purposive

  • Purposive Communication: effective communication tailored for specific contexts and audiences, aiming to enhance students' skills for academic, professional, and social settings.

Types of Communication

  • Verbal Communication: Involves spoken or written language, used to directly convey information.

  • Non-Verbal Communication: Utilizes body language, facial expressions, and gestures to express emotions or attitudes, often enhancing or contradicting verbal messages. It often conveys emotions, attitudes, and subtle meanings that words cannot. It adds depth and meaning to verbal communication.

Communication in Multicultural Contexts:

  • Language: A system of symbols for conveying meaning such as spoken or written words, gestures or sound

  • Symbols: refer to anything that represents or stands for something else, allowing individuals to convey ideas, emotions, and meanings without directly referencing the object or concept itself—cultural signs like icons, and logos.

  • Gestures: Cultural signs like body movements. visible body movements convey messages or meanings without spoken words. a significant role in complementing or even replacing verbal communication.

  • Body Language and Slang: Specific terms or gestures used within social groups.

Imagery in Communication - Descriptive language appeals to the senses, to enhance message vividness.

  • VISUAL - Something that can be seen and tangible

  • AUDITORY - Can be heard in mind to the reader’s ears

  • OLFACTORY - something that can be smelled through the reader’s nose

  • TACTILE - something that can be touched through the reader’s mind

  • GUSTATORY - Something that can be tasted through the reader’s tongue

Lesson 2

Elements of Communication

  1. Sender: Initiates communication by creating and encoding a message before selecting a channel to transmit it.

  2. Receiver: Decodes and interprets the message, providing feedback to the sender based on their understanding.

  3. Medium: The system used to convey the message, such as print, mass media, or digital platforms.

  4. Channel: The specific means of delivery, like phone calls, emails, or social media.

  5. Noise: Any interference that disrupts communication, which can be external (e.g., environmental sounds) or internal (e.g., distractions).

  6. Feedback: The response from the receiver, indicating how they interpreted the message.

  7. Context: The situational factors (physical, psychological, social, cultural) that shape how the message is understood.

Lesson 3

Definition of Communication: the exchange of information and ideas between individuals. It can take various forms, including interpersonal (between individuals), intrapersonal (self-dialogue), public, mass, organizational, and intercultural communication.

  1. Types of Interpersonal Communication:

    • Dyad Communication: Interaction between two people.

    • Small Group Communication: Involves three to twelve individuals.

    • Group Communication: Involves larger audiences, typically twelve or more.

OTHER LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION

  1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION - Giving message to a larger audience such as speeches, presentation and public speaking events

  2. MASS COMMUNICATION - Giving messages through media channels e.g. TV, radio, internet.

  3. ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION - Communication between individuals, teams and departments and has a formal structure to ensure smooth operations.

  4. INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - People from different cultural backgrounds interact with each other.

Barriers to Communication: Various barriers can obstruct effective communication, including:

  • Physical barriers (distance, noise)

  • Psychological barriers (stress, emotions)

  • Language barriers (different languages, jargon)

  • Cultural barriers (cultural differences)

  • Perceptual barriers (biases, assumptions)

  • Emotional barriers (fear, anxiety)

  • Organizational barriers (hierarchical structures)

  • Technological barriers (lack of access to technology)

  • Information overload (excessive data)

Principles of Effective Communication - Effective communication is essential for building relationships, resolving conflicts, and achieving successful outcomes. To communicate effectively, one should focus on:

  • Clarity and conciseness - Clear and on point

  • Active listening - focus on understanding

  • Empathy and understanding - try to understand the message, acknowledging their feelings and viewpoints

  • Open-mindedness - Open to new ideas

  • Body language awareness - be mindful of body language

  • Providing and receiving feedback - clarify messages and correct misunderstandings

  • Respect and courtesy - Respecting other person's thoughts and time

  • Choosing appropriate mediums and timing - right method and time for communication

  • Patience and tolerance - be patients, allowing them to express their thoughts

  • Adaptability to audience and context - Adjusting the communication style based on the audience and context

LESSON 4 STRATEGIES TO AVOID COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN - happens when the message is not clearly understood by the receiver

  1. Effective Communication - Defined as the ability to listen, understand, and act on what others say.

  2. Causes of Communication Breakdown - Factors include emotional barriers (e.g., frustration), use of jargon, lack of confidence, and noisy environments.

  3. Barriers to Communication: - These can be emotional, linguistic, environmental, and perceptual, which hinder clear understanding.

STRATEGIES TO AVOID BREAKDOWN

  • Engaged Listening: Understand both words and emotions.

  • Positivity: Maintain a positive attitude to encourage open communication.

  • Appropriate Language: Use simple, audience-tailored language.

  • Open-mindedness: Suspend judgment and allow speakers to express their ideas fully.

  • Feedback: Provide and accept feedback to keep communication flowing.

  • Nonverbal Awareness: Pay attention to body language and other nonverbal cues.