; one person's definition of love may differ substantially from another person's.

2. Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication refers to the use of symbols other than words to transmit
messages. It includes gestures, body language, how we utter words, aspects of our
environment that influence meaning and objects such as jewelry, furniture and clot
hing that send people messages about ourselves. Research suggests that nonverbal c
ommunication constitutes anywhere between 65 and 93 percent of all human communica
tion. Just like words, nonverbal symbols are ambiguous. What is a polite gesture t
o one person may be considered rude by another person. Certain forms of nonverbal
communication may also have different meanings in different cultures. For example,
direct eye contact is appropriate in U.S. society but considered disrespectful in
many Asian countries.

3. Intrapersonal Communication

Intrapersonal communication is also known as self-talk or thinking, and refers to

the ways we communicate with ourselves. We use intrapersonal communication to plan
our lives, rehearse scenarios before we act them out, and tell ourselves what to d
o or not do. The way we communicate with ourselves greatly affects our self-esteem.
A person who tells himself, "I'm so stupid" when he fails an exam will likely hav
e poorer self-esteem than someone who thinks, "I did really well on the previous f
our exams. I must have just been having an off day, and I'll do better next time."

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4. Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is the communication we have with other people. This t

ype of communication varies from highly impersonal to extremely personal. The degr
ee to which we communicate, or fail to communicate, with others influences how our
relationships with them develop, continue or come to an end.

5. Public Communication

Public communication refers to public speeches that we deliver in front of audienc

es. Public communication serves three main purposes: to entertain, to persuade and
/or to inform. It is different from other forms of interaction in that it requires
greater levels of planning and preparation on the part of the speaker and involves
less direct interaction. Audience members still interact with the speaker via most
ly nonverbal symbols, but there is a lesser degree of give and take than there is
in one-on-one conversations.

6. Mass Communication

Mass communication refers to any type of media that is used to communicate with ma
ss audiences. Examples of mass media include books, television, radios, films, com
puter technologies, magazines and newspapers. Although mass communication does inc
lude certain computer technologies, it does not include technologies like email th
at are used to communicate one-on-one with someone. Mass communication is responsi
ble for giving us views of events, issues and people from cultures that differ fro
m ours. It enables us to learn what is going on in distant places in the world and
lets us learn the viewpoints of people and cultures with whom we do not have direc
t contact.

How important communication is to us cannot be over- emphasized. We simply cannot

not communicate. Like what Daniel Webster expressed, “If all my possessions were
to be taken from me with one exception, I would choose to keep the power of commu
nication, for by it I would regain all others.

Levels of Communication

1. Verbal Level

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Although this is perhaps the most apparent level of human communication, people ca
n spend a lifetime trying to master it.

This level includes our selection of words based on an understanding of meaning be

tween the speaker and the listener.

There are multiple definitions for most words, and few of us hold the exact same m
eaning for each word.

Different words evoke different images, memories, and meaning for different people.

The logic and reasoning of a statement or argument (Aristotle’s logos) influence

the effectiveness of the receiving message.

To communicate effectively on the verbal level, select the “right” words and us
age for the context of the conversation (including moral, religious, ethnic and r
eligious differences). Be clear and concise. When possible, formulate your though
ts to avoid rambling. This is an art in itself.

2. Physical Level of Communication

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) brought the importance of visual cues in how we

communicate to many people’s attention.

Visual cues like eye contact, gestures, movements, stances, breathing, posture, an
d facial expressions influence how we feel and communicate.

When used with integrity, techniques like “matching and mirroring” people’s pos
ture and gestures (and certain words too) can increase their receptivity of your m
essage.

To communicate effectively on the physical level, it’s helpful to physically alig

n with others, connecting with them in form and movement. It also helps to be mind
ful of your posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures.

3.Auditory Level of Communication

The sound of our voice, including the tone, range, volume, and speed affects how o
ur messages are received and interpreted by others.

For example, fast talkers will find it beneficial to slow their speech when speaki
ng to a thoughtful, introverted person or risk being unheard.

Also, how we enunciate, inflect, and place emphasis on certain words affects how o
thers interpret the meaning of what we say.

To communicate effectively on the auditory level, become aware of various auditory

cues, speaking to others in a manner more akin to their own ways (another form of
“matching and mirroring”).

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4.Emotional Level of Communication

Few people appreciate how our emotional states affect what we communicate and how
the message is interpreted by the recipient.

In rhetoric, Aristotle’s pathos represents an appeal to the audience’s emotions.

Are you more receptive to someone who is positive and life-affirming or one who is
negative and critical? Enthusiastic or boring?

The speaker’s emotions put the recipient in a particular state of mind and influe
nce how the listener interprets what is said.

To communicate effectively on the emotional level, become aware of your emotional

state, learning to pause and release negative emotions before attempting to connec
t with others. Words delivered with pride, anger or fear are rarely well-received.

5. Energetic Level of Communication

Also called the psychic level, this level of communication encompasses a vast rang
e of unseen factors including a person’s level of consciousness, the frequency or
harmonics of the message, and other subtle energies.

Some people seem to have an “X-factor”—a unique presence—that naturally impart

s their messages to others with greater receptivity and understanding.
To communicate more effectively, hold the highest intention for the other person’
s well-being. This requires a unique level of mindfulness generally cultivated thr
ough compassion practices. When we are centered in a state of mastery, we’re more
likely to access this psychic dimension that holds great treasures of insights int
o others, helping us communicate with greater ease.

Communication Models
Aristotle Model of Communication
Aristotle was the first to take an initiative and design the communication model

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In this model, the speaker plays a key role in communication. He is the one who takes complete
charge of the communication. The sender first prepares a content which he does by carefully putting
his thoughts in words with an objective of influencing the listeners or the recipients, who would then
respond in the sender’s desired way. No points in guessing that the content has to be very impressive
in this model for the audience or the receivers to get convinced. The model says that the speaker
communicates in such a way that the listeners get influenced and responds accordingly.
Scenario:
One will definitely purchase the mobile handset from that store where the sales man gives an
impressive demo of the mobile. It depends on the sales man what to speak and how to speak in a
manner to influence the listeners so that they respond to him in a way he actually wants i.e., purchase
the handset and increase his billing.
BERLO’s Model of Communication
Berlo’s model of communication takes into account the emotional aspect of the message. Berlo’s
model of communication operates on the SMCR model. In the SMCR model
S - Stands for Source
M – Message
C – Channel
R – Receiver

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S – Source
The source in other words also called the sender is the one from whom the thought
originates. He is the one who transfers the information to the receiver after carefully
putting his thoughts into words.

 Communication Skills- An individual must possess excellent communication skills to make

his communication effective and create an impact among the listeners.
 Attitude- It is rightly said that if one has the right attitude, the whole world is at his feet.
There is actually no stopping for the person if he has the right attitude.
 Knowledge- Here knowledge is not related to the educational qualification of the speaker or
the number of degrees he has in his portfolio.
 Social System- The displeasure of the listeners was simply because the speaker ignored the
social set up of the place where he was communicating. He forgot the sentiments, cultural
beliefs, religious feelings of the second party.
 Culture- Culture refers to the cultural background of the community or the listeners where the
speaker is communicating or delivering his speech.
M – Message
When an individual converts his thoughts into words, a message is created. The process is also called
as Encoding. Any message further comprises of the following elements:

 Content- Content is actually the matter or the script of the conversation. It is in simpler words,
the backbone of any communication.
 Element- The speech must be coupled with lots of hand movements, gestures, postures,
facial expressions, body movements to capture the attention of the listeners and
make the speech impressive.
 Treatment- Treatment is actually the way one treats his message and is conveys to the
listeners. One must understand how to present his message so that the message
is conveyed in the most accurate form.
 Structure- A message cannot be expressed in one go. It has to be properly
structured in order to convey the message in the most desired form.

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 Code- Your body movements, your language, your expressions, your gestures are actually the
codes of the message and have to be accurate otherwise the message gets distorted and the
recipient will never be able to decode the correct information
C – Channel
All the five senses are the channels which help human beings to communicate with each other.
R – Receiver
When the message reaches the receiver, he tries to understand what the listener actually wants to
convey and then responds accordingly. This is also called as decoding. The receiver should be on the
same platform as the speaker for smooth flow of information and better understanding of the message.
He should possess good communication skills to understand what the speaker is trying to convey. He
should have the right attitude to understand the message in a positive way. His knowledge should also
be at part with the listener and must know about the subject. He should also be from the same social
and cultural background just like the speaker.

or more knowledge about the Berlo’s Model of Communication plea

se check the link provided;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHGMNV95NkQ

Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication

Shannon and Weaver model is the most popular model of communication and is widely accepted all
over the world.

Shannon and Weaver model simply proposes that a message actually originates from the person who
gets the thought or has the information. The sender is also called the Source of information or the
Information Source. The information then gets transmitted from the brain to the mouth and comes out
as a signal which then reaches the recipient after joining hands with several noises and other
disturbances. The recipient then further passes on the message to its final destination or other minds
of other individuals.

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Scenario:
Peter is working as Vice president - Marketing with a reputed multinational firm. He is currently
heading Mike who in turn is taking care of a small team. Peter wanted Mike to prepare an exhaustive
report on marketing strategies which can be employed to achieve the goals of the organization. He
also wanted a detailed study on the competitor’s activity by end of the day. While he was speaking,
the company peon interrupted to take the lunch order. Finally, when Mike got the complete
information, he in turn delegated the responsibility to his team members. He tried his level best to
convey what Peter actually expected his team to prepare. At the end of the day, the team did prepare
the report and submitted to Peter but there were few errors which they rectified later on.

Schramm’s Model of Communication

This model takes a classic approach to explain the flow of communication. It sugge
sts that communication is a two-way path with the message continually passing betw
een the sender and receiver.

The basis for this model is that the message should be understood between the send
er and receiver. For example, an art professor will not be able to explain past pa
rticiple tense to a group of second standard students.

Elements of the Schramm model of communication include Encoder or Sender, Decoder

or Receiver, Interpreter, and message. This model states that communication is a t
wo-way highway, which means that information passes between the sender and receive
r.

One part of this model states that the message passes from the sender to the recei
ver, but similarly, when the receiver sends a message back to the sender, then rol
e reversal takes place. The sender becomes the receiver and vice versa.

This model states that two elements are required to send a message that is the sen
der and the receiver, and both of them have to encode and decode the message. This
is crucial for the effectiveness and correct interpretation of the message.

Usually, when information reaches the recipient, he aims to comprehend what the se
nder is trying to convey. If the receiver cannot comprehend or decode the message
sent by the sender, then the entire process of communication is of no use.

Therefore decoding and encoding should be considered as two crucial parameters for
effective communication.

The model emphasizes that communication is not complete until the sender gets feed
back from the receiver. The earlier model of communications used to end when the i
nformation was sent to the receiver.

They followed a unidirectional flow of communication. On the other hand, this mode
l is based on the bidirectional flow of communication in which the sender and rece
iver interchange their roles. Schramm was a firm believer that communication is a
two-way process.

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Scenario:

You haven't talked to your best friend in a while so you decide to call her on yo
ur drive home from work. You take turns updating each other on your weekend, what
you have planned for the summer, and how members of your respective families are d
oing. When you hang up, you promise to chat again soon. Without knowing it, you've
engaged in a two-way system of communication popularized as the Osgood-Schramm mod
el.

Helical Model of Communication

The Helical Model of communication was proposed by Frank Dance in 1967 to throw some more
light on communication process. Dance thought of communication process similar to helix.

What is Helix?

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A Helix is nothing but a smooth curve just like a spring which if goes upwards also comes
downwards. The Helical model of communication was designed by Frank Dance keeping the simple
Helix in mind.
According to the Helical model of communication, the process of communication evolves from the
very birth of an individual and continues till the existing moment. All living entities start
communicating from the very first day of their origin. When seeds are planted, they convey the
message to the gardener that they need to be watered daily and should be treated well with fertilizers
and manure. When a plant emerges from the seed it also starts communicating its need for water,
sunlight, manure and fertilizers, thus supporting the Helical model of communication. The same also
applies for animals, birds, fishes and all living creatures.
Scenario 1:
The way the child is communicating to his parents that he is alive,absolutely hale and hearty and
ready to face the challenges of the world. As the child grows up, he cries whenever he is
hungry or expects something from his parents and sometimes simply for his parent’s
attention. It is again a child’s own way of conveying his message to the whole world.
When the same child grows up and starts going to school, he soon interacts with his parents, teachers,
friends in the form of words. Now crying actually gets replaced by words or his speech but one thing
which is common is the process of communication which existed since the child’s birth
Scenario 2:
An individual in his elementary classes learns to pronounce a particular word or react to a
particular situation. It has been observed that even though the child grows up, he continues to
pronounce that particular word in the same way as he did during his growing up days or for that
matter, if the same situation arises again he would under all circumstances react in the same way as he
did in the past. The fear of the child when suddenly the light goes off at night resulting in a complete
blackout is present in his younger days as well as when he grows up.
Child (Day 1) communication evolves

Communication continues

Communication depends on past activities

(Current Day) communication continues with modifications

The above example again makes the Helical model of communication clear.According to
the Helical model as the process of communication moves forward it also comes back and is largely
dependant on the past behaviour of the individual. The model believes that communication process is
just like a helix which moves forward as well as comes backward and is dependent on the behaviour
patterns of the past definitely with some modifications and changes. As the child grows up, he does
make slight changes in his past body movements or past pronunciation or facial expressions. He
makes certain changes, modifications in his communication and tries to get rid of the communication
errors. An individual will definitely get less nervous in his teenage days as compared to his childhood
days, thus a slight change in his behaviour.
The Helical model of communication understands communication in a broader perspective
and considers almost all the activities of an individual from day one to till date.It accumulates all the

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activities occurring in the complete span of an individual that affects the process of communication,
which in turn goes forward and also depends on the past activities.

CONNECTING ACTIVITY
Key to Understanding
Direction: After studying each communication model, students will fill in the table below
with the key concepts they have learned during the discussion.

Communication Model Key concepts

Aristotle
Berlo
Shannon and Weaver
Schramm
Helix

INTEGRATION PROCESS AND SYNTHESIS

Direction: Make a summary of your learning about communication through a slogan
synthesis focusing on concept- 10%, oneness of idea- 10% and originality- 10%. Do this on
your journal. The following questions can be your guide.
1. What makes a successful communication?
2. How to be a good communicator?
3. How important is it to communicate our thoughts and feelings?

ASSESSMENT TASK
QUIZ thru google form

NETWORK LINKS, DIGITAL SOURCES AND

REFERENCES

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Diaz, Rafaela H. (2005). Speech and oral communication. Philippines: National Book Store

https://www.managementstudyguide.com/communication-models.htm

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