CommunicationCommunication

The Art of Interacting with The Art of Interacting with othersothers

Why Study Communication?Why Study Communication?

KnowingKnowing• What happens when people communicate with What happens when people communicate with

themselves and othersthemselves and others UnderstandingUnderstanding

• How that knowledge can be used to explain How that knowledge can be used to explain and interpret the process of Communication in and interpret the process of Communication in everyday lifeeveryday life

Developing SkillsDeveloping Skills• Using this knowledge and understanding to Using this knowledge and understanding to

communicate more effectivelycommunicate more effectively

What a Relief!!What a Relief!! The art of Communication is not all natural. We The art of Communication is not all natural. We

can learn to communicate effectivelycan learn to communicate effectively

All Communication involves the creation and All Communication involves the creation and exchange of meanings via signs and symbolsexchange of meanings via signs and symbols

Communication Studies involves the business of Communication Studies involves the business of making and understanding these signs and making and understanding these signs and symbols.symbols.

People seem to have a real need to read meaning People seem to have a real need to read meaning into all human action.into all human action.

What is Communication?What is Communication?

The transfer of Information, The transfer of Information, Understanding and Emotion from one Understanding and Emotion from one person to anotherperson to another

The interdependent process of The interdependent process of Sending, Receiving and Sending, Receiving and Understanding and responding to Understanding and responding to messagesmessages

CommunicationCommunication

Is an on-going, dynamic process Is an on-going, dynamic process

Actively involves the Sender and the Actively involves the Sender and the Receiver simultaneouslyReceiver simultaneously

May be May be • Verbal: Oral/written wordVerbal: Oral/written word• Non-verbal: Gestures, drama, materialsNon-verbal: Gestures, drama, materials

Effective CommunicationEffective Communication Takes a significant amount of work and energyTakes a significant amount of work and energy

Stems from our understanding of ourselves and Stems from our understanding of ourselves and othersothers

Involves Involves • Our ability to listenOur ability to listen• Our verbal communication skillsOur verbal communication skills• Our non-verbal communication skillsOur non-verbal communication skills• Our understanding of our relationship with othersOur understanding of our relationship with others• Our ability to analyse an audience, or to understand Our ability to analyse an audience, or to understand

contextcontext• Our knowledge of the way to research, prepare and Our knowledge of the way to research, prepare and

deliver a public speech.deliver a public speech.

The Communication Process:The Communication Process:ElementsElements

SenderSender• Person with whom the message to be communicated originatesPerson with whom the message to be communicated originates• Encodes or gives expression to the messageEncodes or gives expression to the message

MessageMessage• Thought, idea or information the Sender wishes to pass on to anotherThought, idea or information the Sender wishes to pass on to another• The Message has meaning. It is this that has to be sentThe Message has meaning. It is this that has to be sent

MediumMedium• The medium is the method that the Sender chooses for encoding the message. The medium is the method that the Sender chooses for encoding the message.

This may be written or oral. These are both verbal. The Sender may also encode This may be written or oral. These are both verbal. The Sender may also encode his message through signals, drama and other non-verbal means.his message through signals, drama and other non-verbal means.

• The Medium is often confused with the Channel. One way to distinguish them is The Medium is often confused with the Channel. One way to distinguish them is that the Medium must be determined before the Channel is chosen, and often, that the Medium must be determined before the Channel is chosen, and often, Medium determines Channel – e.g. Medium: Email; Channel: Internet Medium determines Channel – e.g. Medium: Email; Channel: Internet

ChannelChannel• The Message is sent via a Channel which is the means of transporting the The Message is sent via a Channel which is the means of transporting the

message from the Sender to the Receiver, e.g. post office, internet, airwaves, message from the Sender to the Receiver, e.g. post office, internet, airwaves, airmail etc.airmail etc.

The Communication Process:The Communication Process:ElementsElements

ReceiverReceiver• Person receiving or Decoding the messagePerson receiving or Decoding the message

NoiseNoise• Anything that distorts a message by interfering with the Anything that distorts a message by interfering with the

communication processcommunication process Radio playing in the backgroundRadio playing in the background Another person trying to enter the conversationAnother person trying to enter the conversation Examination nervesExamination nerves Static on the telephone lineStatic on the telephone line A slow computerA slow computer

FeedbackFeedback• The Receiver transmits verbal and non-verbal feedback to The Receiver transmits verbal and non-verbal feedback to

indicate his/her reception and understanding of the messageindicate his/her reception and understanding of the message

Describing the Process:Describing the Process:A Model of CommunicationA Model of Communication

Barriers and FacilitatorsBarriers and Facilitators

You have asked your younger You have asked your younger brother to send a message to your brother to send a message to your friends Isaiah, in Form 3, Ellice in friends Isaiah, in Form 3, Ellice in Form 4 and Sean from the security Form 4 and Sean from the security team to attend a meeting at your team to attend a meeting at your home this evening. Your brother puts home this evening. Your brother puts a notice on the bulletin board in the a notice on the bulletin board in the Form 4 classroom, in French. Only Form 4 classroom, in French. Only Ellice turns up for the meeting. Ellice turns up for the meeting.

Barriers and FacilitatorsBarriers and Facilitators

Give two probable reasons for the Give two probable reasons for the others not attendingothers not attending

At which points did the At which points did the communication break down?communication break down?

Suggest two things to ensure that Suggest two things to ensure that everyone attended the meetingeveryone attended the meeting

Barriers and FacilitatorsBarriers and Facilitators

There was a language barrier, notice was There was a language barrier, notice was poorly located; the method of notification poorly located; the method of notification was faulty (his ???)was faulty (his ???)

When your brother selected the means of When your brother selected the means of transferring the message ( his ???)transferring the message ( his ???)

He could have written in a language that He could have written in a language that all three would have understood; he could all three would have understood; he could have telephoned all three; he could have have telephoned all three; he could have spoken to each one directly.spoken to each one directly.• What about email?What about email?

Barriers and FacilitatorsBarriers and Facilitators

A Barrier is ……A Barrier is ……

A Facilitator is …..A Facilitator is …..

Barriers and FacilitatorsBarriers and Facilitators

Some facilitators areSome facilitators are• Selecting a language which is familiar to Selecting a language which is familiar to

the receiverthe receiver• ??• ??• ??

Barriers and FacilitatorsBarriers and Facilitators

Some Barriers to Communication areSome Barriers to Communication are• Sender and Receiver speak different Sender and Receiver speak different

languageslanguages• ??• ??• ??

Forms of CommunicationForms of Communication

Cathy would like to describe her Cathy would like to describe her graduation ceremony to her aunt who lives graduation ceremony to her aunt who lives in Australia. Think of two ways in which in Australia. Think of two ways in which she could do thisshe could do this

After the graduation, Cathy wants to After the graduation, Cathy wants to describe to her brother how some of the describe to her brother how some of the girls walked up to collect their certificate. girls walked up to collect their certificate. What do you think she would do?What do you think she would do?

Forms of CommunicationForms of Communication

VerbalVerbal• Requires wordsRequires words• May be speech or writingMay be speech or writing

ConversationConversation• Face-to-faceFace-to-face• TelephoneTelephone

LetterLetter EmailEmail Text messageText message FaxFax Messenger/chat Messenger/chat

Forms of CommunicationForms of Communication

Non-VerbalNon-Verbal• Relies on elements Relies on elements otherother than speech or writing than speech or writing• Is just as important as non-verbal communicationIs just as important as non-verbal communication

Body language (gestures, posture, facial expression)Body language (gestures, posture, facial expression) Use of spaceUse of space Use of objectsUse of objects DressDress Graphics (charts, tables, diagrams)Graphics (charts, tables, diagrams) Integrating forms for specific purposes (role play, Integrating forms for specific purposes (role play,

simulation)simulation)

FORM and CONTEXTFORM and CONTEXT

The specific FORM of communication The specific FORM of communication is, or should be, intimately related to is, or should be, intimately related to the CONTEXT in which it is usedthe CONTEXT in which it is used

One element of our COMMUNICATIVE One element of our COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE is our ability to get our COMPETENCE is our ability to get our message across accuratelymessage across accurately

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication In order to evaluate the In order to evaluate the

appropriateness or effectiveness of a appropriateness or effectiveness of a communication act, we must first communication act, we must first understand its context.understand its context.

Communication does not occur in a Communication does not occur in a vacuum. It occurs within a CONTEXTvacuum. It occurs within a CONTEXT

The circumstances of a The circumstances of a communicative act are referred to as communicative act are referred to as the CONTEXT of communicationthe CONTEXT of communication

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication

You have to give a speech in each of the You have to give a speech in each of the following situations. Consider the following situations. Consider the adjustments that you would have to make adjustments that you would have to make to your presentationto your presentation• To a panel of interviewers where you are To a panel of interviewers where you are

applying for a jobapplying for a job• To a group of standard two students in their To a group of standard two students in their

assembly hallassembly hall• To an oral examiner in a small examination To an oral examiner in a small examination

roomroom• To a group of persons opposing your ideasTo a group of persons opposing your ideas• On national televisionOn national television• On radioOn radio

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication

Who is present, or who is being Who is present, or who is being addressed.addressed. What do you need to consider What do you need to consider here?here?

The general attitude of your The general attitude of your audience.audience. Why is this important? Why is this important?

Where the communication takes Where the communication takes place.place. What are the factors that should What are the factors that should influence your communicative decisions?influence your communicative decisions?

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication

Context may be Context may be FORMALFORMAL

• Certain societal norms are evident and Certain societal norms are evident and there are perceived patterns of there are perceived patterns of behaviourbehaviour

NON-FORMAL/INFORMAL NON-FORMAL/INFORMAL • Individuals or groups are not Individuals or groups are not

constrained by specified ways in which constrained by specified ways in which communication would normally take communication would normally take placeplace

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication

IntrapersonalIntrapersonal- Thinking, solving - Thinking, solving problems, imagining/imagingproblems, imagining/imaging

InterpersonalInterpersonal – interviews, – interviews, conversations, intimate conversations, intimate communicationcommunication

Small groupSmall group – leadership meeting, – leadership meeting, brain-storming, prayer meetingbrain-storming, prayer meeting

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication

OrganizationalOrganizational – business, – business, government, official purposes, government, official purposes, educationaleducational

AcademicAcademic – essay, research paper, – essay, research paper, doctoral thesisdoctoral thesis

PublicPublic – speeches, debates – speeches, debates InterculturalIntercultural – communicating – communicating

across social sub-group, in tourismacross social sub-group, in tourism

Contexts of CommunicationContexts of Communication

Match the scenarios with the most appropriate form of Match the scenarios with the most appropriate form of verbal communicationverbal communication

Form of CommunicationForm of Communication

A. A written notice/posterA. A written notice/poster

B. A skitB. A skit

C. A written noteC. A written note

D. A television/radio addressD. A television/radio address

E. A telephone callE. A telephone call

F. A short talkF. A short talk