LESSON 1: DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION
Communication comes from the Latin verb
“communicare” which means “to share” or “to make
something common”.
Communication - It is a two-way process by which
information is exchanged within, between, or among
individuals through a common system of signs, symbols,
and behavior.
Communication is a Process
➢ Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver
developed a foundational model of
communication that you will see in most
textbooks way back 1948.
➢ Communication happens when an information
source has a message and transmits it in the
form of a signal through a channel.
➢ Signal is received and finally reaches its
destination. There might be some noise in the
communication system that could negatively
affect the process.
➢ The concept of feedback is not part of Shannon
and Weaver’s Model of Communication.
➢ Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication
is a linear model that describes how a message
is transmitted, rather than exchanged.
Information Exchange in Communication
➢ Wilbur Schramm’s Model of Communication
used a Venn diagram to show the respective
fields of experiences of the communicators.
➢ Participants in Schramm’s model are called
Encoder-Sender and Receiver-Decoder.
➢ Field of experience - the totality of a
communicator’s experiences and knowledge
which affects the message formation (encoding)
and interpretation (decoding).
➢ The bigger the overlapping areas, the stronger
the signal becomes.
➢ Feedback is included as an element in this
model.
➢ The more the communicators interact with each
other, the more information are exchanged,
resulting to the expansion of their respective
field of experiences.
Levels of Communication
Communication happens “within, between, or among
individuals”.
1. Intrapersonal communication – communication
within one’s self.
2. Interpersonal communication – the process of
exchange of information, ideas, and feelings
between two or more people through
interaction. It often includes the face-to-face
exchange of information in the form of voice,
facial expressions, body language, and/or
gestures.
3. Small-group communication – refers to
interactions among three or more people who
are connected through a common purpose,
mutual influence, or shared identity, just like in
social organizations such as civic groups, clubs,
church assemblies.
4. Public communication – takes place when
individuals and groups engage in dialogues in
the public sphere in order to deliver a message
to a specific audience.
5. Mediated communication – refers to
communication carried out by the use of
information communication technology and can
be contrasted to face-to-face communication.
Mediating technologies like texting, using
telephone or cellular phones, e-mailing, and
video conferencing.
Common Systems of Sign Symbols and Behavior
Sign – is an indicator or marker for something very
specific, very concrete, and in general, unambiguous in
meaning. Road markers are called signs because they
usually convey something very specific like STOP, a
street name, or a certain speed limit.
Symbol – It conveys a message of deeper meaning and
is open to multiple interpretations depending on their
experience, culture, upbringing. In Iran, Afghanistan,
and parts of Greece, the thumbs up is more of an
obscene gesture, similar to saying “fuck you”.
Communicative Behavior – As a psychological construct
influences individual differences in the expression of
feelings, needs, and thoughts as substitute for more
direct communication.
LESSON 2: ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
1. Sender-Receiver – a person, human or
communicator. A communicator can
simultaneously perform sending and receiving.
2. Message - consists of thoughts feelings, ideas,
attitudes, sentiments, etc. It pertains to the
meaning a communicator wants to convey. It
could be verbal or non-verbal.
3. Chanel – it means direction, or route of the
message to reach the other participants in
communication.
➢ Channels as conduits or pathways – it
refers to the light and sound waves that
enable us to see and hear each other,
respectively.
➢ David Berlo’s SMCR Model of
Communication - the rest of the five
senses are considered as channels of
communication.
➢ Channels as mode of transmission or
communication media – it pertains to
verbal or nonverbal modes. From the
Latin word “verbos” which means
“words”.
➢ Verbal communication – is word-based
communication further categorized into
spoken or oral written.
➢ Nonverbal communication – is a mode
of transmission that is wordless and
may involve any or a combination of
facial expression, gesture, body
language, proximity, touch, personal
appearance, silence, etc.
➢ Channels as guided and unguided
transmission media.
➢ Guided transmission media - the data
are directed along a physical path, such
as phone lines, twisted pair cables,
coaxial cables, and optical fibers.
➢ Unguided transmission media – it is
known as wireless. The data in form of
electromagnetic waves are transferred
without using any physical medium. This
includes radio signal, infrared,
Bluetooth, wifi, etc.
4. Feedback - response of the receiver to the
sources’ message.
5. Context - interrelated conditions of
communication that affect how people
understand the message.
➢ Physical Context – the setting where
the communication takes place, the
time of the day, the environmental
conditions. Temperature, lighting, noise
level, distance between or among the
communicators.
➢ Social Context – the nature of
relationships existing between or
among the communicators. It affects
the formality of interaction and how
messages are formed, shared, and
understood.
➢ Psychological Context – the
communicator’s feelings, personality,
needs, desires.
➢ Cultural Context – the beliefs, values,
and norms shared with a large group of
people.
➢ Historical Context – the background
provided by previous interactions
between or among communicators
which affect the understanding of the
current exchange of information.
6. Noise – anything that blocks or interferes with
the meaning of a particular message.
LESSON 3: BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
1. Barriers that Involved Words
Semantic Noise – it occurs when a receiver experiences
confusion over the meaning of a source’s word choice.
Special jargon and unique word usage, words/phrases
from foreign languages, mispronunciation, and
euphemism could also result to semantic noise.
Disorganized Messages – If you are talking in a stream
of consciousness and end up being incoherent, it is
going to be very hard for people to follow. Give an
orderly presentation of ideas and always apply
conciseness.
Information Overload – If someone is talking to you for
an extended period and it just gets overwhelming, it’s
very hard to keep track of every bit of information. Take
lots of short talking turns and bounce the conversation
back and forth with occasional checking in.
 2. Physical Barriers – as in the environmental
barriers which are Time, Place, Space, Climate,
and Noise.
Physiological Barriers – the limitations of the human
body. Physiological barriers may result from personal
discomfort caused by ill-health, poor eye sight, hearing
difficulties.
3. Tech Barriers – it has fully evolved into a varied
and commonly encountered category of
interferences. Erratic power supply and device-
related glitches are also under this type of
barriers.
4. Psychological Barriers - the emotional character
and mental limitations of human beings. It may
Basic Purposes of Communication
result into absent-mindedness, the fear of
expressing one’s ideas to others,
overexcitement, and emotional instability.
Common Forms of Psychological Barriers
Attitudes and Values – attitude is a pre-learned
Misconceptions about Communication
disposition that can be linked closely to a person’s
beliefs and values system.
Negative Self-image - If someone lacks self-confidence
or has a poor self-image, he or she might entertain
fearful thoughts.
Apathy – lack of emotion or interest in what is being
sent or received. Apathy causes communication to break
down because it interrupts effective listening.
Emotions – emotional communicator is unable to
organize messages properly. The perplexed, nervous,
and excited states of mind never allow smooth flow of
communication.
LESSON 4: PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION
1. Communication is a process – an activity or
exchange that moves forward from a starting
point. It starts long before the words begin and
can last long after the words stop.
2. Communication is a system – a group of
interrelated elements that affect one another.
Its components – sender-receiver, message,
channel, feedback, context, and noise.
3. Communication is dynamic – it cannot be a
static process because it is ever-changing.
Human communication is a symbol-using
information processing system. It relies on the
nature of human perception which can change
over time.
4. Communication is both interactional and
transactional - a process in which participants
alternate positions as sender and receiver or do
both simultaneously. The process is cooperative.
5. Communication can be intentional or
unintentional – intentional communication
happens when a communicator sends a
message in a purposeful manner. Unintentional
refers to situations when a person does
something that is interpreted by another person
as a message. It often comes in forms that are
demonstrated unconsciously.
1. To discover
2. To relate
3. To persuade
4. To entertain/ be entertained
1. Communication can solve all problems – it is
true that without communication, we cannot
solve our problems; but sometimes, it can also
create problems. Communicating does not make
any difference, what we communicate does.
2. The more we communicate, the better – the
quantity of communication is not the same as
quality. Therefore, it is not the amount of
communication but its content that makes the
difference.
3. Communication can break down – it does not
breakdown, but people do. It is neither good
nor bad; it is a tool used to convey something.
The more we understand about communication
and its use, the better communicators we can
become.
4. Meanings are in words or actions – words only
have meaning when we give them meaning.
Hence, no two people share the same meanings
and interpretations of words. Therefore,
meanings are in people and not in the words we
use.
5. Communication is a natural ability – this ability
requires not only that we be physically capable
but also that we comprehend how
communication works and that we have the
opportunity to use the knowledge.
LESSON 5: NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Five Roles of Nonverbal Communication

Non-verbal communication is a system consisting of a 1. Repetition – it repeats and often strengthens

range of features often used together to aid expression. the message you’re making verbally. (Verbal
The combination of these features is often a then nonverbal. Pwedeng hindi sabay)
subconscious choice made by native speakers or even 2. Contradiction – it can contradict the message
sub-groups/sub-cultures within a language group. you’re trying to convey, thus indicating to your
listener that you may not be telling the truth.
Main Components of Nonverbal Communication
(Iba ang sinasabi sa pinapakita ng expression.
1. Kinetics – body motions such as shrugs, foot Opposites.)
tapping, drumming fingers, eye movements 3. Substitution – it can substitute for a verbal
such as winking, facial expressions, and message.
gestures. 4. Complementing – it may add to or complement
2. Haptics – language of touch and the use of your verbal message. (binubuo, complete,
specific sensory such as sex, hugging, kissing. pumapares. Sabay.)
3. Oculesics – use of eyes, or eye contact such as 5. Accenting – it may accent or underline a verbal
pleasing, puppy eyes. “Ocula” means “to message. (Highlighting or giving emphasis to
express message”. verbal message. No direct connection but hindi
4. Olfactics – language of smell/scent, using our opposite.)
olfactory for brands, choice of perfume, what
How Emotional Awareness Strengthens Nonverbal
are you communicating, etc.
Communication:
5. Chronemics – language of time. Greek word
“chronos” means “time”. Making time for 1. Accurately read other people, including the
others, know the people to value your time. emotions they’re feeling and the unspoken
6. Proxemics – language of space and distance. messages they’re sending.
“Proxima” means “distance”. Proxemics tells a 2. Create trust in relationships by sending
lot about the relationship. nonverbal signals that match up with your
7. Paravocalics/Vocalics – tone of voice, timbre, words.
volume, speed is our products of vocal 3. Respond in ways that show others that you
apparatus. understand, notice, and care.
8. Sound symbols – vocal apparatus but not 4. Know if the relationship is meeting your
dealing words such us moaning, grunting, emotional needs, giving you the option to either
mumbling, etc. repair the relationship or move on.
9. Posture – position of the body or stance such as
telling your confidence, feeling well, or no
energy.
10. Locomotion – use of legs, moving and forming
such as walking, running, staggering, and
limping.
11. Silence – no words are involved. Silences are
secrecy, pausing, and waiting.
12. Adornment – language of the things that we
used in our body such as clothing, jewelry,
hairstyle, hats, tattoos, piercings. It also
communicates the brands, financial capacity,
and elevate the way we do things.