I.

Language and Communication 

Lesson 1: The Nature of Language 

Introduction 
 
             Just as the creation of human life is beautiful, so is the creation of a wonderful and
dynamic human capacity---language. Animals are said to be able to communicate with each
other. Whales sing, wolves howl, horses neigh, dogs bark, goats bleat, cows moo, and birds
chirp. The sounds that these creatures produce often reflect the state of their emotions. While it
may be true that animals communicate, only human beings are truly capable of producing
language (Madrunio and Martin, 2018). 
 
Language is at the core of human interaction. In today’s society, it would be an
advantage if you, as the language learner, speak “glocal,” that is, you have the proficiency in
learning both local and global languages. Competence in the use of the language becomes an
edge as people are moving towards globalization. Human beings are enmeshed with the cultures
of the world. As a matter of fact, the twenty first century learners are encouraged to boost their
communication skills to cope with the changing sands of time. 
 
Human beings are born with the capacity to communicate. For communication to
transpire, language is used as a potential tool to create networks of human activities leading to
progress and development. Emerging world leaders in politics, business, religion, media, health,
and even academe, from presidents of nations to teachers in the classrooms--all use the power of
language to obtain results.  Meanwhile, lack of communication has given rise to differences in
language, in thinking, in systems of belief and culture in general (Asimov, 2010, cited in
Samovar, Porter & McDaniel, 2010). The power to use language efficiently and effectively is in
the hands of people who are bent to walk in the roads to progress. Charismatic and influential
people know how to use language and communicate effectively to move people to action. The
proficient and competent user of language has the greater advantage in the era of technological
advancement. So the question is: Why is there a need to understand the nature of language? This
lesson will help you improve your language proficiency and competence, it is because as people
in our community and culture, we are living in a global village. 
 
The Nature of Language 
              “Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we think about,” (Benjamin
Lee Whorf, cited in Samovar, Porter and McDaniel, 2010, p. 221). In every human interaction,
language is at the core. It enables us to exchange abstract ideas, setting us apart from other
animal species by allowing us to say or write down abstract ideas. It was through language that
you learned your cultural values and behaviors.  
Together with the creation of human life is the creation of a wonderful and dynamic
human capacity that is, language. Animals are said to be able to communicate with each other.
For instance, cows moo, turkeys gobble, rats squeak, doves coo, and owls hoot. The sounds these
creatures produce often reflect the state of their emotions. While it may be true that animals
communicate, only human beings are truly capable of producing language. Every language has
systems of rules, phonology, grammar, syntax, semantics, orthography, and other language
intricacies. While grammarians are concerned with clarity, rhetoricians are concerned with
effectiveness. One becomes proficient in the use of the language if he/she grows up knowing that
language. Cultural immersion contributes greatly in the expert use of that language. Exposure to
the intricacies of the use of that language makes one intelligibly functional.   
 
Speech Community 
The moment you are born in this world, you grow up in a community or culture where
your parents are part of it. The language that is spoken by the people in that community
becomes also your own. So, you grow up in that speech community where your parents belong.
They may speak the local language that many Filipinos are accustomed to speak. According to
SIL, Filipinos speak more than a hundred local languages. These can be Tagalog, Tausug,
Cebuano, Chabacano, Maranao, Maguindanao, Sinama, Yakan and what have you. In some
cases, children grow up in an environment where gadgets are their companions. And they pick
up the language that the gadgets speak to them. Exposure to watching TV—like cartoon network
or other e-learning tools, listening to music in English and other multimedia applications will
make them speak the language of their surroundings. Though it may be true, if for instance, they
are born with Chabacano or Cebuano speaking parents, yet they may speak English if their
dominant exposure to the gadgets influence their language use. 

Language Acquisition 
As you grow up, you pick up the language of your parents or the language of the
environment you are in. You started hearing sounds as a baby, and you mimicked them while
you were yet young. As you grow in age, you learn to speak their language. You learn the words
they speak in a natural way. Your vocabulary expanded as you use them in various occasions. As
you mature, you read materials, written texts, inscriptions and other forms of writings in that
language. The last skill to be developed is your writing ability in that language. All of these occur
naturally. Your developmental milestones are obvious. 
 
Mother Tongue 
The language you acquired or picked up from the speech community you are in while
growing up, becomes your first language or your mother tongue. 
 
Second Language 
The language that you formally learn either in school or tutorial classes, where you
learned it with a teacher or tutor is the second language other than the first language that you
acquired from home. This can be your national language, like Filipino or may be the global
language like English. Formal learning of this second language will help you proficient user of
the language. 
 
Language Learning 
Language learning is the process of studying a second language formally. This happens
when you as a learner study: rules of grammar, correct usage, word derivation, pronunciation
and enunciation. In writing, you were trained to: build words from basic parts, affixes and
infixes, derive word meaning, construct sentences, as well as write coherent paragraphs and
even longer stretch of discourses. 
 
Language Contact 
Your exposure to various situations and with other learners who speak a language
different from your own provide a language contact. This can happen in a classroom scenario, in
a restaurant, online transactions and more. 
 
Language Change 
In your interaction with other people, your language comes into contact with other
languages resulting in language change. Language change can happen when two or more
languages try to adapt, loan or borrow words, coin new words as products of exchanges of
ideas. Language change is a natural behavior of all languages. Philippine languages, as part of
the Polynesian family of languages are observed to be interrelated. For example, counting money
in Tausug like twenty or “kawhaan” is also “kawhaan” in Visayan. Variety may arise when
spelling or speaking the language takes place. 

Lesson 2: Types of Communication 

Introduction 
Communication is generally defined as the exchange of thoughts, ideas, concepts, and
views between and among two or more people. Communication happens when both
interlocutors have their minds analogous, meaning, both the sender and the recipient have the so
called “meeting of their minds.” Communication is categorized according to types. The manner
on how messages are communicated to the recipient/s are also investigated. It should not surprise
you to know that language is not limited to verbal manner. Keating (1994) writes,
Communication is powerful: It brings companion to our side or scatters our rivals, reassures or
alerts children, and forges consensus or battle lines between us.” What she is saying is that,
communication—your ability to share your beliefs, ideas, and feelings—is at the heart of all
human contact. Whether people live in a city in Zamboanga or Canada, in a village or barangay,
they all employ the same activity when they attempt to share their thoughts and feelings with
others. While the results when sending messages may be different, the reasons people
communicate tend to be the same. 

Types of Communication according to Mode 

A message may be conveyed via these types: verbal, non-verbal, and visual. Though
communication is often thought of as verbal, the non-verbal mode is equally essential as it
enhances one’s message. 
 Effective communication calls for the blending of these two types. Verbal
communication makes use of words tailored by the speaker to let the recipient decode the
message. Non-verbal communication makes use of gestures, facial expressions, and body
language to reinforce the verbal cues. Visual communication, moreover, is the type of
communication that makes use of visuals or images to convey information and/or messages.
Some examples include signs, symbols, imagery, maps, graphs, charts, diagrams, pictograms
and photos, and even various forms of electronic communication like emojis and emoticons. 

Types of Communication according to Context 

Context in communication is referred to as a composite of people interacting with each
other, Communication according to context may include: (1) intrapersonal; (2) interpersonal;
(3) extended; (4) organizational; and (5) intercultural. 
Intrapersonal communication is labelled as inner talk, inner monologue or talking to
oneself. Psychologists call this self-verbalization or self-statement. Moreover, interpersonal
communication may occur in dyads or small groups, where it is meant to deepen one’s
relationship with others. However, if the objective is to achieve something at the end of the
conversation, it becomes transactional. While the former is characterized by less seriousness and
formality, the latter is more formal and profound. In addition, extended communication involves
the use of electronic media. 
Extended communication encompasses tele, audio, or phone conferencing, video
conferencing, Skype calls, and other technological means. Since extended communication is
public in nature, speakers are expected to be prepared when they speak, making their language
more formal. 
Organizational communication comprises the type of communication among individuals
working for the company where hierarchical structure is apparent. It has a system of
communication put in place where standards of communication protocols are made clear so
that interaction patterns are established. Formal structures allow communication to take place
via designated channels of message flow between positions in the organization. Four
approaches may be used such as: (1) downward communication, (2) upward communication, (3)
horizontal and (4) crosswise communication.   
Finally, the last but not least is intercultural communication. As the term implies, it is
communication between or among people having different linguistic, religious, ethnic, social,
and professional backgrounds. 
 
Types of Communication according to Purpose and Style 
The types of communication according to purpose and style are formal and informal.
However, rather than focusing on the transmission of message and message flow, the focus
here is on communication setting and the mode of delivery. Formal communication employs
formal language delivered orally or in written form. Lectures, public speeches, research and
project proposals, reports, and business letters among others are all considered formal
situations and writings. On the contrary, informal communication involves personal and
ordinary conversations with friends, family members, or acquaintances about anything under
the sun. The mode may be oral as in face to face, ordinary or every talks, and phone calls, or
written in the case of e-mails, personal notes, or text messages. The purpose is to simply
socialize and enhance relationships.

  

 II. Modes of Communication 

Lesson 1: Forms of Communication 
 Introduction 
 
Communication mode refers to the channel through which one express his/her
communicative intent. It is the medium through which one conveys his/her thoughts. Views or
feelings can be communicated through face to face interaction, video, or audio. The mode may
also be text-based. 
 
Communication comes in diverse forms. In the distant past, people communicated
through heralds. Then came the snail mails, type writers, telegrams, beepers. Not too long ago,
people used telephones. In the technological era, people utilize diverse platforms in order to
convey or send messages and communicate even across the globe through E-mail, Twitter,
Facebook, and other methods of wireless communication and transaction. Because of faster
Internet connection, people can simply search the Web for information just at the tip of their
fingers.

  
Communication Modes 
Face-to-face interaction. It is an informal or casual conversation between two or more
people. People engage in social conversations to establish relationships or maintain them.  
Video. Another mode of communication is video. Web cameras are used so that two or
more people who cannot interact face-to-face can communicate. If there are no technical
glitches encountered, these can be very effective mode of communication. 
Audio. In this mode of communication, only the voice of the speaker is heard like in
podcast for instance. The audio communication mode is quite difficult especially if you are
listening to people with different accents. 
Text-Based. These include e-mails, facsimile, text messaging, and instant messaging. 

 
 
 I. Nature of Communication
Emanates from man’s basic need to belong, to feel secure and to love and be loved.
Each of us has an intense need to express our thoughts, feelings, opinions and the need to be
listened to.
COMMUNICATION – comes from the Latin word communis, meaning commonness.
- is one of the ESSENTIAL activities of the human race.
- involves transmission of thought from one mind to others.
- process in which people share the ideas, opinions, thoughts, and feelings with each other.
- skill which enables one to convey his thoughts and at the same time learn.
- is a two-way process by which information is exchanged between or among individuals
through a common system of symbols, signs and behavior. (Martinez 1)
Communication maybe:
A. VERBAL – using the vocal mechanism/ speech ability
B. NON- VERBAL – using signs, symbols through writing.
II. Functions of Communication
1. Physical Needs – personal communication is essential for our well being.
2. Ego Needs – communication is the only way to learn who we are. If we are to deprived of the
chance to
communicate with others, we would have no sense of identity.
3. Social Needs – we relate socially with others through communication.
Three types of social needs identified by William Schutz, a psychologist:
a. Inclusion – is the need to belong to a personal relationship. Inclusion needs may be satisfied
from formal relationships (having a job or career, belonging to a religious organizations,
marriage) and informal relationships (friends who go together, friendly neighbors).
b. Desire for Control – the desire for control is each one’s desire to have an influence on others
and to feel a sense of domination or power over the world.
c. Affection – the need for affection is the desire for others to care for us and a desire to care
for us and a desire to care for others.
4. Practical Needs
Abraham Maslow, a psychologist, identified five categories of practical needs:
a. Physical – food, water, air, rest and reproduction
b. Safety – protection of our wellbeing
c. Social – inclusion of feeling of belongingness, desire for control and affection
d. Self-esteem – the belief in our own self as a worthy and valuable individual
e. Self-actualization – the desire to become the best person or the desire to develop our
potential to the maximum.
There are two types of setting where we communicate:
1. Informal Settings – chats, conversation, etc.
2. Formal Settings – interviews, debates, public speaking, group discussions and parliamentary
procedures.
SPEECH COMMUNICATION - is the process of sharing meaning through audible and visual codes
such as voice, facial expression, gestures, movement, posture and the like.

ELEMENTS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION

1. SPEAKER – also known as the addressor/initiator/source
- begins/initiates the communication process.
Basic Traits of an Effective Speaker
1. Confidence – believing in one’s self his worth while at the same recognizing his weaknesses.
2. Credible – must be an authority on the subject matter.
Confidence and credibility = interest and attention
3. Sincere – he means what he says.
- project sincerity in your vocal and facial expressions.
4. Clarity of Purpose – he must have a clear objective/goal for speaking
5. Organize your message with care – avoid grammatical errors such as simple subject-verb-
predicate agreement.

 The Speaker as Effective Communicator

a. Cloths and personal Appearance
- dress appropriately and let your clothes be in harmony with the occasion.
- neatness and cleanliness should be observed
- be natural and friendly
b. Posture
- Includes body carriage, standing, walking and sitting
- A good posture is one that is natural

- Not tense or rigid

- Alert yet at ease
c. Gesture
- Refers to movement of head, face, hands and any part of the body.
- Must be purposeful
Basic Hand Gesture
a. Pointing – done by pointing index finger to locate or identify a thing or idea
b. Dividing – by extending the hand with the fingers close together and make a chapping
motion
c. Describing/imitating – both hands or sometimes one hand ; used to describe or imitate
certain size, shape or movement of things such as length, height.
d. Approval or disapproval – nodding the head to suggest assent.
v Shaking the hand to suggest dissent
v Clenched fist with thumb pointing upward – approval
v Clenched fist with thumb pointing downward suggest disapproval
e. Giving and Receiving – made by extending both hands with fingers upward or toward the
audience.
- do not clamp your elbows to your side
f. Emphasis – clenched fist with arms raised.
d. Eye Contact – looking at the audience while speaking is a must!!!
- Indicates sincerity of speaker

2. CONTEXT – refers to the interrelated conditions of communication.

- It consists of such factors as:
a. Physical Milieu – where the communication takes place, the time of the day, the
environmental conditions, distance between or among communicators and seating
arrangements;
b. Social Milieu – the nature of relationships existing between or among the communicators
c. Psychological Milieu – communicators’ moods and feelings
d. Cultural Milieu – beliefs, values and norms shared by a large group of people
e. Historical Milieu – the background provided by previous communication incidents between
or among the communicators and which affects understandings in the current exchange.

3. MESSAGE- refers to one’s thoughts, ideas, opinions, or information.

- meanings or ideas and feelings that are encoded and sent by means of verbal and nonverbal
symbols then received and decoded into one’s own ideas and feelings.
Three Variables of a Verbal message
a. Content – refers to everything you say about the topic
b. Structure – pattern of organization that you must follow. INTRO – BODY – CONCLUSION
c. Style – refers to how you express your ideas
- select and arrange your words to create an impact to your receivers

4. CHANNELS – are means of accessing the messages whether via the visual channel (which
refers to light – the light waves that carry the nonverbal symbols such as facial expressions,
gestures, movements) or via the Auditory channel (which refers to sound – the sound waves
that carry the verbal symbols such as words and vocal cues like tone, rate, pitch, volume).

5. NOISE – means the distractions that interfere with the accurate transmission and reception
of a message. These obstruction can be any or all of the following:
a. External noise – sights, sounds and any other distractions in the environment like the passing
of an attractive man or woman.
b. Internal noise – distractions within the communicator such as physiological or biological
noise like hearing loss or illness and psychological noise like daydreaming or worrying, and/or
c. Semantic noise – unintentional meanings caused by certain symbols, ethnic slurs, profanity
and vulgar speech.

6. FEEDBACK – signifies verbal and/or nonverbal responses to messages like murmurings or

asides, nods and/or facial expressions.

 I. Language and Communication  

Lesson 3: Communication Processes, Principles, and Ethics 

 Introduction 
 
Human beings are born with a capacity to communicate. Human brains are wired to
learn and acquire languages to convey and decode messages. For humans to communicate
effectively and efficiently, there are needs for language learners to: (1) understand how
communication processes work, what governing principles behind human transactions are
available, (3) and how do interlocutors maintain and observe ethical guidelines to sustain
quality and efficient communication transaction with each other. 

Communication Processes 
 
To have a good grasp of the communication transaction, consider several
communication models and see common variables that contribute to the success of efficient
communication. A model is often abstract. It helps you understand how a communication
process works. It is only by knowing the flow of communication that you will be able to make
the communication process effective. 
 
1. Aristotle’s Linear Model of Communication 
Speaker à Speech à Audience 
 
1. Laswell’s Model 
Communicator à Message à Medium à Receiver à Effect 
 
1. Shannon- Weaver’s Model 
Sender à Encoder à Channel à Decoder à Receiver 
 
1. David Berlo’s Model 
Source à Messages à Channel à Receiver 
 
General Principles of Effective Communication 
 
Since communication is a two-way process, it is important that you know the principles
to be observed to make it effective. You should be able to apply the following principles: 
1. Know your purpose in communicating. 
1. Know your audience. 
1. Know your topic. 
1. Adjust your writing or speech to the context of the situation. 
 
Principles of Effective Oral Communication 
1. Be clear with your purpose. 
1. Be complete with the message you deliver. 
1. Be concise. 
1. Be natural with your delivery. 
1. Be specific and timely with your feedback. 
                   
Principles of Effective Written Communication 
1. Be clear. 
1. Be concise. 
1. Be concrete. 
1. Be correct. 
1. Be coherent. 
1. Be complete. 
1. Be courteous. 
 
In understanding the nature of language, a learner is expected to realize that
communication makes use of language, and that language is a vehicle to communicate both
emotional and thought processes. For communication processes to transpire, there is a need to
know the necessary elements which include, namely: the speaker, the receiver, the message,
and the feedback. In oral communication these elements basically do exist. In public speaking
for instance, these elements are discussed in detail. The role of the speaker and the listener,
how messages should be tailored, and how to respond to feedback to get your message across
are important ingredients to understand each other. How communication works in a particular
situation can best be understood by looking at different communication models. There are
diverse models that you can review to have a better grasp of the communication transaction. In
the linear model by Aristotle for example, both speaker and recipient are active discussants
where both can switch roles at any time just like what happens in a telephone conversation.
Both discussants send messages using a common language. There must be a meeting of both
minds to agree with each other. Each will give his/her response or feedback to ensure that the
message is understood. 
 Communication is categorized according to types. There are types of communication
according to mode, context, purpose and style. A message may be conveyed via verbal, non-
verbal, and visual means. By the way visual communication makes use of images/icons to
convey information. Examples are signs, symbols, images, maps, graphs, charts, diagrams,
drawings, and various forms of electronic communication. Moreover, context in communication
is referred to as composite of people interacting with each other. These encompasses:
interpersonal, intrapersonal, extended, organizational, and intercultural. Lastly, is on purpose
and style. 
 
Communication Principles 
Communication is a dynamic process in which people attempt to share their internal
states with other people through the use of symbols. 
 
Communication is a dynamic process. This indicates that communication is an ongoing
activity and unending process; it is not static. Communication is like a motion picture, not a
single snapshot. Dynamic process conveys the idea that sending and receiving messages
involves a host of variables, all in operation at the same time. Both parties in the transaction
are seeing, listening, talking, thinking, perhaps smiling, and touching, all at once. The concept of
process also means that you and your partner are part of the dynamic processes of
communication. In other words, you are always affected by other people’s messages, and as a
consequence, are always changing—and your messages are always changing other people. 
 
Communication is symbolic. Inherent in our definition of communication is the fact that
humans are symbol-making creatures. In human communication, a symbol is an expression that
stands for or represents something else. One key characteristic of symbols, is that symbols bear
no inherent relation to what they are intended to represent and are therefore, arbitrary. They
are only sounds, marks on paper, movements, etc. that you employ in your attempt to share
your reality with other people. This symbol-making ability allows for everyday interaction. An
excellent summary (Wood, 2005) presents these realities: 
 
(1) We use symbols to create meaning. 
(2) We ask others to be sounding boards so we can clarify our thinking, figure out what
things mean, enlarge our perspectives, check our perceptions, and label feelings to
give them reality. 
 
In all these ways, we actively construct meaning by interacting with symbols. The main
reason why communication is symbolic is that, there is no mind to mind contact between
people. You cannot access the internal thoughts and feelings of other human beings; you can
only infer what they are experiencing by what you see and hear. What you know and feel
remains inside of you unless you symbolically express it; this expression is communication. 
 
Communication is contextual. It is contextual because it occurs in particular situations
or systems that influence what and how we communicate and what meanings we attach to
messages. Put in slightly different terms, communication does not occur in isolation or in a
vacuum, but rather is part of a larger system composed of many ingredients, all of which must
be considered. As Littlejohn states, “Communication always occurs in a context, and the nature
of communication depends in large measure in this context. What this implies is that the setting
and environment help determine the words and actions you generate and the meanings you
give the symbols produced by other people. Reflect for a moment on how differently you would
behave in each of the following settings: a church, a courtroom, a funeral, a wedding, a
hospital, and a nightclub. Many of these contextual rules are directly related to one’s culture.
Some elements associated with the contextual nature of communication include: (1) cultural
context, (2) environmental context, (3) occasion, (4) time, and (5) number of people. 
 
Communication is self-reflective. Humans have the ability to think about themselves,
their communication partners, their messages, and the potential results of those messages, all
at the same time. (Ruben, 1998) expresses this unique feature as follows: “Because of self-
reflectiveness, we are able to think about our encounters and our existence, about
communication and human behavior.” We are the only species that can be at both ends of the
microscope at the same time. This very special feature allows you to monitor your actions and,
when necessary or desirable, make certain adjustments.  
 
Communication has a consequence. Inserted into our last principle was the idea that
people can learn something from every experience to which they are exposed. The act of
sending and receiving symbols influences all the involved parties. “All of our messages, to one
degree or another, do something to someone else.” Your responses to messages vary in degree
and kind. It might help you try to picture your potential responses in a form of a continuum. At
the far end of the continuum are responses to messages that are received unconsciously. That
is, your body responds even if your cognitive processes are kept to a minimum. Messages that
you receive can alter your hormonal secretions, your heart rate, or the temperature of your
skin; modify pupil size, and trigger a host of other internal responses. These chemical and
biological responses are not outwardly observable, and they are the most difficult ones to
classify. However, they give credence to our assertion that communication has a consequence.
If your internal reactions produce chaos in your system, as is the case with severe stress, you
can become ill. Regardless of the content of the message, it should be clear that the act of
communication produces change.  
 
These communication principles obviously reveal by now that communication is
complex. This will even become more complex when cultural dimensions are included (Porter
and McDaniel, 2010). 
  
Ethics in Communication 
Human relations are important in communication situations, be it call center scenario, or a
simple buy and sell transaction. Sending and receiving messages follow rules and guidelines or
acceptable norms called ethics in communication. There is such thing as formal and informal
use of the language just as there are formal and informal occasions.