Introduction to Speech Communication

Speech and the

Communication Process

CMIbarreta

What is Communication?• Communication is the exchange of thoughts,

messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior.

• It is defined as a process by which we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create shared understanding

• It was derived from the Latin word "communis", meaning commonness.

• Communication occurs when there’s an existence of message to be shared, person or persons to share it, and a medium they can use to make the sharing possible.

Is Communication IMPORTANT?Communication is the means for expressionCommunication defines survivalCommunication ties communicators Communication helps preserve a democratic way of livingCommunication civilizes communicatorsCommunication is a vehicle toward the futureCommunication raises aspirationsCommunication helps meet people’s ambitionsCommunication helps develop an individual, organisation,

society, nation, and countryCommunications helps in arriving quick decision and

implementation

Basic Elements of Communication

SenderFirst and foremost is the person who sends a message. Known as sender in the jargons of communication, he or she is the chief initiator of any communication. In fact a communication may not take place if there is no sender. The sender may be singular and plural as well. It all depends on the nature of communication. If a teacher is delivering lecture, it constitute a case of sender as one individual. Sender comprising many is the case when a group of people shout together, or more than one person sing a song as chorus.


MessageWhen sender – the source of communication, decides to communicate he/she encodes the root of the feeling in words/gestures or any other form commonly understood. This encoded form is called message. It may be a simple word or a very complex and technical integration of feelings by the source on a given subject.


ChannelNo sooner a message is created by a sender, it enters in the channel. The channel is part of the communication process which helps carry the message to its desired destination. In case of printed words paper is the channel, in the matter of voice air may serve as a channel. In telephonic conversation the wire and the sets make the channel. Sometimes the channel itself becomes part of message and sometime message is sent in a manner that a part of it serves as a channel.


ReceiverThe process of communication may not be complete if the message does not reach a person, or persons, it is designed for. Receiver in this process is the element which is target of the message and actually receives it. The dimension of receiver is very wide – it may vary from an individual to an army of people, or a nation or all nations. Again, it depends what the message is.


FeedbackSending and receiving of message is a simultaneous process in which the receiver continuously sends back its approval or disapproval after having interpreted the message. This helps the sender to modify or discipline its message. This element in the communication process is referred as feedback. For instance a person is delivering speech, the voices, gestures and facial expressions – all part of feedback, would help the speaker to check its loudness, smiles, rhetoric, contents or time to speak. If there is no feedback, the original message may never shape accordingly which may distort the whole communication exercise.


ContextEvery message is delivered and received in a given context. Change in the background factors denoted as context, may change the meanings altogether. Context itself comprises multiple factors each one of them becomes essential when it comes to interpretation of the original message.

FORMS OF COMMUNICATION

Human CommunicationNon-Human Communication

Human Communication includes...Nonverbal Communication- the process of conveying meaning in the form

of non-word messages.

Verbal/ Oral Communication- use sounds or voice expressions to convey

message.

Written Communication This form of communication uses symbols to

convey message.

Non-Human Communication are...

• Animal Communication through behaviour

• Plant Communication through cellular interaction

• Fungi Communication through growth• Bacteria Communication (Quorum

Sensing) through changes in density

Barriers vs Noise to Communication

1. Physical Barrier VS Physical Noise2. Physiological Barrier VS Physiological

Noise 3. Attitudinal / Psychological Barrier VS

Psychological Noise4. Ambiguity of Words VS Semantic and

Syntactical Noise

MODELS of COMMUNICATION

1.Shannon-Weaver Model2.Berlo's SMCR 3.Schramm's Model4.Barnlund's Perspective5.Constructionists' View6.Linear Model7. Interactive Model8.Transactional Model

Shannon-Weaver Model (1949)• The original model was

designed to mirror the functioning of radio and telephone technologies. Their initial model consisted of three primary parts: sender, channel, and receiver.

• Shannon and Weaver also recognized that often there is ‘static’ that interferes with one listening to a telephone conversation, which they deemed noise. Noise could also mean the absence of signal.

Wilbur Schramm's Model (1954)• Communication is usually

described along a few major dimensions:

Message (what type of things are communicated),

source / emisor / sender / encoder (by whom),

form (in which form), channel (through which

medium), destination / receiver / target

/ decoder (to whom), and Receiver

David Berlo's SMCR Model (1960)

• This is an expansion of Shannon and Weaver’s linear model of communication that created the SMCR Model of Communication. The Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver Model of Communication separated the model into clear parts and has been expanded upon by other scholars.

D.C. Barnlund's Model (2008)This is a transactional model of communication. The basic

premise of the transactional model of communication is that individuals are simultaneously engaging in the sending and receiving of messages.

Other Models Communication• Constructionists believe that the

process of communication is in itself the only messages that exist.

• Linear Model is a one way model to communicate.

• Interactive Model is two linear models stacked on top of each other.

• Transactional Model assumes that people are connected through communication; they engage in transaction.

LINEAR Model

INTERACTIONAL Model

TRANSACTIONAL Model

The COMMUNICATION PROCESS

1.Stimulus/stimuli- triggering event of the communication process

2.Ideation- an idea or several ideas are formulated and organized to answer a need to communicate

3.Encoding- the ideas, which have been organized in the ideation stage, are put into code to make transmission possible. To represent these ideas, symbols in the form of sounds or words are made use of.

4.Transmission- the encoded message is sent through a chosen appropriate channel or medium

5.Reception- the message reaches the receiver

Comm. Process cont...

6.Decoding- the codes or symbols used to transmit messages are converted into ideas or mental images to be interpreted by the receiver

7.Understanding- the message, which has been transformed into thought or mental images, having been interpreted now becomes clear to the receiver. If he/she does not understand, miscommunication sets in.

8. Action- the receiver responds to the message received by sending feedback

PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION

• Communication has purpose• Communication is continuous• Communication messages vary in conscious thought• Communication is relational

– Once cannot be attractive without others who are attracted?– One cannot be a leader unless others are willing to follow?– Quality of interaction between parent and child is a two-way

street (Dainton, Stafford, 1993).• Communication is guided by culture• Communication has ethical implications• Communication is learned

– After 30 minutes of instruction, participants became significantly more effective in detecting lies (DeTurch, Miller, 1990)

Communication Competence

• Effective when it achieves it’s goals

• Appropriate when it conforms to the

situation

What Makes a Communicator Effective?

• Speaking and expressing your thoughts and feelings in a clear and non-defensive manner.

• Being an active listener by using both verbal (un huh) and nonverbal skills (leaning forward)

• Being aware of your body language and what it communicates to others.

• Learning to code-switch in different professional versus social settings.– Example from using African American English to Standard

American English when appropriate.

Characteristics of Competent Communicators

• A wide range of behaviors• Ability to choose the most appropriate

behavior• Skill at performing behaviors• Perspective taking• Cognitive Complexity• Self-Monitoring• Commitment to the Relationship

Activity 1: Elements of Communication

1. Message2. Sender3. Receiver4. Channel5. Feedback6. Context

SENDER

MESSAGE

RECEIVERFEEDBACK

C

C

C

CH

AN

NEL

CONTEXT

THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS using the Basic Elements of Communication

Introduction to Speech Communication

Education