Pointers to Review in

Oral Communication

 Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one person to another
within and across channels, contexts, media, and cultures (McCornack, 2014).
 There is a wide variety of contexts and situations in which communication can be manifested; it can be a face-to-
face interaction, a phone conversation, a group discussion, a meeting or interview, a letter correspondence, a
class recitation, and many others.
 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 “common.”
 To be common means to come together or to share something in common together.

Nature of Communication
1. Communication is a process.
2. Communication occurs between two or more people (the speaker and the receiver). 3. Communication can be
expressed through written or spoken words, actions (nonverbal), or both spoken words and nonverbal actions at the
same time.

Elements of Communication
 stimulus - an idea or concept that the sender has and would like to convey
 Speaker – the source of information or message
 Message – the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or in actions
 Encoding – the process of converting the message into words, actions, or other forms that the speaker
understands
 Channel – the medium or the means, such as personal or non-personal, verbal or nonverbal, in which the
encoded message is conveyed
 Decoding – the process of interpreting the encoded message of the speaker by the receiver
 Receiver – the recipient of the message, or someone who decodes the message
 Feedback – the reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver
 Context – the environment where communication takes place. This also 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.
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.

 Barrier – the factors that affect the flow of communication

Models of Communication

 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.

 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 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.
 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 takes into account that communicators react to the situation based on their own past
experiences, current status, and anticipated future. Each communicator also has a different background and
may have a different set of norms, values, and beliefs. All of these influence the transmission and interpretation
of messages.

The diverse perceptions and backgrounds of the communicators influence their response to a particular
communication situation.

Functions of Communication
1. Control – Communication functions to control behavior.
2. Social Interaction – Communication allows individuals to interact with others.
3. Motivation – Communication motivates or encourages people to live better.
4. Emotional expression – Communication facilitates people’s expression of their feelings and emotions.
5. Information dissemination – Communication functions to convey information.

Features of an Effective Communication

In their pioneer book Effective Public Relations, Professors Broom, Cutlip, and Center (2012) list the 7 Cs of Effective
Communication.

1. Completeness - Complete communication is essential to the quality of the communication process in general. Hence,
communication should include everything that the receiver needs to hear for him/ her to respond, react, or evaluate
properly.
2. Conciseness - making it direct or straight to the point. Insignificant or redundant information should be eliminated
from the communication that will be sent to the recipient.
3. Consideration - speaker should always consider relevant information about his/her receiver such as mood,
background, race, preference, education, status, and needs, among others. By doing so, he/she can easily build rapport
with the audience.
4. Concreteness - Effective communication happens when the message is concrete and supported by facts, figures, and
real-life examples and situations. In this case, the receiver is more connected to the message conveyed.
5. Courtesy - respecting the culture, values, and beliefs of his/her receivers. Being courteous at all times creates a
positive impact on the audience.
6. Clearness - implies the use of simple and specific words to express ideas. It is also achieved when the speaker focuses
only on a single objective in his/her speech so as not to confuse the audience.
7. Correctness - correctness in grammar eliminates negative impact on the audience and increases the credibility and
effectiveness of the message.

Barriers to Communication

a. Language barriers (Use of Jargon) - These manifest when two individuals do not have a common language , have an
unfamiliar accent , or use unfamiliar words or expressions , jargon , and idioms.

b. Cultural barriers - These are evident when there is difficulty in communication due to differing principles, views, and
beliefs . This is also applicable to those who are insensitive to other people’s heritage.

c. Physical barriers (Noisy Environment) - These are hindrances to better communication caused by environmental
factors such as noise, lighting, and distance between the receiver and speaker.

d. Prejudging - This happens when a person believes he or she understood what the
speaker means even before the message is completely expressed. It can also happen
when the receiver immediately judges the message as unimportant.

e. Information overload – This happens when one gives too much information at a time.

f. Lack of interest and attention - This happens when a person gives information that
does not interest others or a person does not give attention to either the speaker or his
or her message.

Verbal Communication and Nonverbal Communication

 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.

Things to consider:
1. Appropriateness
2. Brevity
3. Clarity
4. Ethics
5. Vividness

 Nonverbal communication 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 between the sender and the receiver.
 intimate distance (less than 6 inches to 18 inches)
 personal distance (1.5 to 4 feet)
 social distance (4 to 12 feet)
 Public distance (12 to 25 feet or more)

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

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.

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

E. Haptics
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.

Mastery of nonverbal communication is important for several reasons:

1. It enhances and emphasizes the message of your speech, thus making it more meaningful, truthful, and relevant.
2. It can communicate feelings, attitudes, and perceptions without you saying a word.
3. It can sustain the attention of listeners and keep them engaged in the speech.
4. It gives the audience a preview to the type of speaker you are.
5. It makes you appear more dynamic and animated in your delivery.
6. It serves as a channel to release tension and nervousness.
7. It helps make your speech more dramatic.
8. It can build a connection with listeners.
9. It makes you a credible speaker.
10. It helps you vary your speaking style and avoid a monotonous delivery.