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.

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you can:

1. Explain the various communication models and how they help in understanding the
communication process

2. Identify the variables involved in the communication process;

3. Compose a data commentary using charts, graphs, tables, and other visuals;

4. Recognize the importance of a code of ethics in communication.

Topic Outline

1. Communication Processes

2. Communication Principles

3. Communication Ethics

Try this!

Note: Both activities demonstrate and somehow make you realize that there are more about in the
nature of language and communication processes, principles and ethics that you need to know.
Listen to the excerpt: “Footprints in the Sand” as someone from your family will read it for you. This
should be done, once only. As you listen, list down the verbs that are in the past form. Take note:
There are 21 verbs that are in the past form. Identify them by writing them in no particular order.
Also take note that:

1. The excerpt will be read once only.

2. You can repeat the answers if you think these verbs need to be repeated.

3. Verbs can be written in no particular order.

4. Listen carefully and attentively while the excerpt is read for you.

5. Do not interrupt while the reading of the excerpt is done.

Footprints in the Sand

(Anonymous)

Last night, I had a dream: I dreamt that I was walking along the beach with the Lord. And across the sky
flashed scenes from my life. And for each scene, I noticed two sets of foot prints in the sand. One belongs
to me and the other to the Lord. And after the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the
footprints in the sand. And I noticed that, many times along the path of my life, especially at the very
saddest and lowest times, there was only one set of footprints. Now this really troubled me. So I asked the
Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But, I
don’t understand why when I needed you the most, you would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My son, my
precious child. I love you. And I would never leave you. During the times of suffering, where you could
see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

1. Dreamt
2. Was
3. Flashed
4. Noticed
5. Looked
6. Troubled
7. Sets
8. Saddest times
9. Lowest times
10. Asked
11. Before
12. Said
13. Carried
14. Back
15. Noticed
16. Decided
17. Replied
18. Belong
19. Needed
20. Flashed
21. Troubled
 Think ahead!

Answer the following questions:

1. Were you able to identify all 21 verbs that are in the past form?

-Yes

2. Compare your answers from the answer key provided for you. Which of these answers you don’t
have? Why?

3. When the excerpt was read, do you have issues regarding: pronunciation, speed/rate of speech,
voice volume, grammatical inputs, instructions, etc.?

-Pronunciation was the issues. My brother is not fluently good in speaking English word, just
like me.

4. What are your difficulties while doing the listening activity? List them down.

- Only the pronunciation

5. What language issues (past forms of the verb) are you not clarified about?

-None

6. What language skill do you need to improve?

- Clearly the pronunciation.

Read and Ponder

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  Speech  Audience

2. Laswell’s Model

Communicator  Message  Medium  Receiver  Effect

3. Shannon- Weaver’s Model

Sender  Encoder  Channel  Decoder  Receiver

4. David Berlo’s Model

Source  Messages  Channel  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.

2. Know your audience.

3. Know your topic.

4. Adjust your writing or speech to the context of the situation.

Principles of Effective Oral Communication

1. Be clear with your purpose.

2. Be complete with the message you deliver.

3. Be concise.

4. Be natural with your delivery.

5. Be specific and timely with your feedback.

Principles of Effective Written Communication

1. Be clear.

2. Be concise.

3. Be concrete.
 4. Be correct.

5. Be coherent.

6. Be complete.

7. 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.

See if you can do this!

Comprehension Questions

1. What are communication models? Why do you think they were introduced?

- Aristotle’s Linear Model of Communication

- Laswell’s Model

- Shannon- Weaver’s Model

- David Berlo’s Model

-They were introduced to help us understand the communication process and common
variables of every model that contribute to the success of efficient communication. Basically
they introduced it to help us gain more knowledge about effective communication.

2. How does one model differ from the other/s?

-One model is different from the other because it has a unique flow of communication and it
has different types of variables.

3. How can one observe ethics in communication?

 -One can observed ethics in communication by considering the relationship between one
another. The way we talk or approached is essential in effective communication.

4. How do the principles of effective oral communication differ from those of effective written
communication?

-Basically, effective oral communication is a verbal communication and effective written

communication is non-verbal communication. The principles of oral must consider the vocal
aspects in delivering the message and the principle of written must consider the grammar or
arrange of words to convey a clear explanation or messages.

5. Why is it important to have a code of conduct/ code of ethics?

-These practices help us to have a healthy relationship with other employees or coworkers.
Code of ethics guides us to have effective communication, without it we can’t express or
delivery our messages clearly.

Deepening: Self-assessment

See the importance of ethical actions. Rate yourself on how well you respond to some trying times.

Descriptors Yes No

1. I can always recognize an ethical issue. √ __

2. I can be aware of the different perspectives of stakeholders of an issue. √ __

3. I am able to weigh things objectively. √ __

4. I can of alternative courses of action for a dilemma. √ __

5. I can formulate policies to avoid the recurrence of the dilemma. _√ __

Supply the correct word in order to complete the thoughts in the paragraph. Some words can be used
twice.

Public speaking is speech-making before a large body of (1) audience in an (2 formal context wherein
you, the speaker, display your talents for eloquence and oratory. Also, public speaking is an art of
publicizing your ideas by means of using (3) Verbal and (4) Non-verbal cues in order for your (5)
audience to know what is happening in your (6) speech. Furthermore, as a discipline, public speaking is
an art of facing a group of people and communicating to them your (7) thoughts and (8) feelings by
means of effective (9) communication. Public speaking is demanding because it requires both the (10
interlocutors to be actively involved in the (11) exchange of ideas. Since both are active (12)
interlocutors in the process, both need the so-called channels in which information or messages pass
through to reach both lines.

Public speaking has some demands on both interlocutors. For instance, as a sender of the message,
the speaker needs to know the roles of grammarians and rhetoricians.

While it is true that grammarians are concerned with clarity, rhetoricians are concerned with (13)
delivery. As a decoder of the message, on the other hand, requires good listening skills. Effective speech
delivery happens when both discussants have analogous meaning in mind. In other words, in order for
communication to transpire, there must be the (14) “connection of minds” of the encoder and decoder
of the message. However, public speaking is not (15) performing alone or talking to oneself. Overall,
communication as a (16) formal context, needs to be understood to see the flow of ideas uninterrupted,
thereby avoiding communication bog down.

Effective Oral Communication

Name: Yasser A Pulahong Subject: CAS 101 Date: Oct 11 2020

Task: On YouTube, view President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech at the Philippine-China Trade and
Investment Forum held in Beijing, China last October 20, 2016.

Do you think the five principles of effective oral communication were followed? Which ones were
followed and which ones were not? Why or why not? What advice would you give to make the speaker
more effective? Write your thoughts on the space below.

Duterte’s first part of speech was too complex. It was the introduction of his topic. He was trying to add
some adlibs or extra information on his speech where his context was becoming more complex. As for
the five principle of effective oral communication he followed the “Be complete with the message you
deliver” He said all the words in his script. I observed it by how Duterte looks at his paper on the desk.
He surely explained all the messages. The purpose and all other things. The Second is “Be natural with
your delivery.” As we all know that they way Duterte delivered his speech on investment forum is really
natural since the beginning of his campaign in the Philippines. He was being his self, making some adlibs
or putting some other information on his script. He was relaxed and chill delivering his speech. The Third
is “Be concise” Duterte elaborated the topic. One at a time he added some examples to support his
topic and to make it more understand. He explained his topic clearly with no missing information. The
Last is “Be specific and timely with your feedback.” The way Duterte delivered his speech was slow, to
emphasis all of the information on his topic. He was cautiously explaining his topic to the audience to
avoid missed information and uninterrupted flows of ideas. The 1 principle was not followed was “Be
clear with your purpose” Sometimes he is being distracted by his own adlibs and becoming informal.
Some of his information was not necessary in his topic. The extra information he added to his topic was
making his speech more complex. He sometimes can’t focus on his speech because of his natural way of
delivering a speech that leads to unclear purpose of some information.
My only advice to the speaker is to be straight forward. Don’t hide on complex information. Simple
words can be a smart communication. Always be aware of the audience lack of vocabulary because I
believe what matter most is not the way how you deliver the message but, it is how you help the
audience understand your topic. In the end what truly matter is that you make them understand your
thought about the topic.

Circle the word that does not belong to the group.

1. Encoders, decoders, audience, listeners, recipients.

2. Speakers, encoders, senders, sources, spectators

3. Speaker, speech, audience, effects, feedbacks, interference

4. Interlocutors, discussants, recipients, communicators, channels

5. Mother tongue, language change, language contact, language acquisition, foreign language

Construct the sentence by completing the needed idea in each item.

1. Communication requires at least two people.

2. For public peaking to transpire, five elements are needed. These include: (a) The communicator(b)
message (c) medium(d) audience (e) effect.

3. The general process of effective communication requires that you, the speaker, should (a)
discuss(b)tailor and (c) respond to questions.

4. Aristotle’s model of communication has only three elements: (a) Speaker (b) Audience (c) Speech.

5. The effective principle of written communication has seven C’s: concrete, coherent, correct, concise,
(e) clear (f) courteous (g) complete.