Nature and Elements of

Communication
DMMMSU-SLUC
College of Arts & Sciences
Languages Department
June 2017

Loreto B. Waguey
Lecturer
Communication -
A process - dynamic in nature rather than static
-not merely transmission of message but the correct
interpretation and understanding of message

Communication process as such must be considered a

continuous and dynamic interaction, both affecting and
being affected by many variables (Chand,2015).
-a process concerning exchange of facts or ideas
between persons holding different positions in an
organization to achieve mutual harmony.
Communication - verbal (written, oral), non-
verbal,
(paralanguage, visual)
Elements of Oral Communication

1. Sender
-person who intends to convey the message with the intention of passing
information and ideas to others

2. Ideas
- the subject matter of the communication. This may be an opinion,
attitude, feelings, views, orders, or suggestions.
3. Encoding
Since the subject matter of communication is theoretical and intangible,
its further passing requires use of certain symbols such as words,
actions or pictures etc. Conversion of subject matter into these symbols
is the process of encoding.

4. Communication Channel
-may be either formal or informal.
-Channel categories: verbal, non-verbal, personal, non-personal, etc. -A
channel could be the paper on which words are written, the Internet
acting in the client-server model or Power point that is allowing you to
read these words right now.
5. Receiver:
-the person who receives the message or for whom the message is
meant for
- one who tries to understand the message in the best possible manner
in achieving the desired objectives.

6. Decoding:
-conversion of the message or symbol from the communicator in such a
way that he/she may extract its meaning to his/her complete
understanding.

7. Feedback:
-the process of ensuring that the receiver has received the message and
understood in the same sense as sender meant it.
8. Context
-simply the environment in which your message is delivered
e.g. boardroom meeting, two people having a dialogue, restaurant,
students borrowing books from the library etc. Needless to say, context
can easily make or break the effectiveness of communication.
 Communication Models
purpose of a “model” - to offer a visual representation of
a concept with the intent of facilitating the understanding
of it
1. Linear Communication Model
• sender encodes a message via a channel
and the message is decoded by the
receiver
• straight-line communication
• no means for immediate feedback
e.g. television, radio, newspapers, etc.
2. Interactive Communication Model
• allows for a feedback element
• after a message is encoded and sent to
the decoding receiver, the roles then
reverse and the receiver encodes and
sends a response to the original sender
who has now turned receiver
e.g. telephone call, or even an email
exchange
3. Transactional Communication
• recognizes that each communicator is a
sender-receiver, not merely a sender or a
receiver
• Communication is simultaneous.
• Efficiency and reliability of communicated
message also depends on the medium used.
e.g. talking/listening to friends. While your friends
are talking, you are constantly giving them
feedback on what you think through your facial
expression and verbal feedback without
necessarily stopping your friend from talking.
 TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
1. Verbal
•use of words in delivering the intended
message major forms : written and oral
communication.
2. Nonverbal Communication
• sending and receiving wordless messages
• This reinforces verbal communication, but can
also convey thoughts and feelings
e.g.body language- facial expressions, eye contact, body
posture, gestures such as a wave, pointed finger and the
like, overall body movements, tone of voice, touch, etc.
One of the most frequently quoted statistics on nonverbal
communication is that 93% of all daily communication is
nonverbal. BLAKE, 2011
 Effective Communication Skills
1. Learn to Listen.
• not the same as hearing; listen not only to the words
but how they are being spoken and the non-verbal
messages sent with them
• Don’t think about what to say next while listening;
clear your mind and focus on the message being
received
• The most important thing in communication
is hearing what isn't said. -Peter Drucker-
• People appreciate those with good listening
skills.
2. Be Aware of other People's Emotions.
• Be aware and be sympathetic of what is
going on in other people’s lives.
• Maintain eye contact and use first names
where appropriate.
•Ask others for their opinions as this will help
to make them feel valued.
•Consider emotional effect of what you are
saying and communicate within the norms of
behavior acceptable to the other person
3.Empathize
• See things from the point-of-view of
others.
• Don’t be judgmental or biased by
preconceived ideas or beliefs.
• View situations and responses from the other
person’s perspective.
• Stay in tune with your own emotions to
help enable you to understand the
emotions of others.
4. Encourage
• Make other people feel welcome, wanted,
valued and appreciated in your
communications.
• If you let others know that they are valued,
they are much more likely to give you their
best. Ask others for their opinions as this will
help to make them feel valued.
Activities
1. Ongoing Telephone
designed to improve people’s skills in both
listening and speaking
• First person -chooses a phrase and quietly
whispers it in the next person’s ear. That person will
then whisper the phrase to the next person and so
on until the phrase reaches the last person in the
group.
• Once the last person has listened to the phrase,
each person must write on the board what he/she
heard.
Lesson:____________________________________
2. Fill in the Blanks
-builds effective communication skills between you and
your child, spouse or other close persons
-helps in understanding other’s emotions
• Find a partner close to you.(A close friend or relative)
• One of the people in the group will make up a
sentence, leaving out certain words such as
“When you ___, I feel ___.”
• Essential- Focus on the answers people offer,
without trying to change behaviors or place
blame on someone. Additionally, you should
keep away from becoming controlling, angry or
negative.
 3. Gesture Relay
• Form groups of ten.
• Form a straight line with each member facing the
back of the person standing in front of him/her.
• The last person at the back taps the shoulder of
the person in front of him/her and performs two
gestures to be imitated by the person in front of
him/ her.
• The gesture relay continues until the last member
in front performs in front of all the members the
gestures he has seen.
• Lesson: ________________________________
4. Four at a Time
-best when conducted with a large group of people
-designed to strengthen nonverbal communication and the
ability to cooperate as a team
• Form two big groups.
• Each participant will need a chair, and four people at a
time must stand for no longer than 10 seconds. They will
then sit back down, and four more people will stand up
and so on.
• There is no talking allowed during this exercise, so
nobody knows who will be standing up next.
Goal-to find a way that only four people will stand at a time,
maintaining proper levels of nonverbal communication and
teamwork.

•
 Intercultural Communication Skills
• good language skills
• understanding of different cultures
(customs & standards)
• willingness to accept differences
• understanding of how culture
can affect communication and language
e.g. Scandinavians in the UK have reported
causing
offense to English people by failing to say
“Please” and “Thank you” enough.
 Some useful starting points:
. Be willing to meet others at least halfwa
y learning a few phrases in their language
Good morning’, ‘good evening’, and
hank you’, will go a long way- Use the intern

f you talk to a man in a language he

nderstands, that goes to his head. If you
alk to him in his language, that goes to
s heart.
2. Adapt your behavior, and don’t always
expect others to adapt to you.

• includes not being offended if someone

unwittingly does something that you find
difficult to accept
• You don’t have to accept it, but it’s best
to explain politely why you find it hard
to understand.
3. Listen and observe.
• US American culture - a lot of emphasis placed
on the value of speaking and voicing your
opinion but not as much value is placed on
observing and listening.
• You can gain much if you are willing to listen
more and to watch how others communicate.
e.g. How do your international colleagues
communicate nonverbally? How close do they
stand to the people they are talking with? etc.
ACTIVITIE
1. The Story of My Name (Description of a Name
S Game & Get-to-know-you)
-an interesting and novel way for people to
introduce themselves to others, especially in
ethnically diverse groups
-The greater the ethnic and cultural diversity in the
group, the better this exercise tends to work.
• Turn to a partner (If possible from another
town/province) and explain what your name
means (if anything) and where it comes from.
• Introduce your partner to the larger group and
explain what his/her name means and where it
comes from.
VARIATIONS
1.Revealing the background behind the
following other names
e.g. –nicknames, pets, names of siblings or
children (if you have)
2. Have You Ever?
-active, fun way to explore and celebrate the rich
diversity of experiences that different people bring
to any group
• Form groups.
• The teacher calls out different things that may or
may not apply to each person. If the item does
apply to you, then run into the middle and jump
in the air.
• The first group to finish wins.
 Have You Ever/Does Anyone Have Questions:

1. Have you ever climbed to the highest point in

your country of birth?
2. Have you ever lived overseas for more than 1
year?
3. Have you ever been without a shower for more
than 2 weeks?

4.Have you ever ridden a horse?

5. Have you ever eaten frogs' legs?

6. Can you speak 3 or more languages?
7. Have you broken 3 or more bones in your body?
8. Have you done volunteer work sometime in the
last 3 months?
9. Have you ever had a close relative who lived
over 100?

10. Have you ever cooked a meal by yourself for

more than 20 people?
11. Can you click your fingers on your non-
dominant hand?
12. Have you ever walked on snow?

13. Have you ever been to Boracay?

14. Have you ever seen the president of your

country at present?

15. Do you parents differ in their native languages?

16. Have you climbed Mt. Everest or any famous

mountain in your country?
17. Have you ever entered a cave?
18. Do you have more than 10 siblings?
19. Have you ever killed a snake?
20. Have you ever seen a famous foreign singer?
21. Have you ever won a beauty pageant?

22. Have you ever met Noli de Castro?

23. Have you ever worked in the farm/field for more
than a week ?
24. Have you ever ridden a carabao?
25. Have you ever held a real skeleton of a
person?
The most important thing in
communication is hearing what
isn't said.
-Peter Drucker-

People appreciate those with good listening

skills.
 THE END!
THANK YOU