MODULE 1 Social context is the relationship that

exists between and among participants.

COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND We communicate with our friends,
ITS COMPONENTS family, workmates or strangers.
Historical context is the background
The Communication and Its provided by the previous
Components communication between the
participants that influences
We define communication as the understanding of the current encounter.
process of sharing meaning in any
context. In addition, Wood (2003), in Psychological Context includes the
her book Communication in our lives, moods and feelings each person brings
defined communication as a systemic to the communication.
process in which people interact in our Cultural Context includes beliefs,
lives, defined communication as a values, norms, that are shared by a
systemic process in which people large group of people (Lustig and
interact with and through symbols to Koester, 1993 in Verdeber, 1999).
create and interpret meanings.
2. Participants
Participants are the people
communicating – the sender and the
receiver. As senders, we form message
and send them through different
means. The receiver processes the
message and reacts to them.
3. Messages
Communication takes place through
sending and receiving the messages.
Messages are encoded or decoded
Communication is a process. This information in a communication
process includes context, participants, process.
messages, channels, presence or 4. Channels
absence of noise, and feedback.
During communication, the message is
carried through a channel. A channel,
1. Context according To Verdeber (1999), is both a
route traveled by the message and the
Context is the setting in which means of transportation.
communication occurs. This could be
physical, social, historical, cultural or 5. Noise
psychological. Noise is anything that interferes with
Physical Context refers to where communication. It can be:
communication takes place. External Noises are sights, sounds
Temperature lighting, noise level are and other stimuli in the environment
factors that affect the communication that draw people’s attention away from
process. what is being said.
Internal Noises are thoughts and Function of Communication
feelings that intervene with the
communication process. For instance,
day dreaming in class. 1. We communicate to meet needs.
Semantic Noises are unintended Just as we need food, water and
meanings aroused by certain symbols shelter, communication accomplish our
that prevent comprehension. need to talk to another human being. In
addition, we are social beings so we
6. Feedback need to talk to other people all the more
to communicate with them.
Responses to message are called
feedback. Feedback shows how the 2. We communicate to enhance or
message sent is heard, seen, and maintain our sense of self. Because
understood. we communicate, we learn who we are
and what we can do.
3. We communicate to fulfill social
Levels of Communication obligation. We greet people, talk and
communicate with them in order to
meet our social obligation.
1. Verbal Communication
encompasses any form of 4. We communicate to develop
communication involving words, relationships. Through
spoken, written or signed. communication, we develop
relationships with other people. We can
2. Non Verbal Communication also deepen and maintain these
includes body language such as relationships through communication.
gestures, facial expressions, eye
contact, and posture. 5. We communicate to exchange
information. Some information we get
3. Intrapersonal communication through reading, observations, media
occurs within the person, this is and through communicating with
sometimes reffered to as cognitive or others.
personal communication or “Self-talk.”
6. We communicate to influence others.
4. Interpersonal communication We use communication in encouraging
refers to communication that occurs and persuading others towards
between two persons who establish a something like motivating a friend to
communicative relationship. study for an exam.
5. Public communication is a speaker
sending message to an audience. It
could be a direct, face-to-face message Principles of Communication
delivery of a speaker to an audience, or
it could indirect, using radio or
television. 1. Communication is purposive. The
purpose of the communication may be
trival or significant but the 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. Therefore, we should all be ethical
Communication happens nonstop, communicators. Ethical communicators
even silence communicates something. or speakers according to Berko (1995)
Even non-verbal behavior represents should:
reactions to your environment and to
the people around you. 1. Speaks with sincerity,

3. Communication messages vary in 2. Does not knowingly expose

conscious encoding. Communication an audience to falsehood or half
may occur spontaneously (without turns that can cause significant
much thought), it could also be based harm.
on a “learned” script, or it could be 3. Does not premiditately alter
constructed based on the the truth’
understanding of a situation.
4. Presents the truth as she or he
4. Communication is relational. In understand it,
any communication setting, people not
only share meanings but also negotiate 5. Raises the listeners level of
and enhance their relationships. expertise by supplying the
Communication plays but also necessary facts,
negotiates and enhances their 6. Employs message that is free
relationships. Communication plays a from mental as well as physical
role in developing, maintaining, we coercion,
must recognize some ethical
standards. 7. Does not invent or fabricate
information,
5. Communication has ethical
implications. When we communicate 8. Gives credit to the source of
we cannot avoid making choices with information.
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.

Communication Ethics
All forms of communication involve
ethical issues. 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.