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NATURE AND ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION

Rollo May, an author and

UNIT 1 existential psychologist stated that,

“Communication leads to
community, that is, to
understanding, intimacy, and mutual
valuing.” Communication, then, is more than just the
Source: populo.com
process of saying something to another. Rather, it is a way
by which we could make ourselves heard and understood, as well as a way for us to know
more about and understand others. In this unit, you will learn more about the nature and
elements of communication. 

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

 define communication and explain the process of communication; 

 distinguish verbal from nonverbal communication; 
 identify the elements of communication particularly the context of
communication; and 
 differentiate between the various models of communication. 

BUILDING VOCABULARY

Channel – the means of delivering the message

Context – the interrelated conditions that affect message
Feedback – the response of the receiver to the given message of the sender
Message – the main idea or information that the sender would like to convey to
the receiver
Participants – the communicators
Sender – encodes the message
Stimulus – an idea or concept that sender would like to convey
.
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Lesson 1: Definition and Process of Communication

Week/Date:

Communication is an important human need. It is essential for us to be able to

define what communication is and what makes it so. In this way, we can further
develop our communication skills and understand how to make them effective.

Source: cleanpng.com
Warm-up! Crossword Puzzle

Across Down
2. Person who tells the message 1. Refers to the act of expressing ideas in ways
5. Relating to things perceived through the that do not involve or go beyond using words.
senses as opposed to the mind; tangible or 3. Is the transmission of ideas and emotions
concrete. between or among persons with the use of
9. Anything that a speaker communicates to verbal and nonverbal cues.
someone else 4. A person who receives a message
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11. Time or place where speech takes place 6. Nonverbal messages sent from listener to a
12. A message is communicated speaker
13. Related to the mental and emotional state of 7. Refers to the use of touch to convey meaning
a person. in a conversation.
15. Refers to the use of words or speech in 8. Any barrier or hindrance that obstructs the
sending messages and transmitting ideas or understanding of the message.
feelings. 10. Relating to society or its organization.
14. Relating to the ideas, customs, and social
behavior of a society.

Learn About It!  

Communication is the transmission of ideas and emotions between or among
persons with the use of verbal and nonverbal cues. The word communication comes from
the Latin word communis, which means “commo.”

To be common means to come together or to share something in common

together. Communication helps people adapt to or survive in the place they live in. 

Communication is a process; it starts with a stimulus, which is an idea or

concept that the sender has and would like to convey. 

The sender encodes the message by putting it into words and then expresses the
ideas in proper sequence. This message is then accepted and interpreted or decoded by
the receiver. The receiver may or may not respond to the sender. If the receiver chooses
to respond, then he or she will provide feedback. When providing feedback, the receiver
then becomes the sender, and the first sender then becomes the receiver of the message.  

There may, however, be a breakdown in the communication process. This

breakdown in the process may happen because of noise, which is any barrier or hindrance
that obstructs the understanding of the message.  

Take a look at the phone conversation in the box: 

Cathy: Hello? 
Annie: Cath? It’s Annie. I just want to ask
you something. 
Cathy: Sure, go ahead.  Annie: I was absent from
school last Friday.  Could you please tell me what our
lesson in English was about? 
Cathy: Oh, we just discussed mo . . . and then we had a
quiz on the sub . . . so if you . . . 
Annie: Hello? Cathy? The line is breaking up. I can
hardly hear you. 

Source: Quipper
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Davao Doctors College, Inc. - Senior High School Program

The stimulus in the conversation is Annie’s intention to ask Cathy about their
lesson in English last Friday. Annie translates this stimulus into words. Cathy receives
the message, decodes it, and provides feedback that she understands the idea by telling
Annie what they did in their English class. However, because of the element of noise,
which, in this case, is the crackling and breaking up of the phone line, Annie could not
hear Cathy’s message well. 

Check Your Understanding!

Read the following dialogue and answer the questions that follow. 
(1-2 sentences only.)

At the cafeteria food line, Anne and Cathy are separated by two people in the
line   
Cathy: Annie! Annie! I cannot believe that I got the highest score in our math quiz! 
Annie: What quiz?! I came in late and I missed our math class. What was the
quiz about? 
Cathy: Oh really? Too bad, Ms. Lim reviewed with us before the quiz and . . . 
Annie: What? I cannot understand you. Excuse me, sir? (directed toward a boy
beside her) 
Cathy: . . . so that was why it was super easy! You should approach Ms. Lim
this afternoon. 

1. What is the stimulus of the conversation?

2. What was the noise in the situation?

3. What could have been done to prevent a breakdown in the communication?

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4. In what way did Annie provide feedback?

5. What are some ways through which we can have better communication?

Lesson 2: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Week/Date:

When receiving good or bad news, it is but natural for us to react with a smile or a
frown. This kind of feedback is an Source: yourstory.com
important part of communication that we
tend to overlook. In communication,
there are verbal and nonverbal elements
present. We have to understand that both
make up an effective means of
communicating. 

Learn About It! 

Verbal communication refers to the use of words or speech in sending messages
and transmitting ideas or feelings. The communicators make use of language in order to
convey what they would like others to know.   For example, the words in a conversation
are considered verbal communication or verbal cues.  Nonverbal communication, on the
other hand, refers to the act of expressing ideas in ways that do not involve or go beyond
using words.   Body language, appearance, voice, and environment are some of the
nonverbal cues that greatly affect the meaning of
one’s message.   The various types
of nonverbal communication are as
follows: 

A. Proxemics 
This refers to the space or distance
Source: medium.com
between the sender and the
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receiver. This includes intimate distance (45cm to 1,5ft), for embracing, touching, or
whispering; personal distance (1,2m to 4 feet), which is for interacting with good friends
or family; social distance (3,7m to 12 feet), which is for interacting with acquaintances,
and public distance (7,6m to 25 feet or more), which is used for public speaking. 

Example:  It is quite natural to be in or maintain an intimate distance when you are with
your best friend or someone you are very close to.

B. Kinesics 

This refers to the use of body language in communication. This includes gestures, eye
contact, and facial expressions. 

Example: leaning forward while listening to someone

The action of leaning forward while listening to someone may be interpreted as openness
and interest in the other person’s message. 

C. Chronemics  

This refers to the role of time in the communication process. Since various cultures may
have different perceptions of time when it comes to punctuality or in interactions,
chronemics may greatly affect communication. 

Example: arriving early to a job interview

Arriving early to a job interview may be interpreted as a sign that one is eager to work in
the company and that he or she respects the interviewer’s time. 

D. Paralanguage  

This refers to the tone, speed, and volume of a speaker’s voice. Sighs and gasps are also
considered as paralanguage. 

Example: speaking slowly and using low volume

When someone is using low volume in speech and is speaking more slowly than usual,
that person may be sad or tired. 

E. Haptics  
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This refers to the use of touch to convey meaning in a conversation. This is often
dependent on culture. In some countries, friendly touching is encouraged, but in others, it
is considered an invasion of one’s personal space. 

Example: tightly hugging someone

An exchange of tight hugs between individuals conveys that they have a close
relationship with each other. The act of hugging is also a way to comfort someone or to
let that person know that he or she is loved or appreciated. 

Check Your Understanding!

At home, observe the communication and give two more examples of each of the
nonverbal types.

Proxemics:

Kinesics:
●

Chronemics:

Paralanguage:

Haptics:

Lesson 3: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Week/Date:
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The elements of communication are the components that

make the communication process possible. Learning about
and understanding these elements will allow one to get a
better picture of the communication process and how it
works. 
Learn About It! 
The five elements of communication focus on each aspect of
the process and relate its importance accordingly. A good
communicator must consider looking into these elements to Source: pngtree.com
Source: pngtree.com
deliver an effective message. 

Below are the five elements of communication:

A. Participants

These are the communicators; they can be both senders and receivers. A sender transmits
the information to the receiver, while the receiver decodes the message in order to
formulate a response.

B. Context

This refers to the interrelated conditions that affect the message. These include physical,
psychological, social, and cultural factors

 Physical context refers to the place, time, environment, and distance between
communicators.
Example: The way you communicate with your sibling when there is no one
around may be different from the way you communicate with each other when
other people are present.
 Social context refers to the relationship of the communicators.
Example: The way you communicate with a person of authority that you have
only just met is different from the way you speak with someone who has been a
close friend of yours for years.
 Psychological context refers to the moods and feelings of the communicators.
Think about the times when your mood or feelings caused you to communicate
differently.
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Example: When you are sad or angry, for example, you might say things that you
would not say if you were happy.
 Cultural context includes the beliefs and norms of the participants. This comes
into play when you are speaking with someone who is of a different gender, age,
social status, religion, or nationality.
Example: When speaking with an exchange student from Japan, for example, you
may need to explain some Filipino terms you use in a conversation, terms that you
do not need to explain to a fellow Filipino.

C. Message

This is the main point of having communication. The message is the main idea or
information that the sender would like to convey to the receiver. Thus, it is important for
the message to be stated clearly and in a way that is understandable to the receiver.
Source: pngtree.com

D. Channel

This is the means of delivering the

message. It can be a face-to-face conversation,
a letter, a phone call, an e-mail, or social
media.

E. Feedback

This refers to the response of the receiver.

This helps the sender of the message
determine whether the message was understood by the receiver. If the participants of the
conversation continue giving feedback, the flow of communication continues.

Check Your Understanding

Write down the specific context being described in the given situation.

Context Situation
1. The new employee speaks in a soft whisper when
responding to his/her new boss.
2. A girl shouted at the top of her voice when she saw a
cockroach inside the house.
3. Children are comfortable cuddling with their parents.
4. Your Korean boyfriend bow to show respect to your
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parent.
5. You join your siblings’ conversation about the video
game you played last night, chanting “GG! GG!” to refer
to a good game.

Lesson 4: Models of Communication

Week/Date:

As we dive deeper into the process of

communication, this lesson will show us the different
models of communication and how each model has its
own concepts, uses, and importance in a given context.
Learn About It!

The term “model of communication” refers to

a conceptual representation that is used to explain the
Source: pngtree.com
communication process. There are various models of
communication, with each of them offering a different
perspective on the communication process. The three general types of communication
models are the linear communication model, interactive communication model, and
transactional communication model.

The linear communication model presents communication as a one-way

activity in which information flows from the sender to the receiver. This process shows
only a passive receiver. Feedback is not a part of the process, and the role of the receiver
is only to accept information.

Source: Quipper
The

interactive communication model, on the other hand, shows communication as a two-

way activity. The sender and the receiver have the same role in the activity: either one
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comes up with an idea, sends a message, and reacts to it. The model involves feedback,
an element missing from the linear communication model. It may also include noise, an
element that affects the interpretation of the message.
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The transactional communication model presents communication not only as a

two-way process but also as a simultaneous activity. Senders and receivers are called
participants since they are capable of both sending and receiving messages anytime or at
the same time.

Nonverbal cues such as gestures, tone of voice, or body language are also
considered as feedback in this type of communication model. The noise and the
environment are the other elements that affect the process.

Also, this model considers that communicators react to the situation based on
their own past experiences, current status, and anticipated future. Each communicator
Source: Quipper
also has a different background and may have a different set of norms, values, and
beliefs. All of these influences the transmission and interpretation of messages.

The diverse perceptions and backgrounds of the communicators influence their

response to a particular communication situation.
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Source: Quipper

Check Your Understanding!

Give the model of communication applicable to the given statement.
Model of Statement
Communication
1. The sender and receiver in this model have the same role
in the activity.
2. No feedback is involved in this model.
3. Senders and receivers in this model are called participants
since they are capable of both sending and receiving
messages
anytime or at the same time.
4. In this model, each communicator also has a different
background and may have a different set of norms, values,
and
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beliefs.
5. This is a one-way activity in which the information flows
from
the sender to the receiver.

Wrap Up!

Communication is the transmission of ideas and emotions between or among

persons with the use of verbal and nonverbal cues.
Verbal communication – The elements of The term “model of
the use of words or speech communication are the communication” refers to
in components that make a conceptual representation
sending messages and the communication that is used to explain the
transmitting ideas or process possible. communication process.
feelings
Nonverbal These elements are the The three general types of
communication – following: communication models are
refers to the act of a. participants the following:
expressing b. context a. linear model
ideas in ways that do not c. message b. interactive model
involve or go beyond using d. channel c. transactional model
words e. feedback
Types of nonverbal
communication includes
proxemics, kinesics,
chronemics, paralanguage,
and haptics

Self-Assessment: How Well Did I Learn?

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. Communication is a process that starts with _________.
2. Communication breakdown may happen because of _________, which is any barrier
or hindrance that obstructs the understanding of the message.
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3. Body language, appearance, voice, and environment are some of the _________ cues
that greatly affect the meaning of one's message.
4. The term "_________ of communication” refers to a conceptual representation that is
used to explain the communication process.
5. The _________ communication model presents communication not only as a two-way
process but also as a simultaneous activity.
6. _________ is anything that may obstruct the understanding of the message.
7. Frowning to show one’s disapproval is an example of a type of nonverbal
communication called _________.
8. ____________________ refers to the tone, speed, and volume of a speaker’s voice.
9. Being on time for dinner with a friend, is an example of a type of nonverbal
communication called _________.
10. The space or distance between the sender and the receiver is termed as _________.
B. Create a specific example that shows how this model illustrates the various
components of communication.

Source:
Code:
Message:
Channel:
Noise:
Decode:
Receiver:
Below is a specific example that shows how this model illustrates the various
components of communication.

Source: Father
Code: Spoken Word
Message: “Take out the trash…now!”
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Channel: Conversation
Noise: TV, i-Pod, misunderstanding
Decode: “Take out the trash…if you feel like it!”
Receiver: Teenage son
Recommended
Reading:
Your
Thoughts?

As more organizations extend their reach into new geographies, most

recognize the need to learn the basics about these new countries: time zone
differences, public holidays, travel and safety issues, etc.

This is the easy bit: the information is researchable, it can be integrated into
corporate policy and easily managed within any type of business. Other less
obvious aspects, however, can be a little trickier.

Customs, values & behaviors

As globalization becomes more important in the business environment,

organizations that are serious about expanding their business abroad also
recognize the need to understand the basics about different cultures’ customs,
values and behaviors.

For example, organizations may learn about different dietary habits that may be
unfamiliar back home, or religious values and practices to avoid giving offence.
There are also subtle cultural behaviors, such as how to greet one another or the
level of formality that is expected in typical business settings.

Important cultural challenges

However, once the basics are established, cultural challenges really begin. Many
of these challenges are beneath the surface and are thus more difficult to
observe.

For example, if an organization is very time sensitive and also places great
importance on planning, scheduling and meeting deadlines, that organization can
become frustrated when working with another culture that values relationships,
intuition and has a more fatalistic approach to the future.

In this example, setting expectations is key. Explaining why a time constraint is

important and what consequences could be felt as a result of a missed deadline
may help both cultures understand one another.
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Defining terms with more clarity can help. Whereas, it may seem to you that stating
something is urgent is straightforward, it may be interpreted differently across
cultures.

For example, organizations may learn about different dietary habits that may be
unfamiliar back home, or religious values and practices to avoid giving offence.
There are also subtler cultural behaviors, such as how to greet one another or the
level of formality that is expected in typical business settings.

Important cultural challenges

However, once the basics are established, cultural challenges really begin. Many of
these challenges are beneath the surface and are thus more difficult to observe.
For example, if an organization is very time sensitive and also places great
importance on planning, scheduling and meeting deadlines, that organization can
become frustrated when working with another culture that values relationships,
intuition and has a more fatalistic approach to the future.
In this example, setting expectations is key. Explaining why a time constraint is
important and what consequences could be felt as a result of a missed deadline may
help both cultures understand one another.
Defining terms with more clarity can help. Whereas it may seem to you that stating
something is urgent is straightforward, it may be interpreted differently across
cultures.
For example:
› one culture may instantly drop what they are doing to attend to the urgent matter;
› another culture may finish the task in process and then priorities the urgent matter
to be addressed next;
› while a third culture may consult their diary for the next free slot.
Cultural miscommunication
Similar examples of potential cultural miscommunication abound, where certain
behaviors may be judged differently across cultures.
For example:
› is answering a mobile telephone during a business meeting acceptable or rude?
› is it ok to be spoken to differently depending on your job title, age, gender, etc.?
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› why do some people seem to get away with obviously and publicly breaking the
rules when others are punished over the violation of a technicality of the same rules?
All of these are examples of behaviors where cultural norms, values and behavior
may be interpreted very differently amongst different groups of people.
- The use of language
The use of language can also cause much cultural miscommunication, even when all
parties are speaking the same language.

The challenges are wide ranging. It may be that a choice of words that is innocuous
in one culture could cause offence in another culture, while the use of slang or
references to popular culture may not travel or resonate with another culture.

- Non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication can be even more difficult to interpret. A strong tone of
voice can sound commanding to one culture and thus represent status and authority.
Another culture, however, may judge the same style to be pompous, discourteous,
arrogant or pretentious.

- Directness of a message
Other language challenges surround the directness of a message. Stating what you mean
clearly and precisely may seem to be the correct thing to do across all cultures.

However, this may not actually be the case in other cultures, where employees expect
to be given permission to speak by their management regardless of their level of
knowledge. Body language, tone and being modest are all interpreted through our
own cultural lenses.

- Humor

Be careful of humor. What may be funny to one culture may be offensive to another
culture. Something that may be funny to both cultures may still cause difficulties if
delivered in a formal environment, especially if one culture considers it to be an
inappropriate setting.

- Diversity

Finally, be aware of diversity, both on an individual and on a cultural level. What

may be perfectly fine with one group of people may not be so fine with others who
belong to the same group who may have a different opinion due to diversity issues.

People are unique!

And of course, people are people everywhere. Not everyone who belongs to a
particular group necessarily shares all of the attitudes and behaviors of that group.
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Bibliography

Ang, Jaime. 2009. Oral Communication: A Content-Based and Learning Centered Text
Manual in Speech Communication. Makati: Katha Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved
from:
https://link.quipper.com/en/organizations/5b5e6ec0a39ade0029000059/curriculu
m#curriculum
Gutierrez, Teresita. 2002. The Power of Speech. Quezon City: Rex Book Store Inc.
Hybels,
Saundra, and Richard Weaver II. 2011. Communicating Effectively. 10th ed. New
York:
McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from:
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m#curriculum
Mulkeen, Declan. 2014. Your Biggest Cultural Challenge: Intercultural
Miscommunication. I Am Expat. Retrieved from:
https://www.iamexpat.nl/career/employment-news/your-biggest-cultural-
challenge-intercultural-miscommunication
Sheppard, Mike. “Proxemics.” The University of New Mexico. July 1996. Accessed
December 14, 2016. http://www.cs.unm.edu/~sheppard/proxemics.htm. Steinberg,
Shiela. 2007. An Introduction to Communication Studies. Cape Town, South
Africa: Juta & Co., Ltd. Retrieved from:
https://link.quipper.com/en/organizations/5b5e6ec0a39ade0029000059/curriculu
m#curriculum