Communication Basics

Communication

• Definition: The art of transmitting information, ideas, and attitudes from one person to another.
• Purposes of communication:
  • To change behavior
  • To get action
  • To ensure understanding
  • To persuade
  • To get and give information

Proposive Communication

• Refers to intentional communication that occurs within specific contexts.
• Context affects the process of sending and receiving messages, including semantics, choice of channels, words, and methods of delivery.
• Context includes:
  • Setting or environment
  • Social relationships
  • Scenes (e.g., time, occasion, and culture)

Components of Communication

• Verbal communication (7%): refers to the words we choose, including written and oral communication.
• Non-verbal communication (55%): refers to the transmission of information through non-linguistic means, such as:
  • Body language
  • Facial expressions
  • Gestures
  • Postures
  • Eye contact
• Paralinguistic elements (38%): refers to how we say what we say, including:
  • Vocal quality
  • Volume
  • Tempo
  • Pitch
  • Juncture or pause

Non-verbal Communication

• Kinesics: refers to the study of communicative dimensions of facial and bodily movements.
  • Emblems: direct replacement for words
  • Illustrators: emphasize or illustrate ideas
  • Effect displays: facial expressions that convey emotions
  • Regulators: movements that regulate conversation
  • Adapters: release physical or emotional tension
• Haptics: refers to the language of touch as a means of non-verbal communication.
• Proxemics: refers to the language of space and how we use it to communicate.
  • Intimate space (6-18 inches)
  • Personal space (18 inches-4 feet)
  • Social space (4-12 feet)
  • Public space (12-25 feet)
• Chronemics: refers to the language of time and how we perceive and value time.
  • Monochromatic: strict adherence to time
  • Polychromatic: flexible and informal approach to time
• Olfactics: refers to the language of smell and how it affects communication.
• Artifactual: refers to the language of objects and physical appearance.
  • Material possessions and artifacts
  • Physical appearance and how it affects people's perception of us

Paralinguistic Elements

• Vocal quality: unique characteristics of one's voice.
• Volume: loudness or softness of voice.
• Tempo: rate of speaking, including normal rate (120-150 words per minute).
• Pitch: highness or lowness of voice.
• Juncture or pause: short silence that allows the listener to reflect on the message.

Communication

• Communication is the art of transmitting information, ideas, and attitudes from one person to another.
• The purposes of communication include:
• Changing behavior
• Getting action
• Ensuring understanding
• Persuading
• Getting and giving information

Proposive Communication

• Proposive communication refers to intentional communication that occurs within specific contexts.
• Context affects the process of sending and receiving messages, including:
• Semantics
• Choice of channels
• Words
• Methods of delivery
• Context includes:
• Setting or environment
• Social relationships
• Scenes (e.g., time, occasion, and culture)

Components of Communication

• Verbal communication refers to the words we choose, including written and oral communication, and accounts for 7% of communication.
• Non-verbal communication refers to the transmission of information through non-linguistic means, including:
• Body language
• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Postures
• Eye contact
• And accounts for 55% of communication
• Paralinguistic elements refer to how we say what we say, including:
• Vocal quality
• Volume
• Tempo
• Pitch
• Juncture or pause
• And accounts for 38% of communication

Non-verbal Communication

• Kinesics refers to the study of communicative dimensions of facial and bodily movements.
• Emblems are direct replacements for words.
• Illustrators emphasize or illustrate ideas.
• Effect displays convey emotions through facial expressions.
• Regulators regulate conversation through movements.
• Adapters release physical or emotional tension.
• Haptics refers to the language of touch as a means of non-verbal communication.
• Proxemics refers to the language of space and how we use it to communicate.
• Intimate space ranges from 6-18 inches.
• Personal space ranges from 18 inches-4 feet.
• Social space ranges from 4-12 feet.
• Public space ranges from 12-25 feet.
• Chronemics refers to the language of time and how we perceive and value time.
• Monochromatic people have a strict adherence to time.
• Polychromatic people have a flexible and informal approach to time.
• Olfactics refers to the language of smell and how it affects communication.
• Artifactual refers to the language of objects and physical appearance.
• Material possessions and artifacts convey information.
• Physical appearance affects people's perception of us.

Paralinguistic Elements

• Vocal quality refers to the unique characteristics of one's voice.
• Volume refers to the loudness or softness of voice.
• Tempo refers to the rate of speaking, with a normal rate of 120-150 words per minute.
• Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of voice.
• Juncture or pause refers to a short silence that allows the listener to reflect on the message.

Learn about the basics of communication, including its definition, purposes, and proposive communication. Understand how context affects the process of sending and receiving messages.