Colegio San Agustin- Bacolod
College of Arts, Sciences and Education
Notes in GEC 105 (Purposive Communication)
Prelim Term; AY 2024- 2025
Week 1: Communication Processes, Principles and Ethics
What is Communication?
“Communication is the art and process of creating and sharing ideas. Effective
communication depends on the richness of those ideas.” (McPheat, 2010).
The Oxford English Dictionary defines communication as "the imparting,
conveying, or exchange of ideas, knowledge and information'. This can apply to words
or body language.
1. The Communication Process
The communication process is composed of several stages, each of which offers
potential barriers to successful communication
Here’s how McPheat (2010) would describe the different elements of communication:
Source- The source of the message is the sender. The sender must know why
the communication is necessary and what result is needed.
Message- The source of the message is the sender. The sender must know why
the communication is necessary and what result is needed.
Encoding- Encoding is the process of taking your message and transferring it into
the proper format for sharing it with your audience. It requires knowing your
audience and ensuring that your message provides all of the information that
they need.
Channel- The channel is the method of communication that you choose such as
face-to-face, by telephone, or via email.
Decoding- Decoding is the process of receiving the message accurately and
requires that your audience has the means to understand the information you are
sharing.
Receiver- You have expectations for a response from the receiver when you
send a message. You can increase the chances of getting this result by
addressing your audience’s concerns or addressing specific benefits as part of
your communication
Feedback- Feedback lets you gauge how successful you were at communicating.
It also offers a chance to adjust your communication process for the future
Context- Context involves things such as your relationship with your audience,
the culture of your organization and your general environment.
At each of these stages, there is the potential for barriers to be formed or problems
to arise. As we look at ways to limit the barriers to communicating effectively,
remember a deep understanding of the process of communication and communication
skills is essential. It is vital to the success of any individual in any business.
Confucius wrote…
'If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant.
If what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done remains undone'.
Types of Communication
1. Verbal
This involves the use of language and words for the purpose of passing on
the intended message. In general terms, verbal communication means communication
in the form of spoken worlds only. But, in the context of types of communication, verbal
communication can be in the spoken or the written form. Thus, the verbal form may be
oral or written:
Written communication: This kind of communication involves any kind of
exchange of information in the written form. For example, e-mails, texts, letters,
reports, SMS, posts on social media platforms, documents, handbooks, posters,
flyers, etc.
Oral communication: This is the communication which employs the spoken word,
either direct or indirect as a communication channel. This verbal communication
could be made on a channel that passes information in only one form i.e. sound.
You could converse either face to face, or over the phone, or via voice notes or
chat rooms, etc. It all comes under the oral communication. This form of
communication is an effective form.
2. Non- verbal communication
In this type of communication, messages are relayed without the transmission
of words. The messages here are wordless messages. This form of communication
mainly aides verbal communication. It supplements its gestures, body language,
symbols, and expressions. Through these, one may communicate one’s moods, or
opinion or even show a reaction to the messages that are relaying. One’s non-verbal
actions often set the tone for the dialogue. You cannot control and guide the
communication if you control and guide the non-verbal communication. Some of the
modes of non-verbal communication are:
1. vocalics- tone, volume, rate, pitch, inflection
2. kinesics- body gesture, eye contact
3. proxemics (space)- intimate, personal, social, public
4. haptics (touch)- holding hands, hugging, kissing
5. chronemics- monochronomic (very particular of time; doing tasks one at a time) and
polychromic (
6. artifacts- dress- up, clothing, jewelry
3. Visual Communication. This is the communication through visual aids like
drawings, placards, presentations, and illustrations, etc.
Barriers for Effective Communication
Tangible Differences
Gender. It is the major influence on the way we communicate with others.
When men and women work together in a group, men tend to be more
assertive and self-confident. Women are more likely than men to express
their emotions, to reveal how they feel about a situation.
Age. Young people and old people communicate in different ways. We do
tend to judge a statement by different standards if we know the speaker’s
age. A person’s age or gender is not important in judging the truth or
wisdom of what that person says
Other barriers:
1. Individual’s Physical health condition
2. Maturity level
3. Pronunciation
4. Educational background
5. Eras when people grew up
Intangible Differences
Perception. Our physical limitations are a screen through which we perceive
things that exist in our environment. Our perception is also limited by
psychological screens that we have developed. Choosing from among the many
things within our range of perception those that we will notice, and block out the
rest is called “Selective Perception”
Motivation. The strongest motivations are those that are most personal. We are
motivated by money, fame, power, love, status, security, skill, ambition...etc. It
can be both positive or negative.
Close Mindedness (Tunnel Vision). A closed way of thinking, especially about
abstract topics, such as religion and politics. The person with tunnel vision is one
who has firmly fixed ideas . The opposite side is open-mindedness. Person
with tunnel vision has attitude seems to say; “I’ve already made up my mind,
Don’t confuse me with the facts!!!”
Ego Defensiveness. A response pattern in which a person who follows this
pattern sees a disagreement as a personal attack .
Negative emotions. This is especially true if the emotion is uncontrolled,
unfocused, or misdirected.
Guidelines for Effective Communication
Plan your communication.
Seek to clarify ideas before communicating.
Examine the purpose of your communication.
Consider the total physical and human setting when communicating.
Be mindful of the overtones as well as the basic.
Make your message simple, clear and concise.
Show interest to your listener.
Do not do most of the talking.
Be polite; do not interrupt the speaker.
Give the speaker your undivided attention.
Ask question when necessary.
Follow-up communication by soliciting feedback.
Be sure that your actions support communication.
Seek not only to be understood but to understand.
Ethics in Digital Communication (lifted from Apdillah et al., 2022)
Communication Ethics
Refers to how one’s values influence the conduct of one’s interaction with
another person or a group of people.
o Digital Ethics
Context of time
Context of age
Message content
“Communication is closely related to human activities and is full of messages and
behavior. The rapid development of technology has an impact on developments in the
realm of communication. Developments in the field of communication with digital
technology have created various types of communication media, especially on
smartphones that are used in everyday life, whether in business or just asking someone
close to social life. According to Turnip & Siahaan (2021), in the current era of digital
media, communication ethics, especially on social media, are classified in 3 ways,
namely in the context of time, age, and message content. For example, in the context of
"time" where there are still many students who often send messages to their lecturers at
the wrong time, in the context of "age" it is necessary to have insight into things that are
negative or need guidance from their parents for children who are not enough. age in
using social media. In addition, in the context of "message content" it is hoped that
digital communication users will understand and seek the truth about what they want to
convey so as not to cause inconvenience to fellow social media users. Digital
communication that can be accessed anywhere and by anyone, which is also
juxtaposed with slang which is increasingly being used, is often in the spotlight because
of the loss of ethics and norms of politeness in communicating. Communication ethics
can be explored through understanding good grammar, early education about manners,
learning to understand and limiting curiosity about the privacy of others (Doho, 2019).”
Sources:
McPheat (2010). Effective communication skills. MTD Training and Ventus Publishing ApS. Retrieved
from https://effective-communication-skills.source.pdf.
Source: Types of communication: basics of communication skills with examples- Toppr. (n.d.)
Retrived from https://www.toppr.com?guides?ty...
