NATURE and

ELEMENTS of
COMMUNICATION
DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION
Communication is derived from Latin
“commūnicāre” meaning “to share”.
According to McCornack,2014,
Communication is a process of sharing and
conveying messages or information from one
person to another within and across channels,
contexts, media and cultures.
Communication is a two-way process of
reaching mutual understanding, in which
participants not only exchange information but
also create and share meaning within and
across channels, contexts, media and cultures.
Nature and Process of
Communication
Variety of Context and Situations in which
Communication can be manifested: Face-to-Face
Interaction, Phone Conversation, Group Discussion,
Meeting or Interview, Letter Correspondence, Class
Recitation
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
oe spoken words, actions (non-verbal) or both
Elements of Communication
1. Speaker – the source of information or message
2. Message – the information, ideas or thoughts
3. Encoding – the process of converting the message into words,
actions or other forms that the speaker understands
4. Channel – the medium or the means, such as personal or non-
personal, verbal or non-verbal in which the encoded message is
conveyed
5. Decoding – the process of interpreting the encoded message of
the speaker by the receiver
6. Receiver – the recipient of the message, or someone who
decodes the message
7. Feedback – the reactions, responses or information provided by
the receiver
8. Context – the environment where communication takes place
9. Barrier – the factors that affect the flow of communication
Process of Communication

The speaker generates an idea.

The speaker encodes an idea or

converts the idea into words or
actions

The speaker transmits or sends out

a message

The receiver gets the message.

The receiver decodes or interprets

the message based on the context.

The receiver sends or provides feedback

Ask:

How the concept of
communication will help
you to gain opportunities?
Models of Communication

Have you talked to somebody

but did not get any reaction from
him/her at all? Have you
experienced sending a message
without receiving feedback? This is
linear communication.
A. Linear Communication- which
focuses on the transmission of a
message to a receiver who never
responds or has no way of
responding to the information
conveyed is one way. The
message is final and cannot be
contented at all.
Examples:
The president giving his State of the Nation
Address on the national television.

A student who reads a poem or tells a

story in front of an audience in a school
program.

Sending notification or automated

message that does not require a reply,
reading blog or even the traditional way of
sending a message such as a telegram.
B. Interactive- interactive
approach is a two-way
communication process where a
response is given after a
message sent. The recipient of
the action intentionally or
unintentionally gives a feedback
associated with the information
received.
Example:
Criselda: Nanay, I can smell the
aroma of your best delicacy, adobo.

Aling Terie: Yeah, I know, it is the

favorite of the family so adobo is what
I prepared today.

Criselda: I can’t wait to taste it!

2. TRANSACTION MODEL
- is a two-way process with the inclusion
of feedback as one element. The model is
more interactive. There is a collaborative
exchange of messages between
communicators with the aim of
understanding each other. It also shows
that a barrier, such as noise, may interfere
with the flow of communication.
The model shows
that there is a
continuous
exchanging of
messages, but
barriers may take
place and affect
communication.
c.Aristotle’s Model of Communication Aristotle
(5 BCE), a teacher of Rhetoric and a founder of
an academy that produced good speakers,
came up with the first and earliest model of
communication. This model is more focused on
public speaking than interpersonal
communication. Speaker plays a very important
role in public speaking. To influence or
persuade his audience, he must first prepare
his speech and analyze the audience before he
speaks to them.
 Shannon – Weaver’s Model of
Communication Claude Shannon and
Warren Weaver introduced the concept
of noise. This model of communication
is also known as the Telephone Model
for this is based on the experience of
using the telephone back in the 1940’s
wherein the message was hindered by
noise. Therefore, the message received
by the listener was not necessarily the
message sent by the sender
1. SHANNON-WEAVER MODEL
- the mother of all communication
models (1949) depicts communication as a
linear or one-way process consisting of five
elements: a source (producer of message); a
transmitter (encoder of message into
signals); a channel (signals adapted for
transmission); a receiver ( decoder of
message from the signal); and a
destination.
The model was criticized for missing
one essential element in communication
process: feedback, the speaker will not know
whether the receiver understands the
message or not.
 The Shannon – Weaver model of
communication contains six important
features.
Sender The originator of message
or the information source selects
desire message.
Encoder The transmitter which
converts the message into signals
Note: The sender’s messages
converted into signals like
waves or binary data which is
compactable to transmit the
messages through cables or
satellites. For example: In
telephone, the voice is
converted into wave signals and
it transmits through cables
Decoder The reception place of the
signal which converts signals into
message, a reverse process of encode.

Note: The receiver converts those

binary data or waves into message
which is comfortable and
understandable for receiver. Otherwise,
receiver can’t receive the exact
message, and it will affect the effective
communication between sender and
receiver.
Receiver The destination of the
message from sender.
Note: Based on the decoded
message the receiver gives their
feedback to sender. If the
message is distracted by noise,
it will affect the communication
flow between sender and
receiver.
Noise The messages are transferred
from encoder to decoder through
channel. During this process the
messages may be distracted or
affected by physical noise like horn
sounds, thunder, and crowd noise or
encoded signals may distract in the
channel during the transmission
process which affect the
communication flow or the receiver
may not receive the correct message.
An example of Shannon - Weaver model of communication

Mr. Diaz made a call to his secretary “Please call the internet
provider.” During his call, noise comes in (transmission error)
and his secretary heard “Please
call” only. The secretary replied (feedback) “Whom will I call,
Sir?”
Sender : Mr. Diaz
Encoder : Telephone (Mr. Diaz)
Channel : Cable
Noise : Distraction in voice
Reception : Telephone (Secretary)
Receiver : Assistant
Due to transmission error or noise, the secretary was not able
to understand
the message.
. 3. SCHRAMM MODEL

Wilbur Schramm is known as the Father of

Mass Communication. He came up with five
models but in the Schramm Model of
Communication he developed in 1955,
communication breakdown is explained. He
asserts that both the sender and the receiver
should have the same field of experience.
In this concept, field of experience
refers to everything that makes an
individual unique – everything that
he/she has ever learned, watched,
seen,
heard, read, and studied. In this model,
communication has six elements
Source
Encoder
Message
Channel
Decoder
Receiver
He gives emphasis on encoding and
decoding of message. This model
shows how a message is transferred
from the sender to the receiver. The
model also asserts that message can
be complicated by different meaning
learned by different people. Schramm
claims that communication can take
place if and only if there is an overlap
between the field of experience of the
participants of the communication
process.
It means that the sender and the
receiver have commonalities. For
example, a Japanese is invited to
give a talk to Filipino students.
These students can only
understand English and Filipino. If
the speaker will speak in
Japanese, the audience will not be
able to understand him.
Eugene White Model of Communication
Eugene White’s Model of communication
says that communication is circular and
continuous, without a beginning or end.
His 1960 cyclical model, the
communication process is composed of
eight stages- thinking, symbolizing,
expressing, transmitting, receiving,
decoding, feed-backing, monitoring, and
thinking.
He also points out that although one
can assume that communication
begins with thinking, it can be
observed from any point in the circle.
White was also the one who
introduced the concept of feedback
which is a process also known as to
close the loop.
. Berlo’s Model of Communication You
f

have already learned that Aristotle’s

model of communication places the
speaker in the central position and the
one who drives the entire communication
process. The Berlo’s model of
communication takes into account the
emotional aspect of the message. Berlo’s
model follows the SMCR model S –
Source M – Message C – Channel R –
Receiver
Berlo’s model of communication is
composed of a several factors
under each element. The
SOURCE is where the message
originates. The person should
have communication skills like the
ability to read, write, speak, and
listen to the right attitude towards
the listeners, subject, and oneself.
The individual must be
knowledgeable about the topic he is
communicating and the audience’s
familiarity with it. In communicating,
the social system must be considered
such as the culture of the audience.
The sender of the message from
where the message originates is
referred to as the encoder.
Content is the body of the MESSAGE, from
beginning to the end like whatever the teacher
teaches his students from the beginning up to
the end. The speech must be accompanied by
elements such as gestures, facial expression
or body language so that listeners will not lose
interest. Treatment is the way one treats his
message.
One must understand the importance of the
message know how to handle it. Berlo’s
model asserts that a message must be
properly structured in order to be conveyed
clearly. The code in this model refers to the
means through which a message is sent and
in what form. It could be the language,
gestures, expressions, music, and so on. The
code should be correct in the communication.
Only when the code is clear, the message will
be clear.
The C in the SMCR stands for
CHANNEL. Channel refers to the five
sense organs: hearing, seeing, touching,
smelling, and tasting. These five senses
help human beings to communicate with
one another. When the RECEIVER
message reaches the receiver, he tries to
understand what the sender is trying to
convey. This is also called decoding.
Helical Model of Communication
The Helical Model of communication was
developed by Frank Dance in 1967. He thought of
communication similar to helix. Helix is a smooth
curve like a spring that goes upwards and
downwards. This model presents the concept of
time where continuousness of communication
process is very important. In helical model,
communication is a dynamic process.
Communication progresses as an individual gets
older and his experience and vocabulary
increases.
Develop your own model of communication.
Include a two- to three paragraphs description
of your model and explain any special
characteristic of it.
FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
A. VERBAL COMMUNICATION
- refers to an interaction in which words
are used to relay a message. For an effective and
successful communication, use words to express
ideas which can be easily understood by the person
you are talking. Consider the following:
1. Appropriateness - the language that you use
should be appropriate to the environment or
occasion ( formal or informal)
2. Brevity – be more direct with your words, avoid
fillers and insubstantial expressions which do not
add message such as “uh”, “you know”, “I guess”
and the like. Use precise and powerful words to be
3. Clarity – the meaning of words, feelings, or
ideas may be interpreted differently by a
listener; hence, it is essential for you to clearly
state message and express your ideas and
feelings
4. Ethics - words should be carefully chosen
in consideration of the gender, roles, ethnicity,
preferences, and status of peole you are
talking to.
5. Vividness – words that vividly or creatively
describe things or feelings usually add color
and spice to communication. Encouraged to
B. Nonverbal Communication
- refers to an interaction where behaviour is used to
convey and represent meanings. All kinds of human
responses that are not expressed in words are classified as
nonverbal communication.
Examples: stares, miles, tone of voice, movements,
manners of walking, standing and sitting, appearance, style
of attire, attitude towards time and space, personality,
gestures and others.
Importance: enhances and emphasis message of speech;
communicate feelings, attitudes and perceptions; sustain
attention of listeners; gives audience preview to the type of
speaker; appear more dynamic and animated; serves as
channel to release tension and nervousness; helps make
 Features of an Effective
Communication
List of the 7 Cs of Effective Communication according to
Prof. Broom, Cutlip, and Center(2012) and widely used in
public relations and advertising.
1. COMPLETENESS
- essential to the quality of the communication
process in general. Communication should include everything
that the receiver needs to hear for him/her to respond, react
or evaluate properly.
2. CONCISENESS
- does not mean keeping the message short, but
making it direct or straight to the point. Insignificant or
redundant information should be eliminated from the
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. The receiver is more
connected to the message conveyed.
5. COURTESY
- shown by respecting the culture, values and
beliefs of his/her receivers. Being courteous at all times
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
- in grammar eliminates negative
impact on the audience and increases
the credibility and effectiveness of the
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
- Pertains to communication among people from
different nationalities (Gudykunst, 2003).
- Communication that is influenced by different
ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations.
- Is the sending and receiving of messages
across languages and cultures.
 Happens when individuals interact, negotiate and
create meanings while bringing in their varied
cultural backgrounds (Ting-Toomey,1999)
 Takes place when people draw from their cultural
identify to understand values, prejudices, language,
attitudes and relationships (Gudykunst & Kim, 2003)
DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL of INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY
Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)
- offers a structure that explores how people experience cultural differences.
Six Stages ( according to Bennett and Bennett, 2004):
Stage1: DENIAL – the individual does not recognize cultural differences
Stage 2: DEFENSE – the individual starts to recognize cultural differences and is
intimidated by them, resulting in either a superior view on own culture or an
unjustified high regard for the new one.
Stage 3: MINIMIZATION – although individuals see cultural differences, they bank
more on the university of ideas rather than on cultural differences.
Stage 4: ACCEPTANCE – the individual begins to appreciate important cultural
differences in behaviours and eventually in values.
Stage 5: ADAPTATION – the individual is very open to world views when accepting
new perspective.
Stage 6: INTEGRATION – individuals start to go beyond their own cultures and see
themselves and their actions based on multifarious cultural viewpoints.
 Functions of Communication
The Five Functions of Communication are:
1. CONTROL – function to control behaviour
2. SOCIAL INTERACTION – allows individual to interact
with others
3. MOTIVATION – motivates or encourages people to
live better
4. EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION – facilitates people’s
expression of
their feelings and emotions
5. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION – functions to
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
-when message or feedback is not
received by concerned party.

NOISE
- is a technical term used to refer to all
possible barriers to effective communication
and occur in the communication process from
time to time.
END OF DISCUSSION