Nature of the Communication Process: What is Communication?

The word communication comes from the Latin words com- which means “with,” munus- meaning “business,” communis-
meaning “commonness” and communico- which means “to confer” or “to relate with one another.”
It is a process in which knowledge, ideas, information, message, attitudes, feelings, emotions and the like are transmitted.
It is a two-way process by which information is exchanged between or among individuals through a common system of symbols,
signs and behavior (Martinez).
Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one person to another within and across
channels, contexts, media, and cultures (McCornack, 2014).
Communication determines our quality of life and our relationship with our fellow human beings. As a social animal, man needs
to communicate effectively with others.
It is also an ongoing process – past, present and future. Our communication today affects the communication of the future.
It serves not only as a bridge in time but a bridge across distances that can penetrate barriers of human individuality. It is the
spark that can ignite understanding and relations among human beings even across cultures.
There is a wide variety of contexts and situations in which communication can be manifested; it can be a face-to-face interaction,
a phone conversation, a group discussion, a meeting or interview, a letter correspondence, a class recitation, and many others.

Why is communication essential?

As a two-way process, communication occurs in an orderly and systematic sequence wherein human beings are able to see and
hear what transpires in their environment. Communication is also dynamic, adaptive and continuous. As a survival mechanism,
communication helps us become unique persons, relating and cooperating with others. It satisfies our physical, ego, social and
practical needs. It is indeed essential in life.
Nature of Communication
1. Communication is a process.
2. Communication occurs between two or more people (the speaker and the receiver).
3. Communication can be expressed through written or spoken words, actions (nonverbal), or both spoken words and nonverbal
actions at the same time.
Two (2) Types of Communication
1. Verbal Communication is the transmission of ideas, opinions, feelings, emotions or attitudes through the use of oral and
written language.
2. Nonverbal communication consists of all the elements of communication other than words. These elements include body
language, appearance, the sound of the voice and the communication environment.

Types of Nonverbal Symbols

1. Kinesics (Body Motions) – It is the study of body movement which includes a large repertoire of physical actions such as eye
contact, facial expression, gesture and posture.
2. Haptics (Use of Touch) – It is the study of how touch is used to convey meaning through the hands, arms and other body parts.
People differ in the way they use and perceive touch: Some like to touch and be touched while others do not. Touch is culture-
bound; also, it varies according to the age, sex and status of the people touching and being touched.

Five (5) Distinct Categories of Haptics

1. Functional/ Professional Touches 3. Friendship/Warmth Touches 5. Sexual Touches
2. Social/ Polite Touches 4. Love/Intimate Touches
3. Proxemics (Use of Space) – It refers to the way people use space to convey meaning such as permanent structures, movable
objects within space and informal space.

Three (3) Distinct Categories of Proxemics

1. Permanent Structures 2. Movable Objects 3. Informal Space

Significance/Meaning of Distance or Space

1. Intimate Space (0-18 in) 2. Personal Space (18 in-4 ft) 3. Social Space (4-12 ft) 4. Public Space (12-15 ft & farther)

4. Chronemics (Use of Time) – It is the study of how people use and structure time. The use of time for communication purposes
is associated with duration, activity and punctuality.
5. Personal Appearance – The way we dress, adorn and fix ourselves communicate a message about us- our social and cultural
roles and our personal qualities. In fact, one writer suggested that clothing conveys different types of messages- economic level,
trustworthiness, social position, level of sophistication, economic background, level of success and moral character.

Elements of Communication
1. Speaker/Sender – the source of information or message
2. Message – the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or in actions
3. Encoding – the process of converting the message into words, actions, or other forms that the speaker understands
4. Channel – the medium or the means, such as personal or non-personal, verbal or nonverbal, in which the encoded message is
conveyed.
5. Decoding – the process of interpreting the encoded message of the speaker by the receiver
6. Receiver/Listener – the recipient of the message, or someone who decodes the message
7. Feedback – the reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver
8. Context – the environment or setting where communication takes place
9. Barrier/Noise – the factors that affect the flow of communication
Two Types of Barriers
1. Internal Barrier – Examples are fatigue, poor listening skills, attitude toward the sender or the information, lack of interest in
the message, fear, mistrust, past experiences, negative attitude, problems at home, lack of common experiences, and emotions
2. External Barrier – Examples are noise, distractions, e-mail not working, bad phone connections, and speaker/sender uses too
many technical words for the audience
Functions of Communication
1. Regulation/Control – Formal and informal communications act to control individuals’ behaviors in organizations.
Example: A police enforcer is regulating the traffic to lead the motorists on the proper route.
2. Social Interaction – Communication allows individuals to interact with others.
Example: The two friends are talking about their plans for the weekend.
3. Motivation – Communication motivates or encourages people to live better.
Example: The guidance counselor is encouraging the problem student to change his behavior in class so he will not cause any
problem to his classmates and teachers.
4. Emotional Expression – Communication facilitates people’s expression of their feelings and emotions.
Example: My best friend would call me and tell me about her problem with her husband.
5. Information Dissemination – Communication functions to convey information.
Example: The teacher discusses the lesson to her class by showing some concrete examples to support her concept.

Models of Communication
1. The Linear Communication Model – It shows communication as a one-way activity where information flows from sender to
receiver. In this model, there is an active sender who conveys a message to a passive receiver. Messages from print and
broadcast media which flow in a one-way manner fall under this model.

Sender Encodes MESSAG Decodes Receiver

E
Channel Channel

2. The Interactive Communication Model – It characterizes communication as a two-way process. The sender formulates and
transmits a message to a receiver who, in turn, formulates and sends a response called feedback. A telephone conversation and
an interview exemplify this communication model.

Sender Encodes MESSAGE Decodes Receiver

Channel Channel

Encodes MESSAG Decodes Sender

Receiver E
Channel Channel
3. The Transactional Communication Model – This model gives additional elements - feedback and noise. Feedback gauges the
responses and reactions of the receivers of the message which is a positive element. On the other hand, the possibility of
ineffective communication can be caused by noise.
ACTIVITIES FOR THE NATURE, DEFINITION, PROCESS, ELEMENTS, FUNCTIONS AND MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

ACTIVITY 01: Choose three (3) objects inside your home to which you can compare communication. Explain your comparison for
each object with that of the meaning and nature of communication in three to five sentences. Be creative with your answer.
(10 points)

ACTIVITY 02: Based from the illustration given below, kindly do the following: (10 points each)
A. Explain the nature and process of communication through the role of each element in a communication.
B. Give a specific illustration or scenario (just like in the example given in the lecture) using the elements of
communication. The theme of your illustration is about the common situation the peoples of the world are experiencing
right now. Make a dramatic and significant illustration about it by focusing on the functions of each element of
communication.
C. In a typical Filipino family, what are the common barriers that affect the success of the communication process? How
can these barriers be avoided? Kindly base your answer on your day-to-day dealings with your family members. Make it
personal and realistic.
Speaker - encoding

Message
Feedback
(barrier)
Channel

Receiver
(decoding)

ACTIVITY 03: Write T before each number if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.
_____ 1. The transactional communication model gauges communication better than the linear communication model.
_____ 2. Effective use of nonverbal communication can strengthen your message.
_____ 3. How you communicate reflects who you are as a person.
_____ 4. One way to help you build credibility is through effective nonverbal communication.
_____ 5. Barriers in communication cannot be overcome by the listeners.
_____ 6. The success of the communication depends solely on the mastery of the speaker to his topic.
_____ 7. The interactive communication model is a one-way process.
_____ 8. Social interaction is accomplished through verbal communication only.
_____ 9. The government officials regulate the citizens’ movements through their constant reminder of staying safe at home. This
is an example of information dissemination.
_____ 10. The orientation to be done by teachers to parents aims to inform the latter of their social responsibility to their child’s
education.

ACTIVITY 04: Identify the function of communication in each of the following situations. Write Regulation/Control, Social
Interaction, Motivation, Information Dissemination or Emotional Expression.
______ 1. Other group members tease or harass a member by manipulating the member's behavior.
______ 2. The teacher praises the students’ scholastic achievement/success.
______ 3. PAGASA gives an important weather forecast to update on the regular basis.
______ 4. Billy greets Ruth; then, they start talking about their plans for the holidays.
______ 5. Vanessa shares her personal frustrations with John.

ACTIVITY 05: Identify the functions of communication in the following pictures. Write Information Dissemination, Social
Interaction, Motivation, Regulation/Control or Emotional Expression. Explain your answer for each number.
1. 2. 3.

4. 5.

ACTIVITY 06: Identify the following scenarios/illustrations as Linear Communication Model, Interactive Communication Model
or Transactional Communication Model. (2 points each)

_____________ 1. It’s the first day of classes. The teacher greets her class via Google classroom. She asks them to share
something about their first day of classes at home. Her students, in return, greet her and their classmates. She’s listening
attentively while her students are exchanging greetings with one another.
_____________ 2. Father is giving sermon to his teenage daughter as she has already been involved with some petty quarrels
with some teenagers in the neighbourhood.
_____________ 3. Most teachers and students are using Google classroom for the new normal way of education. The challenge,
however, is the stability of the internet connection since we often experience some difficulty in the signal. This affects the
outcome of the communication process.

ACTIVITY 07: Differentiate Linear Communication Model, Interactive Communication Model and Transactional Communication
Model through a specific scenario in your day-to-day activities at home. (10 points)

ACTIVITY 08: How do the following types of nonverbal symbols, namely, kinesics, haptics, proxemics, chronemics and personal
appearance contribute to the success of the communication process? Please give one specific example to support your answer.
(10 points)

Note: Please refer to the rubrics above. All answers must be placed or written in a piece/s of yellow paper.