Purposive Communication Midterm Review: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 7

Communication

transmitting information & common understanding from one person to another; an interdependent process of sending, receiving, and understanding messages

sender

the encoder or the source of the message

message

the ideas and feelings encoded

receiver

decoder or the recipient of the message

channel

a vehicle used in message conveyance

feedback

also known as medium; the verbal or nonverbal responses to the sender’s encoded signals

Interference

also known as noise; the factors that hinder the recipient’s ability to send or receive messages

Context

the situation and environment in which the communication occurs

Verbal communication

use of sounds and words to impart one’s thoughts or feelings

1. Regulation (Control)

to control one’s or other people’s behavior or activities

2. Social Interaction

to create relationships, form associations, develop intimacy, and maintain bonds and connections with other people

3. Motivation

expressing one’s desires, goals, inclinations, choices, preferences, likes and dislikes, and needs and wants

4. Information

disseminating information whether by asking for or giving directions, instruction, or ideas

5. Emotional expression

to show one’s feelings and emotions

Nonverbal communication

conveyance of meaning by means of body language (e.g., gestures, facial expression, eye contact, posture) or paralanguage (e.g., pitch, volume, speaking rate) instead of spoken or written words

1. To replace (Replacement)

EX: one can shrug shoulders instead of saying “I don’t know” and wave hands instead of saying goodbye

2. To repeat (Repetition)

EX: the act of nodding while saying yes is a restatement, and so does pointing while giving directions

3. To complement (Complementation)

EX: One rubs one’s stomach when feeling hungry or says “I passed the test” with a sarcastic tone

4. To accent (Accentuation)

often done by increasing voice volume, prolonging a word, moving forward, and even widening the eyes

5. To regulate (Regulation)

EX: to signal the beginning of an interaction, one must face the person, move closer, or look at him or her directly; looking at one’s watch repeatedly is an indication that he/she has to go, and the other person must stop talking.

6. To contradict (Contradiction)

EX: Saying “I’m all right” with a frown

7. To deceive (Deception)

nonverbal signals can be utilized to mislead the listener

Ethical Communication

1. understand and respect others’ communications before evaluating and responding

2. promote communication climates of caring and mutual understanding that protect the unique needs and characteristics of communicators

3. condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity

4. commit yourself to courageous expression of your personal convictions

5. accept responsibility for the short & long term consequences of your own communication

6. avoid plagiarism

7. promote honesty, truthfulness, and accuracy

Mediated Communication

interaction carried out in phones, computers, and the internet

Culture

system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that are acquired, shared, and used by its members in daily living

Co-culture

same members of the same general culture who differ in certain ethnic or sociological ways from the parent culture

Accommodation

attempt to maintain their cultural identity while striving to establish relationships with members of the dominant culture

EX: A Filipino worker who has to speak in English in the US and still speaks Cebuano at home with fellow Filipinos

Assimilation

to fit in or join with members of the dominant culture – they give up their own

Separation

resist interacting with members of the dominant culture

 Intercultural communication

interpreting and sharing meanings with individuals from different cultures

Intracultural Communication

Interaction among members of the same racial, ethnic, or other co-culture groups

Interracial Communication

Communication with/among individuals of different races

International Communication

Interaction between persons representing different nations

Interethnic Communication

Communication with/among individuals of different ethnic origins

cultural relativism

acceptance of other cultural groups as equal in value as that of their own

ethnocentrism

the tendency to see their culture and its practices as superior compared to others

variables to distinguish cultures

1. Individualism vs. Collectivism

2. High Context vs. Low Context

3. High Power Distance vs. Low Power Distance

4. Masculine vs. Feminine

individualism

individual goals are stressed, emphasis on “I”

collectivism

group goals are stressed, emphasis on “we”

high context

polite & indirect, implicit messages, less verbal communication

low context

more direct, simple and clear messages

high power distance

power is a fact of life, subordinates are quick to defer (submit to another’s wishes) to superiors

low power distance

power should be used only when legitimate, subordinates will even contradict their bosses whenever necessary

masculine

value male aggressiveness, strength, and material symbols of success, likely to use a win-lose conflict strategy

feminine

value relationships, tenderness in members of both sexes, and high quality of life, seeking win-win solutions

1. Registers / Level of Formality 

level and style of speaking and writing appropriate for different situations

a. Frozen / Static

The language does not change, e.g. National Anthem

b. Formal

follows an accepted & prescribed format, e.g. business meetings, academic papers, lectures

c. Consultative

less formal and the context involves one with specialized knowledge or an expert who is consulted or can give advice, e.g. Doctors, Therapists

d. Casual

conversational – maybe informal with slang and contractions, e.g. chit-chat & text messages between friends

e. Intimate

private communication used between lovers or very close family and friends, e.g. inside pet names, inside jokes, terms of endearment

2. Language Variety

vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, and even grammatical structures

1.  Downward Flow of Communication

from the higher levels to the lower levels

2. Upward Flow of Communication

aka vertical flow; from the lower levels to the higher levels

3.  Horizontal Flow of Communication

aka lateral communication; between employees, divisions, departments, or units within the same level of hierarchy in an organization

4.  Diagonal Flow of Communication

higher level from department 1 to lower level from department 3

5.  External Flow of Communication

between a manager of a particular company and other sectors outside the company, such as banks, suppliers, vendors, and financial institutions