Midterm Lessons in Purposive Communication (PDF)

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF LANGAUGES ENGLISH 1- PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION MIDTERM COVERAGE I. **Language, Communication Process, Types, Principles and Models** A. **What is Language?** **Language** has a system of rules known as grammar, a sound...

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF LANGAUGES ENGLISH 1- PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION MIDTERM COVERAGE I. **Language, Communication Process, Types, Principles and Models** A. **What is Language?** **Language** has a system of rules known as grammar, a sound system (phonology), and a vocabulary (lexicon). Linguists agree that a language can only be called language if it has a system of rules, a sound system and a vocabulary. These are the requirements for identifying a means of communication as a language. Language is a set of arbitrary symbols which create possible combination of utterances used for communication. It is arbitrary not because a symbol and the object or idea it represents has a one-to-one correspondence. Rather, it is arbitrary because the users of the language in a particular speech community have subconsciously or unconsciously agreed to that particular symbol or a word represents a particular idea or object. Different speech communities use different words for the same category. Ex. Americans use "elevator" while British use "lift" referring to the same thing- a type of vertical transportation that carries people or goods between floors of a building. When people use language, they can understand each other because they belong to the same **speech community**. They share the same set of rules in the language system. While growing up, people acquire the languages used by those people in the community. This is the process of **language acquisition.** The language acquired while growing up is known as **mother tongue** which is also referred as **first language**. People discover later languages for various reasons or as they contact with other people, they learn other language. It is known as **second language**. It may be also learned formally in school or informally through frequent communication with other people. **Language contact** occurs when speakers of two or more languages or varieties interact with and influence each other. **Language change** is the result of language contact. B. **What is Communication?** **Communication** is a process of transmitting message in the form of ideas, thoughts and feelings from one person to another. The process of communication refers to the transmission of message from the sender through a selected channel to the receiver. While on the process of communication, **barriers** may come along the way that affects the understanding of the message. Communication is a cyclic process that begins with the sender and ends with the sender in the form of a feedback. It is a continuous and dynamic interaction, both affecting and being affected by many variables. In the communication process, the following elements are included: **People-** involved in the communication process. Assume the roles of: Receiver/decoder- refers to the listener or reader of the message **Message/code**- refers to idea, thought or feeling sent to the receiver. It may verbal (written or spoken) or non-verbal (sign, symbols) language **Channel-** refers to the medium or carrier of the message; airwaves and cable for television, sound waves for radio, sound and light waves for face-to-face, technology and social networking sites have been used to send and receive messages as well. **Noise**- refers to the barrier or obstacle in the delivery of the message **Feedback**- refers to the response or reaction to the message sent **Types of communication** categorized according to: 1. **Mode --** refers to the channel through which one expresses his/her communicative intent. It is the medium through which one conveys his/her thoughts. - Verbal- comes in a form of writing or speaking - Non-verbal- comes in a form of gesture, facial expression, body language - Visual- comes in a form of sign, symbol, picture, image, graph Other modes: - Face-to-face -- an informal or casual conversation between two or more people - Video- Web cameras are used so that two or more people who cannot interact face-to-face can communicate (Messenger, Skype, FaceTime, etc.) - Audio- transmission of sound; only the voice of the speaker is heard through the telephone or an answering machine. An obvious downside is not being able to see the body language or cues of the person you are talking to. - Text-based- instant messaging, text messaging. Social networking sites such as facebook, Twitter, and Instagram offer this mode. It has a wider reach and can disseminate information to a bigger audience quickly. 2. **Context-** the circumstance or environment in which communication takes place. - Intrapersonal- means talking to oneself - Interpersonal- means communication which purpose is to establish better relationship with others - Extended- involves the use of electronic, broadcast or print media which purpose is to reach out extensive and remote audience - Organizational- takes place in an organization or workplace There are two types: formal structure- communication flows downward (management to subordinate), upward (subordinate to management), and sideward (among peers at equal level) informal structure- communication comes from unofficial channels of message flow. Ex. Grapevine message or "tsismis" - Intercultural- takes place between or among people having different linguistic, religious, cultural, social, political and professional background 3. **Purpose and Style-** focus is on the communication setting and delivery - Formal Communication- employs formal language delivered orally or in written form. Lectures, public talks/speeches, research and project proposals, reports and business letters are all considered formal situations and writings. To inform, to entertain, to persuade are the main objectives of this type of communication. - Informal Communication- does not employ formal language. It involves personal and ordinary conversations with friends, family members, or acquaintances about anything under the sun. The mode may be oral, as in face-to-face, ordinary or everyday talks and phone calls, or in written as in the case of e-mail messages, personal notes, letters or text messages. The purpose is simply to socialize and enhance relationships. C. **COMMUNICATION MODELS** Knowledge of communication models is very important in understanding how communication process works. If we know the process, we know as well how we could make communication effective and understandable to the receiver. A model is abstract and it comes in the form of graphic or symbol. It is a representation of a reality like a relationship of one variable to the other. In the following illustration of different models, you will find out how each model works so that the goal of communication to achieve acceptable feedback is attained. 1. **Linear** -- Also called the transmission model; based on the assumption that communication transmitted in a straightforward manner- from sender to a receiver. This reflects that communication is a one-way process. There are a lot of communication models but this module will introduce only four which are considered the most popular and recognized in the communication world. These are: (1) Aristotle's model; (2) Laswell's model; (3) Shannon-Weaver's model; and (4) David Berlo's model of communication. a. **Aristotle Model-** Aristotle emphasized that there are three variables in the communication process: speaker, speech, and audience. Aristotle's model emphasized the importance of the speaker. Without the speaker, there will be no speech to be produced. When talking to audience, the speaker considers the audience age, sex, culture, religion, education and political orientation. Considering these demographics, the speaker is helped to find out if the message is clearly received by the audience. b. **Berlo's Model-** Conceptualized in 1960, David Berlo's model is the most well-known among the communication models. It is called SMCR: sender of the message, sent through a channel or medium to a receiver. The source is the encoder of the message. The kind of information he transmits is influenced by his communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, social system and culture. The message refers to the content, elements, treatment, structure and code. The encoder uses hearing, seeing, touching, smelling and tasting as channels of communication. The receiver decodes the message. His/Her understanding of the message is affected by his/her communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, social system and culture.  c. **Lasswell-** Named after him, Harold Dwight Laswell focused his model on Who says What in Which channel to Whom and With What effect. Communication process begins with the communicator (who) sending out a message (what) using a medium (in which channel) for a receiver (to whom) experiencing an effect (with what effect) afterwards. The process may be analyzed through the content sent, the medium used, as well as the effect on the recipient of the message. d. **Shannon- Weaver-** Claude Elwood Shannon and Warren Weaver's model of communication was introduced in 1949. It was conceptualized for the functioning of the radio and television serving as a model for technical communication and adopted in the field of communication. In this model, the sender is considered the information source, the encoder as the transmitter, the channel may be affected by noise or feedback, the decoder is the reception going to the receiver which is the destination.  2. **Interactive Model-** In contrast with linear model which considers communication as only in one direction. In this model, communication is a two-way process which involves an exchange or an interaction between sender and receiver. This indicates that the receiver is not just a mere absorber of the message. As the receiver gets the message, he/she processes it, provides his/her own interpretation of the message and delivers it back to the sender which makes the process a continuous one. There is feedback. In this model, the personal field of experience is very important. This explains why misunderstanding occurs. The communication process is enhanced or weakened depending on the field of experiences of the communicators. 3. **Transactional Model-** this model is adopted in response to the failure of interactive model to portray the dynamism of communication. - This depicts that time element which influences how people communicate; communication is varying (not constant) and dynamic (not static). - The outer lines indicate that communication occurs within systems that influence how people communicate. The system includes culture, context and family background. - The model does not label one as sender and the other is receiver. Instead, are communicators who actively, equally and simultaneously participate in the communication process. - In sum, this is a model in which people interact with and trough symbols overtime to share and create meaning.  **C. Principles of Communication** **GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION** 1\. Know your purpose in communicating. 2\. Know your audience and fit your message to their level. 3\. Know your topic. It should be interesting and informative to the audience. 4\. Adjust your speech or writing to the context of the situation. 5\. Work on the feedback given to you. **PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION** 1\. Be clear. Write according to the purpose of your message. CLARITY 2\. Be concise. Go direct to the point by avoiding unnecessary words. CONCISENESS 3\. Be concrete. Support your claims with facts and figures. CONCRETENESS 4\. Be correct. Observe the rules of grammar and proper mechanics. CORRECTNESS 5\. Be coherent. Connect your ideas using appropriate transitional words. COHERENCE 6\. Be complete. Include only necessary and relevant information. COMPLETENESS 7\. Be courteous. Eliminate confusion and misinterpretation of words; and promote friendly tone in your writing. COURTESEY **PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE ORAL COMMUNICATION** 1\. Be clear with your purpose. 2\. Be complete with the message you deliver. 3\. Be concise. 4\. Be natural with your delivery. 5\. Be specific and timely with your feedback **D. Communication and Globalization** Globalization is the process by which people and goods move easily across borders (Gray, 2017 World Economic Forum). As people transfer from one place to another to trade their business or as they just simply move and socialize, they communicate to express their intentions, their thoughts and ideas. Truly, communication is indispensable in all social and business transactions. As more people cross borders because of globalization, more language contact happens. With this even, more words are coined thus vocabulary is becoming extensive. Related to globalization is **diversity**- the concept that endures respect, acceptance, and understanding. It recognizes that people are unique from each other with respect to their age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, educational background and ideologies **Varieties of English Language** Varieties of English or World Englishes are used or spoken in certain areas. In the Asian context, the concept was introduced by Braj Kachru in his famous "Three Concentric Circles of Asian Englishes". The Three Concentric Circles of English are: **Inner Circle with ENL (English as a Native Language).** The member countries are: USA, Australia, UK, New Zealand and Canada. English as a native language, these are native speakers born in an English-speaking country, having then this language as their mother tongue or first tongue. **For Outer Circle with ESL (English as a Second Language),** member countries are: Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Zambia. English as a second language, these are the non-native speakers who have learnt English almost at the same time as their mother tongue. Lastly, **the EFL (English as a Foreign Language)** include countries such as: China, Caribbean Countries, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South America, Taiwan CIS, and Zimbabwe. English as a foreign language, these are the non-native speakers who learnt English in a country where English is not usually spoken. **Registers of English Language** When it comes to language variation, we often encounter the term "register". Register refers to a variety of language defined according to its use in social situation e.g. a register of scientific, religious, formal English. Language register refers to the formality of language which one speaks; the level and style of spoken and written discourse depending on the context you are in. Different registers are used in different situations. It is through register that you are able to determine the kind of lexicon or vocabulary to use as well as the kind of structure to be used. 1. Formal -- Used in a professional context. It is highly structured, impersonal and more serious in its tone, vocabulary and grammar. It is common in workplace, academe, business, trade and other industries. Formal language is usually employed when interacting with a boss, facilitating a meeting or attending formal gatherings such as conference, seminars and the like. - Business letters, official speeches, job interviews, academic essays, business meetings 2. Informal- Is casual, personal and more intimate in its tone, sentence structure, and choice of words. This is appropriate when communicating with people you know very well such as family, relatives and friends. This is used during informal gatherings such as family dinners, parties and other informal encounters. - Short notes, text messages, personal emails, friendly letters, chatting or hanging out with friends, Blogs/Vlogs 3. Neutral- This is more factual and non-emotional type of language register. Mostly used in highly business-oriented and technical contexts. - Reviews, articles, technical writing, business presentations References: Madrunio, M,R. et. al. (2018). Purposive Communication. C & E Publishing, Inc Ambida, R. et. al. (2019). Purposive Communication. C & E Publishing, Inc