Nature of Communication

What is Communication?
Communication is a two-way process of
connecting to both living and non-living things.
It is also a means of sharing and exchanging
messages, information, ideas, and feelings for
mutual understanding.
Why do we communicate?
Functions of Communication
1. Regulation/Control
2. Social Interaction
3. Motivation
4. Emotional expression
5. Information dissemination
 1. Regulation/Control
It can be used to regulate the nature and amount of
activities humans engage in.
Basic Forms of Regulation/Control
• Doctor’s Prescriptions
• Parents’ instructions to their children
• Employers orders to their employees
• Customers making orders
 2. Social Interaction
Refers to the use of communication to socialize or
interact with other people
Basic Forms of Social Interaction
• Invitations
• Greetings
• Appreciations
• Marriage proposals
 3. Motivation
Refers to a person using language to express desires,
needs, wants, likes and dislikes, inclinations, choices,
and aspirations
Basic Forms of Motivation
• Expressing one’s ambitions
• Talking about preferences
• Asking for milk
• Expressing a need
 4. Information
Communication can be used in giving and getting
information
Basic Forms of Information
• Giving information using statements
(I have three sisters.)
(For every action, there is a reaction.)
 5. Emotional Expression
Refers to the use of expressions such as love, fear,
anger, joy, hope
Basic Forms of Emotional Expression
• Yes!
• Oh no!
• Ouch!
• Really?
 Elements of Communication
1. Speaker- the source of information or message
2. Message- the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by
the speaker in words or in actions
3. Encoding- the process of converting the message into
words, actions, or other forms that the speaker understands
4. Channel- the medium or the means, such as personal or
nonpersonal, verbal or nonverbal, in which the encoded
message is conveyed
5. Decoding- the process of interpreting the encoded
message of the speaker by the receiver
6. Receiver- the recipient of the message or someone
who decodes the message
7. Feedback- the reactions, responses, or information
provided by the receiver
8. Context- the environment where the communication
takes place
9. Barriers- the factors that affect the flow of
communication