Purposive Communication - Theories
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Pillows GonzalesPurposive Communication - Theories
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Pillows GonzalesPURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
1. Explain O’Neil’s definition that communication is guided by culture and context. Give example or situation to support
your answer.
As we know, communication is a two-way process where information is exchanged. Everything we communicate
has a context based on one’s culture. The information that we try to communicate is contextualized by the other
party based on their culture the reason why understanding of information communicated between us people could
vary. For example, for us Filipinos, the word “hakdog” is a nonsensical expression for us in response to someone
saying “ha” or to make fun of whatever other people is saying. If we say “hakdog/hotdog” to non-Filipinos in
response to their “huh”, we can be misconstrued because as for them it is a food. It is necessary that people who
are communicating with each other has idea of where the other person is coming from to be able to contextualized
what is being communicated properly. Otherwise, the information we are trying to communicate are merely just
words.
2. Explain further, “Communication varies from one person to another person based on culture and context”.
Different cultures have different symbolisms. Communication is symbolic that the words making up our language
system do not directly correspond to something in reality. These symbols stand in for something and they are not
fixed. Several cultures can be using the same symbol but its meaning varies for each culture. An example is the
word “utong”. For a Tagalog person, it would mean nipple. For an Ilocano person, it would mean sitaw or long
beans.
3. Compare and contrast the following:
A. OSGOOF-SCHRAMM MODEL
B. ARISTOTLE’S MODEL
C. SHANNON-WEAVER MODEL
D. BERLO’S –S-M-C-R MODEL
The ARISTOTLE’S MODEL of
The OSGOOF – SCHRAMM MODEL
communication is a linear model designed to
of communication is known to be circular model
become a better and convincing communicator. It
because it indicates that messages can go in two
has five elements of communication event: speaker,
directions. It does not differentiate the
speech, occasion, target audience, and effect.
communicators as sender and receiver but rather
There are also three elements that will improve
sees each as equal message encoders and decoders.
communication: ethos (credibility), pathos (ability
This model is best for explaining and examining
to connect), and logos (logical argument). This
personal synchronous communication where
model does not pay attention to the role of feedback
feedback is immediate.
in communication.
The .SHANNON – WEAVER MODEL The BERLO’S – Source-Message-
has been called the “mother of all models”. This is Channel-Receiver MODEL of communication
the first model to highlight the role of noise in gives a detailed account of the key elements in each
communication. It has five key parts: sender, step that affects the communicating of the message
encoder, channel, decoder, and receiver. It effectively.
emphasizes the importance of encoding and Source: Elements of the source include communication
decoding messages for them to be sent. During the skills of the sender, their attitude and their culture.
process of encoding, sending and decoding, ‘noise’ Message: Elements of the message include its content,
structure and code.
occurs that can disrupt or cloud a message. In the
Channel: Elements of the channel include the senses of
most traditional sense, this may be static on a radio hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, etc.
broadcast, or even extend to mishearing a Receiver: Elements of the receiver include their attitude,
conversation or misspelling an email.
4. Why is communication integrated in all parts of our lives in terms of Academic, Professional, Personal, and Civic?
If we are to ponder about communication, it is beyond the cycle of speaking, listening, and replying. Like the air
we breathe, we cannot live without communication because it is integrated in all parts of our lives. In the
Academic domain of our life, communication is vital between instructors and students in order for them to
interact and learn from each other. In the Professional domain, communication is the key for you to prosper in
your career. In the Personal domain, through communication, we are able to express ourselves and create our own
identity, as well as being able to socialize with other people to build, maintain, and even end our relationships
with them. Lastly, for the Civic domain, it is via communication that we are able to participate in our community
such as in politics or even in non-politics, and to engage with the community members in certain activities that
could improve the life of the whole community.
5. Why is communication a process?
Like what I have said earlier, communication is more than just the cycle of speaking, listening, and replying. In
communicating effectively, there is understanding between parties. And in order to achieve that understanding,
the ideas we want to communicate should be processed, such as when we weigh the words we are about to utter
because once we said it, we can never take it back. We want to make sure that we can be heard enough through
the channels that we use to communicate. As we think about it, communication is a process between people to
reach a common understanding of the ideas and information being exchanged by them.
6. What is the importance of communication? Can we live in a society without it? Explain.
Say for example, romantic relationships. As we know, most of the romantic relationships under long distance
relationship eventually collapse because partners fail to communicate effectively. A society without
communication will also collapse and will not be a society anymore because there will be no more laws to
enforce. It’s going to be “You do you, I do me.” Our world thrives on language including body language. The
world we live in is ours to create so without communication, our lives will be over.
