INTRODUCTION TO

COMMUNICATION
FOUR AT A TIME
COMMUNICATION is the process of people
reacting to the various attitudes and
behaviors of other individuals. It can be
looked upon as a personal process talking into
the feelings, attitudes, and ideas so that their
goals are met.
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN happens in
every part of the globe, and these have lead
to a plethora of problems. Effective
communication can breach peace, spark
revolutions, and affect change in the
government.
One cannot simply strive to express oneself
and leave understanding to fate.; one must
learn how to (a) organize one’s thoughts, (b)
control one’s emotion, (c) use one’s word to
articulate concepts and arguments, (d) and
express oneself in the best way possible.
The art of communication reflects the art of
one’s thinking.
 Elements of Human Communication:
1. Sender - is the one who initiates the communication.
2. Receiver -provides the sender with feedback which may
prompt the sender to clarify the message or signal to
carry on as planned.
3. Message –is made up of the ideas and feelings that a
sender-receiver wants to share with others.
Verbal symbols – express through words
Non-Verbal symbols – express through gestures,
4. Channel - are means through which we transmit the
message in either vocal or non-
vocal messages.
Vocal messages– are verbal and spoken
Non-vocal messages– may be expressed in words or
non-verbal symbols

5. Feedback - the behavioral response of the sender-

receiver to each other. It is the
information that comes back to the
sender of the message and
6. Noise - an interference that bars the message
from being understood or
interpreted.
External noise – comes from the physical
environment
Internal Noise – confined within the
psychological and sociological nature of
individuals when thoughts and
feelings are engrossed on something other
7. Context - refers to the surrounding/environment that
helps shape the interaction between
and/or among individuals.
Physical context– the physical environment
where the communication takes place.
Social context– refers to the relationship the
participants hold for each
other.
Psychological context– which has to do with the
mood and emotions of the
communicators at the moment of
 Types of Communication:
VERBAL COMMUNICATION – includes the use of symbols
that have universal meanings and can be classified as
spoken or written.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION – the use of non-verbal

symbols consist of gestures, eye movements, tone of voice,
the use of space and touch.
“Non-verbal communication performs a third valuable
social function: conveying emotions that we may be
unwilling or unable to express – or ones we may not even
be aware of. In fact, non-verbal communication is much
better suited to expressing attitudes and feelings than
ideas” (Adler & Rodman, 2006).
 Types of Verbal Communication:
1. Intrapersonal Communication – is communication
expressed through self-talk.
2. Interpersonal Communication – is communication
between two people (dyadic) or a small group of
individuals (also knows as small group discussion).
3. Public Communication – is one person speaking in
front of the audience.
4. Mass Communication – is communication that takes
place through a technology such as the social
network/ internet, television, radio, and newspaper.
 Types of Non - Verbal Communication:
1. Silence conveys meaning to the spectators that can
be seen in a person who is quiet yet busy, a person
who is contemplating, grieving, not to be disturbed,
or being in a difficult situation.
2. Body Language (gestures) is employed in 2 ways
unconscious movement to tell the state of emotion
the person is undergoing. On the other hand,
conscious movement entails individuals to render the
designated action.
 Types of Non - Verbal Communication:
3. Facial Expression is manifested to evoke certain
emotions such as happy, joyful, sad,
frustration, and many other facial movements.
4. Paralanguage or use of voice is detected in loud, or
faint sounds to provide authority or
emphasis to the volume of words.
5. Touch (hug, kiss, handshake) in some cultures is a
symbol of affection but may not be
allowed in certain communities.
 Types of Non - Verbal Communication:
6. Space & distance indicate the importance of a person.
Distance signifies the intimacy and personal acceptance
in some cultures and in others not.
7. Clothes and personal appearance provide a quick personal
surveillance of the person’s age, interest, personality,
sex, attitude, social standing, or religious affiliation.
8. Symbols are general graphical presentation so that people
will be guided accordingly such as traffic signs,
mathematical problems, medical, and other fields of
specialty (Rasel, 2013).
 Forms of Communication
Formal Communication involves the use of public speaking or
mass communication, a combination of both verbal and non-
verbal messages. In here, language is more precise and the
speaker is careful with grammar. A dress code, proper posture,
eye contact are being taken into consideration.

Informal Communication involves interpersonal and small

group communication where people can be at ease and be
more comfortable. During the interaction, less attention is given
to nonverbal cues like clothing, posture, and eye contact.
Why is communication important to
you and to the society?
 Functions of Communication
1. Informing and conveying the message to the receiver(s) through
verbal and non-verbal engagements.
2. Persuading other people to agree with the ideas, opinions, and
suggestions.
3. Integrating divisions and departments by building a communication
network to achieve the goals and visions of the organization.
4. Creating and establishing relationship within the group or outside
of the group.
5. Helping in decision making within the family, friends, and members
of the organization when a crisis or important matters arise.
6. Reducing misunderstanding and solving troubles among people.
Is it easy to learn a foreign language?
Why? Why not?
 Five Theories of Non-Verbal Communication
1. SEMIOTICS(SIGN LANGUAGE)
2. KINESICS (BODY LANGUAGE)
3. HAPTICS (TOUCH)
4. CHRONEMICS(TIME)
- BIOLOGICAL TIME
- PERSONAL TIME
- PHYSICAL TIME
- CULTURAL TIME
5. PROXEMICS (USE OF SPACE)
- BODY TERRITORY
- PRIMARY TERRITORY
- SECONDARY TERRITORY
- PUBLIC TERRITORY
 Five Theories of Non-Verbal Communication
1. SEMIOTICS(SIGN LANGUAGE) are used in the absence of the
spoken word. ALTERNATE SIGN LANGUAGE is a system of hand
signals created by individuals with limited communication or
used by deaf community while PRIMARY SIGN LANGUAGE is the
first language of a group of individuals who do not use a spoken
language with each other (Yule, 2005)
2. KINESICS (BODY LANGUAGE) is the study of the hand, arm, body,
and face movements. ADAPTORS pertain to the self, indicating
internal stress, anxiety or when things are not in control of the
surroundings. EMBLEMS are gestures to signify agreement.
 Five Theories of Non-Verbal Communication
3. HAPTICS (TOUCH) touch is essential for social development which can
either be welcoming, threatening, or persuasive.
FUNCTIONAL-PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OF TOUCH is associated with
professional routines such as barbers, hairstyles, doctors, nurses, tattoo
artists, security screeners.
SOCIAL-POLITE LEVEL includes a handshake, a pat on the arm or
shoulder.
FRIENDSHIP-WARMTH LEVEL is significant since it serves a relational
continuance that will foster closeness, adoration, attention, and concern.
LOVE-INTIMACY LEVEL such as holding hands and full frontal hugging is
more personal
SEXUAL-AROUSAL TOUCH for romantic partners (married individuals)
 Five Theories of Non-Verbal Communication

4. CHRONEMICS(TIME) a study of how time influences

communication
BIOLOGICAL TIME is the rhythm of living things in daily body cycle
affects our eating patterns, sleeping and walking moments.
PERSONAL TIME associated to person’s mood in a specific activity
that defines his or her experience time.
PHYSICAL TIME is fixed cycles of days, weeks, months, years, and
seasons that affect people’s mood and psychological levels.
CULTURAL TIME on the other hand, is how a large group of
individuals look at time.
 Five Theories of Non-Verbal Communication
5. PROXEMICS (USE OF SPACE). DISTANCE should be the preference of
the individuals and not forced closeness.

Intimate (0-18 inches)

Personal (18 inches to 4 feet)
Social (4 feet to 10 feet)
Public (over 10 feet)
 Five Theories of Non-Verbal Communication

PROXEMICS (USE OF SPACE)

- BODY TERRITORY refers to the personal space the individual
maintains with other people
- PRIMARY TERRITORY refers to the home, vehicle or other living
spaces of the person
- SECONDARY TERRITORY refers to school, office, or church where
entry is reserved for specific individuals and norms are expected and
looked upon.
- PUBLIC TERRITORY refers to the open space where everyone
visits such as the park, market, shopping malls, and many others.