Purposive Communication Reviewer

Flashcards covering the Nature and Process, Verbal and Nonverbal codes, Proxemics, Chronemics, Territoriality, Elements, Principles, and Ethics of Purposive Communication.

Communication

The exchange of information, ideas, or feelings between two or more people.

Encoding

Converting thoughts into words, symbols, or gestures.

Decoding

Interpreting and giving meaning to a received message.

Noise

Any factor that distorts or interferes with accurate transmission of a message (physical, psychological, semantic).

Feedback

The receiver's response that tells the sender how the message was understood and completes the communication loop.

Verbal communication

Uses spoken or written words (e.g., speeches, letters, emails).

Nonverbal communication

Uses gestures, facial expressions, tone, and other cues instead of words.

Intrapersonal communication

Communication within oneself (self-talk, reflection, journaling).

Interpersonal communication

Communication between two people or within a small group.

Public communication

One speaker addressing a large audience (e.g., speeches, lectures).

Mass communication

Communication reaching a large audience through media (TV, radio, internet).

Silence

Absence of speech that still conveys meaning (agreement, discomfort, respect).

Body language

Posture, gestures, and movements that express attitudes or emotions.

Facial expression

Facial muscle changes that show emotions.

Paralanguage

Tone, pitch, volume, and pace of the voice, apart from the words themselves.

Haptics

Communication through touch (handshake, pat on the back).

Kinesics

Study of body movements and gestures (from the Greek "kinesis," meaning movement).

Semiotics

Study of signs and symbols and how they convey meaning.

Proxemics

The study of how people use and interpret physical space in communication.

Space

In proxemics, powerful or higher-status individuals tend to command more physical space.

Distance

The physical closeness or space kept between communicators; signals intimacy or formality.

Personal appearance

Clothing, grooming, and overall look that send nonverbal cues (age, status, personality).

Symbols

Visual signs (logos, traffic signs) that guide behavior or convey meaning.

Formal communication

Follows an established structure or protocol (memos, board meetings, public speeches).

Informal communication

Casual, relaxed exchanges (conversations among friends or family).

Chronemics

The study of how time affects and communicates meaning.

Biological time

Governed by the body's natural rhythms (eating, sleeping, waking).

Personal time

How an individual experiences duration based on engagement in an activity.

Physical time

Fixed, measurable time (days, weeks, months, seasons).

Cultural time

How a society or large group perceives and values time.

Body territory

The personal space an individual claims and defends as their own.

Primary territory

Spaces owned or controlled by a person (home, vehicle).

Secondary territory

Spaces with limited/reserved access (classroom, office, church).

Public territory

Open spaces accessible to everyone (park, mall, plaza).

Source

The person who originates and sends the message.

Message

The idea, information, or feeling being communicated.

Channel

The medium through which the message travels (face-to-face, phone, text, etc.).

Receiver

The person who receives and interprets the message.

Communication is a process

It involves a continuous, dynamic exchange, not a single event.

Communication is irreversible

Once a message is sent, it cannot be taken back.

Communication is inevitable

People cannot NOT communicate; even silence sends a message.

Communication is contextual

It is shaped by the physical, social, and psychological setting in which it occurs.

Communication is transactional

Sender and receiver simultaneously send and receive messages.

Honesty

Presenting information truthfully and accurately.

Intellectual honesty

Giving proper credit to original authors or sources to avoid plagiarism.

Fairness

Presenting all sides of an issue without bias.

Tolerance

Respecting others' right to express differing opinions, even when one disagrees.

Accountability

Taking responsibility for the content and impact of one's message.

Confidentiality

Respecting the privacy of information shared in trust.