2. Communicating One's Heart

Diary/Journal, Its Features, and Speech Context

Diary/Journal

It is a form of writing that reflects one’s personal reflections.

Diary/Journal

It aims to help us communicate with one’s inner thoughts and feelings.

The Secret Life: Being the Book of a Heretic

Elizabeth Bisland

Features of Journal/Diary Writing

They serve as an authentic form of documentation of a writer’s personal experiences, and are not necessarily intended to be shared with anyone.

Specific Features of Journal/Diary Writing

1. Point of View (POV)

2. Time-Bound

3. Use of Reflective, Personal, and Free Writing Styles

4. Informal Writing Style

1. Point of View (POV)

Diaries and Journals, as mentioned, are about the writer's personal experience, so first-person POV is used in the text.

2. Time-Bound

Always indicates the date (month, day, year, and even time sometimes) when the entry is written.

Time-Bound

Some writers write dates, and some use the chronology of events (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3...).

3. Use of Reflective, Personal, and Free Writing Styles

There are no bounds or limitations, as it is not intended to be read by someone else.

Use of Reflective, Personal, and Free Writing Styles

Listing events one after another, adding takeaways or lessons in each entry, and so on, are allowed.

4. Informal Writing Style

Use of dramatic styles that the writer wants that resonate well with one’s feelings and emotions.

Speech Context

It refers to the situation, environment, or background in which communication takes place.

Speech Context

It includes the number of participants, the relationship between them, and the physical or social setting (Nordquist, 2025).

(Nordquist, 2025)

Speech context includes the number of participants, the relationship between them, and the physical or social setting.

Speech Context

Dictates how you speak, what words you choose, and how you behave.

Types of Speech Context

1. Intrapersonal Communication

2. Interpersonal Communication

1. Intrapersonal Communication

In this, communication with oneself takes place, especially in the context of reflection and thought processing.

Intrapersonal Communication

It happens entirely inside your own mind and involves thinking, planning, or self-reflection.

Examples of Intrapersonal Communication

1. Journaling in a diary

2. Silently practicing a speech in your head

3. Psyching yourself up before a big exam

2. Interpersonal Communication

This is communication between two or more people. It is divided into subcategories based on the intention, relationship, and group size.

Types of Interpersonal Communication

1. Dyad Communication

2. Small Group Communication

3. Public Communication

4. Mass Communication

5. Organizational Communication

6. Intercultural Communication

1. Dyad Communication

It involves two individuals engaging in a conversation to share feelings, emotions, and opinions.

2. Small Group Communication

Usually involves 3-15 individuals communicating with one another for a common goal.

3. Public Communication

In this context, a speaker aims to address an audience or crowd.

Public Communication

It usually follows Aristotle’s communication model.

4. Mass Communication

Communication is aided by mass media technology to reach a wider audience.

Examples of Mass Communication

1. Radio

2. Television

3. Social Media

5. Organizational Communication

Communication takes place between and among members of an organization, usually in the workplace.

6. Intercultural Communication

The purpose is to engage groups to share their traditions, values, history, and culture to raise cultural awareness.