1ST YEAR MIDWIFERY

ENGLISH – COMMUNICATION SKILLS

UNIT I
INTRODUCTION

What is communication?

A speaking delivering a speech before an audience is the first thing that probably comes
to mind for many in the class.

A communication is how we speak, talk or communicate with the other people. It

involves a speaker imparting and sharing ideas, concepts, feelings to a group of listeners or the
audience. Communication is about one person talking with another such as with a sibling, a
parent, a teacher, a friend and a face to face or even via the internet.

Communication is stirring up ideas in the mind of another. It is sharing of ideas among a

group of people. It is imparting concepts to an audience. Monroe and Ehninger (1974) described
it as the sharing of experiences publicly for the common good.

The Models Of Communication

Many authors and researchers have come up with their own models based on what they
want to emphasize as being an important component of communication.

1. Aristotle’s Model Of Communication

The first and earliest model of communication is that of Aristotle (382-322BCE),
who was a teacher of rhetoric and who even put up an academy to produce good speaker.
Although Aristotle focused on the speaker and the message, the most important part in
his model is the setting, where the listener is situated. It is the setting that dictates the
type of message to be delivered.

Three types of setting:

a. Legal – meant the courts where ordinary people defended themselves (there were no
lawyers)
b. Deliberative – meant the political assemblies, the highest being the roman senate.
c. Ceremonial – meant the celebrations held. Such celebrations called for welcome speeches,
poems of tribute or of eulogies and poems of lament.

2. Claude Shannon And Warren Weaver Model Of Communication (1948)

They introduced the concept of “noise”. They called there model as a “Telephone
Model” because it is based on the experience of having the message interfered by “noise”
from the telephone switchboard back in 1940s.
 In this model, Shannon and weaver asserted that the message sent by the source is
not necessarily the message received by the receiver. This is due to the intervention of
noise or anything that hampers the communication.

3. Wilbur Schramm Model Of Communication

The third model is that of Wilbur Schramm, who is considered the father of
mass communication. He came up with five models, but the Schramm model (1995) is
the model that explains why communication breakdown occurs. He called his model the
“Circular Model” which indicates that messages can go in two directions. Schramm
affirmed that communication can take place if and only if there is an overlap between the
field of experience of the speaker and the field experience of the listener.
What is the field experience? It is everything that makes a person unique,
everything he or she has ever learned, watched, seen, heard, read, studied and everything
that we have experienced in this life as a human beings.

4. Eugene White Model Of Communication

The fourth model is that of Eugene white (1960), who stated that communication
is circular and continuous, without a beginning or end. This is why he made a cyclical
model. He also pointed out that although we can assume that communication begins with
thinking, communication can actually be observed from any point in the circle.
Eugene contributed the concept of feedback to the field of communication.
Feedback is the speaker‟s perception about the listener‟s response.

UNIT II
Explaining The Process Of Communication

Communication occurs when the message is imparted and received. At the minimum, two
persons are involved in the process: the one who delivers the message and the one who receives
and understands the message.

ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION

1. Speaker
The speaker is the sender or the conveyer of the message or information. He/she
chooses his/her purpose, crafts the message accordingly and decides how to deliver it.
Everyone can be a speaker. Even the listener or the audience can also be a speaker.

2. Message
It is the ideas, concepts, feeling or the information that the speaker wants to
conveyed or delivered to the other people. The message is what needs to be delivered or
imparted to somebody else. This is the central to the process because the point of
 communicating is to say “something”. There is always a message in every
communication, even in informal communication.

3. Listener
A person who receives the message or information of what the speaker wants to
convey. The one who listen to the speakers are saying. It is said that even if the speaker is
great and the message is beautiful, if there is no listener or the listener is not paying
attention, then communication fails. Because it is the listener who makes sense of what is
said and reacts to the speaker.

4. Channels
It is the means or medium of communication by which the message is sent and
received. In other words, a message sent and received via the five senses.
Five Senses:
 Ears – the sense of hearing.
 Eyes – the sense of seeing.
 Skin – the sense of touch.
 Mouth – the sense of taste.
 Nose – the sense of smell.

5. Response
It is how a person response to the conversation. Response is the only way the
speaker knows that the message has been received. Whether the listener responds or not
is central to the communication process. The response is, ofcourse, based on the
interpretation of the message by the listener.

6. Feedback
It is the result of the speaker‟s monitoring of the listener‟s response. The listener
may respond to the message positively or negatively. The speaker needs to watch out for
this response to know if the message was effectively imparted or not. Ensuring what
feedback is, will help the speaker in continuing with the communication or with the
crafting of the next message.

7. Noise
It is the barrier of hindrance to communication.
Types Of Noise:
 Physical Noise – it is an actual noise such as loud music or the irritating throttle of
a motorcycle engine.
 Physiological Noise – it is when the body becomes a hindrance to good
communication.
 Psychological Noise – it is when our mind becomes a hindrance to
communication. It occurs when one is thinking deeply about something or is
 suffering from an emotional condition, which discourages participation in a
communicative situation.

UNIT III
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

There are several different ways we share information with one another. For example,
you might use verbal communication when sharing a presentation with a group. You might use
written communication when applying for a job or sending an email.

1. Verbal Communication

It is the use of language to transfer information through speaking or sign language. It is one
of the most common types, often used during presentations, video conferences and phone
calls, meetings and one-on-one conversations. Verbal communication is important because it
is efficient. It can be helpful to support verbal communication with both nonverbal and written
communication.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your verbal communication skills:

 Use a strong, confident speaking voice.

 Use active listening.
 Avoid filler words.

2. Nonverbal Communication

It is the use of body language, gestures and facial expressions to convey information to others.
It can be used both intentionally and unintentionally. For example, you might smile
unintentionally when you hear a pleasing or enjoyable idea or piece of information. Nonverbal
communication is helpful when trying to understand others„thoughts and feelings.

If they are displaying ―closed‖ body language, such as crossed arms or hunched shoulders,
they might be feeling anxious, angry or nervous. If they are displaying ―open‖ body language
with both feet on the floor and arms by their side or on the table, they are likely feeling positive
and open to information.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your nonverbal communication skills:

 Notice how your emotions feel physically.

 Be intentional about your nonverbal communications.
 Mimic nonverbal communications you find effective.
3. Written Communication

It is the act of writing, typing or printing symbols like letters and numbers to convey
information. It is helpful because it provides a record of information for reference. Writing is
commonly used to share information through books, pamphlets, blogs, letters, memos and
more. Emails and chats are a common form of written communication in the workplace.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your written communication skills:

 Strive for simplicity.

 Don‟t rely on tone.
 Take time to review your written communications.
 Keep a file of writing you find effective or enjoyable.

4. Visual Communication

It is the act of using photographs, art, drawings, sketches, charts and graphs to convey
information. Visuals are often used as an aid during presentations to provide helpful context
alongside written and/or verbal communication. Because people have different learning styles,
visual communication might be more helpful for some to consume ideas and information.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your visual communication skills:

 Ask others before including visuals.

 Consider your audience.

UNIT IV

BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION:

A barrier is any obstacle that prevents us from reaching our goal. Any hindrance to
communication stops the intended meaning of our message from reaching our audience.

1. Physiological Barriers

Physiology is the state of human body and mind. Physiological barriers of communication
occur due to the physical condition of sender or receiver which might even be physical
disabilities. It includes sensory dysfunction and other physical dysfunctions.
Physiological barriers to communication are related with the limitations of the human body and
the human mind (memory, attention, and perception). Physiological barriers may result from
individuals' personal discomfort, caused by ill-health, poor eye sight, or hearing difficulties.
 A receiver with hearing impairment or hearing loss cannot receive audio message. The
person also cannot talk with people face to face easily. If the hearing problem is not very severe,
he/she might only hear some words and is unable to get the intended meaning out of the
message.

2. Physical Barrier

Physical barrier is the environmental and natural condition that acts as a barrier in
communication in sending message from sender to receiver. Organizational environment or
interior workspace design problems, technological problems and noise are the parts of physical
barriers. When messages are sent by the sender, physical barriers like doors, walls, distance, etc.
do not let the communication become effective. The barriers are less if the proximity of the
sender and the receiver is high and less technologies are required.
Disturbance in hearing due to thunders, telephone call disconnection, problems in television
reception, message not being sent in chat, etc. are some examples of physical barriers of
communication.

3. Cultural Barrier

People who live in various cultures and historical epochs communicate differently and have
different patterns of thought. A Cultural barrier in communication occurs mainly when
communication happens between two different cultural backgrounds. We encounter cultural
barriers in everyday life.
Cultural differences causes behavior and personality differences like body language,
thinking, communication, manners, norms, etc. which leads to miscommunication. For example,
in some cultures eye contact is important whereas in some it is rude and disrespectful.

4. Language Barriers

Language is needed for any kind of communication, even people with speech impairments
communicate with sign language and brail. Communication becomes difficult in situations where
people don„t understand each other„s language. The inability to communicate using a language is
known as language barrier to communication.
Language barriers are the most common communication barriers which cause
misunderstandings and misinterpretations between people. Most of the people in the world do
not speak English or, even if they use, it is their second or third language.

Examples of language barriers that prevent individuals from effective communication include:

 Dialects - While two people may technically speak the same language, dialectal
differences can make communication between them difficult.
 Language Disabilities - Language disabilities are physical impediments to language.
 5. Gender Barriers

Gender barriers to communication can incite problems at home and in the workplace.
Societal stereotypes, assumed gender roles, and interpersonal differences can contribute to a
communication gap. Style differences during decision making is a common gender barrier to
communication.

 Women are more likely to talk to other women when a problem or conflict arises. Men
are often known for dealing with problems or issues internally
 Women focus on feelings, senses and meaning. They rely on their intuition to find
answers. Men focus on facts, reason and logic. They find answers by analyzing and
figuring things out.

6. Psychological Barrier

The psychological barrier of communication is the influence of psychological state of the

communicators (sender and receiver) which creates an obstacle for effective communication.
Communication is highly influenced by the mental condition that the communicators are in
and is disturbed by mental disturbance. If the people involved in communication are not
emotionally well, they won„t be able to communicate properly.
Every person„s mind is unique and communication does not work like that in machines or in
numbers. The people who are involved in the communication matter as much as the message e.g.
If your boss doesn„t trust you, he/she will only send selective information, which makes the
communication ineffective.

7. Emotional Barriers

Emotional barriers are emotional factors that impede a speaker's ability to deliver a clear
message or a receiver's ability to hear a message effectively.
Examples of emotional barriers that prevent individuals from effective communication
include:
 Anger - Anger can affect the way your brain processes information given to you. For
example, angry people have difficulty processing logical statements, limiting their ability
to accept explanations and solutions offered by others.
 Pride - The need to be right all the time will not only annoy others, it can shut down
effective communication. For example, you might focus only on your perspective, or you
might come up with ways to shoot down other people before you even listen to their
points.
 Anxiousness - Anxiety has a negative impact on the part of your brain that manages
creativity and communication skills. For example, your constant worries can hinder your
ability to concentrate on the information you are giving or receiving.