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Preface

This module will help you enhance your skills in writing, speaking, and presenting to
different audiences for various purposes.

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Objectives
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
1. describe the nature, elements, functions of verbal and non-verbal communication in various
and multicultural contexts;
2. explain how cultural and global issues affect communication;
3. appreciate the impact of communication on society and the world;
4. determine culturally appropriate terms, expressions, and images;
5. adopt cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in communication of ideas; 6.
evaluate multimodal texts critically to enhance receptive skills;
7. convey ideas through oral, audio-visual, and/or web-based presentations for different target
audiences in local and global settings using appropriate registers;
8. adopt awareness of audience and context in presenting ideas;
9. create clear, coherent, and effective communication materials;
10.present ideas persuasively using appropriate language registers, tone, facial, expressions
and gestures; and
11.write and present academic papers using appropriate style, tone, conventions and reference
styles.

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Table of Contents

Module 1: What is communication?

PREFACE .................................................................................................................................... 2
OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................................... 3
LESSON 1: THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND ITS COMPONENTS ............................. 5
CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................... 5
PARTICIPANTS............................................................................................................................ 6
MESSAGES ................................................................................................................................ 6
CHANNELS ................................................................................................................................. 6
NOISE........................................................................................................................................ 6
FEEDBACK ................................................................................................................................. 7
LESSON 2: LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION ............................................................................. 7
LESSON 3: FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION ...................................................................... 8
LESSON 4: PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION...................................................................... 8
LESSON 5: COMMUNICATION ETHICS.................................................................................... 9
ACTIVITY ...................................................................................................................................
11 GUIDELINES
............................................................................................................................. 11

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Lesson 1: The Communication Process and Its Components

We define communication as the process of sharing meaning in any context. It is a systemic

process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings.

We communicate when we:

• encode (get ideas and put them into messages),
• send them through our primary signal system (senses) to someone who receives them
through his or her senses using a channel
• decodes (translates) the message,
• he or she then gives his or her feedback.

The Communication Model

Communication is a process. This process includes context, participants,

messages, channels, presence or absence of noise, and feedback.

Context

Context is the setting in which communication occurs. This could be physical, social, historical,
cultural, or psychological.

Physical Context refers to where communication takes place. Temperature, lighting, noise
level) are factors that affect the communication process.

Social Context is the relationship that exists between and among participants. We communicate
with our friends, family, workmates, or strangers. For instance, we communicate
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differently with our parents or siblings at home and this changes when we talk to our professor or
classmates.

Historical Context is the background provided by the previous communication between the
participants that influences understanding of the current encounter.

Psychological Context includes the moods and feelings each person brings to the
communication.

Cultural Context includes beliefs, values, norms, that are shared by a large group of people
(Lustig and Koester, 1993 in Verderber,1999).

Participants

Participants are the people communicating-the sender and the receiver. As senders, we form
messages and send them through different means.
The receiver processes the message and reacts to
them.

Messages

Communication takes place through sending and

receiving of messages. Messages are encoded or
decoded information in a communication process.

Channels

During communication, the message is carried through a channel. A channel is both a route traveled
by the message and the means of transportation. Messages are transmitted through sensory
channels. Face-to-face communication has two basic channels: sound (verbal symbols) and light
(non-verbal cues).

Noise

Noise is anything that interferes with communication. It can be:

External Noises are sights, sounds and other stimuli in the environment that
draw people's attention away from what is being said.

Example: Your professor is giving instructions for a class activity but your attention is on the
people outside your home laughing out loud.

Internal Noises are thoughts and feelings that intervene with the communication process. For
instance, day dreaming in class.
Semantic Noises are unintended meanings aroused by certain symbols that prevent
comprehension.

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Feedback

Responses to message are called feedback. Feedback shows how the message sent is
heard, seen and understood. If the transmission of the message is not successful, the sender may
find other ways of doing so. The re-encoded message is also feedback because it gives meaning
to the original receiver's response. Feedback improves communication.

Lesson 2: Levels of Communication

Communication may be verbal or non-verbal. Verbal

communication encompasses any form of communication
involving words, spoken, written, or signed. Our conversation
with a colleague, news on TV or the newspaper in the morning,
even the text that we send or receive each time are all forms of
verbal communication. Our ability to communicate with a
language that is based on an organized system of words,
rather than merely sounds, is what sets us apart from lower
species. Not only do we have language, but we also have the
technology that enables us to communicate with one another
no matter the physical distance.

Non-verbal communication includes body language, such as gestures, facial expressions, eye
contact, and posture. Touch is a non-verbal communication that not only indicates a person's
feelings or level of comfort, but illustrates personality characteristics as well. A firm handshake or
warm hug indicates something very different than a loose pat on the back or a timid handshake
does. The sound of our voice, including pitch, tone and volume are also forms of non-verbal
communication.

Communication occurs in the following levels:

• intrapersonal
• interpersonal
• public

1. Intrapersonal communication occurs within the person. This is sometimes referred to as

cognitive or personal communication or "self-talk." We engage in intrapersonal communication to
better understand ourselves and to ultimately enhance our self-esteem.

Example: thought-processing and decision-making

2. Interpersonal communication refers to communication that occurs between two persons

who establish a communicative relationship. Ideally, everything is interpersonal communication
except intrapersonal. It has been proven that communication is the lifeblood of any relationship.

Example: Interviews, small group discussion and conversations

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3. Public communication is a speaker sending message to an audience.

Example: direct, face-to-face message delivery of a speaker to an audience, or it could indirect,

using radio or television

Lesson 3: Functions of Communication

Communication serves some significant functions in our lives.

1. We communicate to meet needs.

2. We communicate to enhance or maintain our sense of self.
3. We communicate to fulfill social obligations.
4. We communicate to develop relationships.
5. We communicate to exchange information.
6. We communicate to influence others.

Lesson 4: Principles of Communication

1. Communication is purposive.
The purpose of the communication may be trivial or significant but one way of evaluating if the
communication is successful is if it has accomplished its purpose. However, different purposes
require different strategies.

2. Communication is continuous.
Communication happens nonstop, even silence
communicates something. Even nonverbal behavior
represents reactions to your environment and to the
people around you. Therefore, it is imperative that we
be aware and conscious of the nonverbal behavior we
constantly send.

3. Communication messages vary in conscious

encoding.
Communication may occur spontaneously (without
much thought), it could also be based on a "learned"
script or it could be constructed based on the
understanding of a situation.

4. Communication is relational.
In any communication setting, people not only share
meanings but also negotiate and enhance their

relationships. Communication plays a role in

developing, maintaining, and dissolving relationships.

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5. Communication has ethical implications.
When we communicate we cannot avoid making choices with ethical implications. In
communicating, we must recognize some ethical standards.

6. Communication is learned.
Communicating well is a skill, therefore it can be learned. Simply talking is not communicating. It
involves listening, processing thoughts and opinions and then speaking. This could be acquired
through practice.

Lesson 5: Communication Ethics

Ethics are values that have been instilled in us, we have knowingly or unknowingly accepted them
and govern our actions. Our ethical value system is our basis for our decision-making and our basis
for communication ethics.

In all communication situations there are ethical considerations. These relate to considerations of
what is fair and unfair, right and wrong; it means communicating in a way that conforms to moral
standards.

We all acknowledge that "a speaker who uses language that degrades or injures human
personalities by exaggeration, pseudotruths, twisting of words and name calling is clearly acting
unethically."

Ethical communicators or speakers should:

1. Speaks with sincerity,

2. Does riot knowingly expose an audience to falsehood or half-truths that can cause
significant harm,
3. Does not premeditatedly alter the truth
4. Presents the truth as she or he understands it,
5. Raises the listeners level of expertise by supplying the necessary facts,
6. Employs message that is free from mental as well as physical coercion,
7. Does not inverit or fabricate information,
8. Gives credit to the source of information.
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References:

Abrams, R. Successful Business Plan: Secrets and Strategies. Redwood, CA: Planning Shop.
2010.

Adler, R., Elmhorst, J.M., & Lucas. Communication at Work: Strategies for Success in Business and
the Professions. NY: McGraw Hill, 2012.

Agustin, R. Communication in Multicultural Contexts: Meanings and Purposes, Muntinlupa:

Panday-lahi Publishing House, Inc. 2018.

Bandalaria, M. dP. 25 June 2020. Teaching and Learning in Distance elearning Mode of
Instruction: Course Guide and Study Guides (Redesigning your Course Syllabus).
Powerpoint Presentation.

CHED Technical Panel for GE Courses. CHED CMO No. 20, S2013: Purposive Communication
Syllabus.

CvSU CAS DLMC. August 2020. Revised GNED 05 Course Syllabus.

Dainton, M. & Zelley, E. Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life. A Practical
Introduction. 3rd ed., Sage Publications, 2015.

Lehman, C. & DuFrene, D. Business Communication. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage

Learning, 2011.

Lucas, S. The Art of Public Speaking. NY: McGraw Hill, 2011.

Wakat, G. Purposive Communication. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing Inc, 2018.

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Activity
According to your own understanding of what communication is, design a communication model
that differs from what was presented to you.
Guidelines

1. Go to Google classroom’s Classwork feed.

2. Under Week 2, Click on Activity.
3. Read and follow the instructions provided.
4. Submit your output on time. Deadline of submission and other information related to this
activity will be posted via Google Classroom.