Nature of Language- The origin of language and its Some theories consider language mostly as an innate Since communication
communication is generally defined as the Communication may then be classified according to:
evolutionary emergence topic is difficult to study
because of the different speculations for several
centuries. Many argue that the origins of language
probably relate closely to the origins of modern
human behaviour, but there is little agreement about
the implications and directionality of this connection.
"Continuity theories" built on the idea that language
exhibits so much complexity that one cannot imagine
it simply appearing from nothing in its final form;
therefore, it must have evolved from earlier pre-
linguistic systems among our primate ancestors.
"Discontinuity theories" take the opposite approach—
that language, as a unique trait which cannot be
compared to anything found among non-humans,
must have appeared fairly suddenly during the course
of human evolution.
faculty—largely genetically encoded.
Other theories regard language as a mainly cultural
system—learned through social interaction.
What is Language?
Language can be defined as the tool used in
communication process. Language itself can be
amplified with the students’ experiences and
expressions of thoughts, ideas, feelings and the tools
to be used in communication. The importance of
language can also be answered while the teaching-
learning process takes place.
Types of Communication- Depending on what is
being considered, communication as a term takes on
different contexts resulting in people having different
views on communication types.
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and writer, developed
the earliest mass communication model called
"Aristotle's Model of Communication" before 300
B.C. This model is widely accepted and is mainly
focused on public speaking rather than interpersonal
communication. The model emphasizes the
importance of the speaker's credibility, emotional
connection, and logical arguments in persuading an
audience. The model comprises five basic elements,
including speaker, speech, audience, effect, and
occasion. In this essay, we will discuss Aristotle's
model of communication in detail.
Aristotle's model of communication is a linear and
speaker-centric model that emphasizes the importance
of the speaker's credibility, emotional connection, and
logical arguments in persuading an audience. The
model has five basic components, including speaker,
speech, audience, effect, and occasion.
exchange of thoughts, ideas, concepts, and views
between or among two or more people, various.
Contexts come into play. Context is the circumstance
or environment in which communication takes place.
Such circumstance may include the physical or actual
setting, the value positions of a speaker/listener, and
the relevance or appropriateness of a message
conveyed. It focuses on certain communication
processes and even groupings of people that
constitute a communication situation. Different
contexts can impact one’s communication. Each
communication type is governed by a particular
circumstance. Thus, it is essential to pay attention to
the interplay of factors surrounding the contexts of
communication which may be physical, cultural,
social, and psychological in nature.
The speaker is the most important element in this
model, and it is their responsibility to select their
words carefully and deliver a speech to the public.
The role of the audience is passive, and there is no
scope for them to provide feedback. The model
emphasizes the significance of the speaker's
credibility, emotional connection, and logical
arguments in persuading an audience.
In conclusion, Aristotle's model of communication is
a linear and speaker-centric model that emphasizes
the importance of the speaker's credibility, emotional
connection, and logical arguments in persuading an
audience. The model has five basic components,
including speaker, speech, audience, effect, and
occasion, and it is widely used in preparing seminars,
lectures, and speeches. The model is compared with
other communication frameworks, and it is still
relevant today since public speaking is an evergreen
skill that is always in demand.
(1) communication mode (verbal- non-verbal and
visual), (2) context (intrapersonal, Interpersonal,
Extended, Organizational and Intercultural) and (3)
purpose and style (formal and informal).
Communication Process, Principles and Ethics- In
the previous discussion, you learned about the types
of communication mode, context, and purpose and
style. In this lesson, you will review the nature of the
communication process and some important
communication models. The communication process
involves elements such as source, message, encoding,
channel, decoding., receiver, feedback, context, and
barrier. Communication can be a one-way or two-way
process. There are many conceptual models for
human communication but in this lesson, you will be
exposed to only four: (1) Aristotle’s model; (2)
Laswell’s model; (3) Shannon-Weaver’s model; and
(4) David Berlo’s model of communication.
The model is mainly focused on speaker and speech, and
it is less focused on interpersonal communication.
Despite its limitations, Aristotle's model of
communication remains a valuable tool for public
speakers and communicators.
This model analyzes communication in terms of five key
elements: who, says what, in which channel, to whom,
and with what effect. Lasswell's model was initially
formulated for the analysis of mass communication, such
as radio, television, and newspapers, but it has also been
applied to various other fields and forms of
communication,
Lasswell's model of communication is a linear and
action-oriented model that focuses on the transmission of
a message from a sender to a receiver. The model
comprises five key elements: who, says what, in which
channel, to whom, and with what effect. These elements
help in understanding the basic dynamics of
communication. Lasswell's model serves as a
foundational framework upon which more complex and
interactive communication models have been built. It
provides a starting point for deeper explorations of
communication theories. The model is used in
pedagogical settings to teach students the major elements
of the communication process and as a starting point for
developing hypotheses.
The model is a one-way or linear communication
framework based on the Shannon-Weaver
communication mode. It consists of four components:
Sender, Message, Channel, and Receiver, which are each
influenced by different factors. This essay will explore
the components of the SMCR model, its advantages, and
criticisms.
In the SMCR model, the sender encodes the message,
which is then transmitted through a chosen channel to the
receiver, who decodes the message to understand its
meaning. The model assumes that effective
communication occurs when the sender and receiver are
on the same level or are roughly similar
Berlo's SMCR Model of Communication provides a
simple and straightforward framework for understanding
the basic elements of the communication process. While
the model has its advantages, such as clarity and
alignment of message and receiver, it has also been
criticized for oversimplification and assumptions about
effective communication.
Overall, the SMCR model serves as a useful tool for
analyzing and improving communication processes.
Lasswell's model of communication, with its five key
elements, provides a simple and concise framework for
understanding the basic dynamics of communication. The
model has been influential in the field of communication
studies, serving as a foundation for more complex and
interactive communication models. While the model has
its limitations, it remains a valuable tool for analyzing
mass communication and teaching students the
fundamentals of the communication process.
The process of communication involves the following
elements:
1. Sender: The person who conveys his thoughts,
message or ideas to the receiver is known as the sender.
He is at the starting point of the communication system
and represents the source of communication.
2. Message: The subject matter of communication is
termed as messages. It includes ideas, feelings,
suggestions, order, etc., which a sender wants to convey
to the receiver.
3. Encoding: The process of converting messages into
communication symbols, which may be understood by
the receiver. It includes words, pictures, gestures,
symbols, etc. Encoding translates the internal thought of
the sender into a language which can be understandable.
4. Media: The path, channel or medium through which
encoded message is transmitted to the receiver is known
as media. It is the carrier of the message. It can be in
written form, face to face, through telephone, letter,
internet, etc.
5. Decoding: The process of translating the encoded
message into an effective language, which can be
understood by the receiver is known as decoding. In this,
the encoded symbols of the sender are converted.
The Shannon-Weaver model of communication is one of
the earliest and most influential models of
communication. It was initially published in the 1948
paper "A Mathematical Theory of Communication" and
explains how messages are transmitted from a sender to a
receiver. The model comprises six basic elements,
including source, encoder, channel, decoder, receiver,
and noise.
The Shannon-Weaver model of communication has been
very influential in various fields, including
communication theory and information theory. Many
later theorists have built their own models on its insights.
However, it is often criticized based on the claim that it
oversimplifies communication. The Shannon-Weaver
model is based on the idea that communication is a linear
and one-way process that involves six elements: a source,
an encoder, a channel, a decoder, a receiver, and noise.
The model is widely applied in the field of
communication, and it is considered to be a highly
effective communication model that explains the basic
dynamics of communication.
6. Receiver: The person who receives the message of the
sender is known as the receiver.
7. Feedback: In order to complete the process of
communication, feedback is essential. The process of
reversal of communication in which the receiver
expresses his reaction to the sender of the message is
known as feedback. Feedback ensures that the receiver
has received and understood the message.
8. Noise: Any construction or hindrance which hampers
the communication process is known as noise. The
hindrance may be caused to the sender, message or
receiver. It acts as a barrier to effective communication
and because of this message is interpreted differently by
the receiver. Disturbance in the telephone line, inattentive
receiver, faulty decoding, poor internet connection,
improper gestures and postures, etc., are some examples
of noise.
In conclusion, the Shannon-Weaver model of
communication is a linear and action-oriented model that
focuses on the transmission of a message from a sender
to a receiver. The model comprises six basic elements,
including source, encoder, channel, decoder, receiver,
and noise. The model has been very influential in various
fields, including communication theory and information
theory. While the model has its limitations, it remains a
valuable tool for analysing communication and teaching
students the fundamentals of the communication process.
Since communication is a two-way process, it is
important that you know the principles to be observed to
make it effective. For both oral and written
communication, you should be able to apply the
following general principles of effective communication:
(1) Know your purpose in communicating; (2) Know
your audience; (3) Know your topic; (4) Adjust your
speech or writing to the context of the situation; (5) Work
on the feedback given you. For the principles of effective
oral communication, you should be able to apply the
following: (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. Aside from the principles of
effective oral communication, there are also principles of
effective written communication or The 7 C’s: (1) Be
clear; (2) Be concise; (3) Be concrete; (4) Be correct; (5)
Be coherent; (6) Be complete; and (7) Be courteous.
 Furthermore, communication ethics emphasizes that
morals influence the behaviour of an individual, group,
or organization thereby affecting their communication. It
is important to note that one’s behaviour should be
regulated by honesty, decency, truthfulness, sincerity,
and moral uprightness. Be guided by the following
ethical communication: (1) Establish an effective value
system that will pave the way for the development of
your integrity as a person; (2) Provide complete and
accurate information. (3) Disclose vital information
adequately and appropriately. Observing a code of ethics
is essential as it determines the kind of behaviour that is
proper and desirable over one that is displeasing and
offensive. A code of ethics sets the standards to be
observed by a person or company that will create a good
reputation or a positive image not only for an individual
but also for the organization.
Modes of Communication- Communication means
transferring messages from one to another through any
medium. It is the process of generating meaning by
sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal symbols and
signs that are influenced by multiple contexts. Forms of
communication vary in terms of participants, channels
used, and contexts. There are five main forms of
communication, all of which will be explored in this
lesson. The five major forms are intrapersonal,
interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication.
Intrapersonal communication occurs when you talk to
yourself while dyadic communication involves two
people in the communication process. When more than
two persons are involved in the process, it is considered
as small group communication.
For public communication, there is no mutual feedback
between source and receiver like small group
communication and its only focused on Speaker. For
mass communication, large group of audiences is
considered. The Speaker has his or her technology and
uses technology as a medium of transmitting messages to
large groups of people.
Forms of Communication: Intrapersonal, dyadic
communication, small group communication, public
communication, mass communication.
Communication