SS

Oral Communication in Context - Comprehensive Notes

Module Introduction

This module aims to develop effective communication skills by exploring its nature, process, elements, and functions. It seeks to distinguish communication models, practice skills, and enable the design of a personal communication model. The course focuses on honing listening and speaking skills, fostering moral/ethical leadership, teamwork, and strategic communication.

Module Contents Overview

The module covers the nature and elements of communication, fundamentals (definition and models), effective communication skills, and a final learning output project.

Nature and Definition of Communication

Communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity, encompassing daily verbal and non-verbal forms. It involves conveying meaning through words, actions, or silence. The primary goal is to promote effectiveness by developing listening and speaking skills, recognizing that messages can be misinterpreted.

Based on McCornack (2014), communication is a learned process of sharing and conveying messages between people across channels, contexts, media, and cultures. It involves creating, interpreting, and negotiating meaning, using written or spoken words, non-verbal cues, or both. The Latin root communicatio means sharing or imparting, emphasizing purposeful exchange through a shared system of signs and symbols.

The Communication Process

Communication is a continuous and dynamic interaction involving:

  1. Sender/Speaker – source of the information or message.
  2. Message – information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed.
  3. Encoding – converting the message into understandable forms.
  4. Channel – the medium through which the message is conveyed.
  5. Decoding – interpreting the encoded message.
  6. Receiver – the recipient who decodes the message.
  7. Feedback – reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver.
  8. Context – the environment where communication takes place.
  9. Barrier – factors that affect the flow of communication (obstacles, noise, misinterpretation, cultural gaps).
    Both sender and receiver share responsibility for accurate information exchange.

Functions of Communication

Communication serves five core functions:

  1. Control – to influence behavior.
  2. Social Interaction – to interact with others.
  3. Motivation – to encourage people to act or live better.
  4. Emotional expression – to convey feelings and emotions.
  5. Information dissemination – to convey and share information.
    Learning activities involve reflecting on communication breakdowns and effective daily communication to deepen understanding.

Effective Communication Skills: The Seven Cs

The Seven Cs framework (Broom, Cutlip, & Center, 2012) guides effective communication to reduce breakdowns:

  1. Completeness – deliver all necessary information.
  2. Conciseness – be direct, remove unnecessary details.
  3. Consideration – tailor to the receiver's context and needs.
  4. Concreteness – use facts, statistics, and examples.
  5. Courtesy – respect culture, values, and beliefs.
  6. Clarity – use simple, precise language.
  7. Correctness – ensure accurate data and grammar.
    {\text{Completeness}, \text{Conciseness}, \text{Consideration}, \text{Concreteness}, \text{Courtesy}, \text{Clarity}, \text{Correctness}}

Models of Communication

Three key models describe communication:

  1. Linear Model (Shannon & Weaver, 1948): A one-way process from sender to receiver via a channel, with potential noise. It's limited by assuming no feedback and oversimplifying real communication.
  2. Interactional Model (Schramm): A dynamic, two-way process involving feedback, where both parties can be senders/receivers at different times. It introduces the "Field of Experience," highlighting how individual backgrounds (environment, experiences, culture, heredity) shape message interpretation.
  3. Transactional Model (Dunn & Goodnight): Views communication as a co-created transaction, where participants are "communicators" with an overlapping "Field of Experience" for mutual understanding. Messages are interdependent, emphasizing collaboration and shared meaning.
    The Field of Experience concept explains how personal backgrounds influence message construction and interpretation, with overlap fostering understanding and mismatches causing misunderstanding.
    Students are prompted to reflect on which model best represents real-world communication today.

Learning Output: Design Your Own Communication Model

The module concludes with a group project to design a unique communication model, presented as a PowerPoint. This model must integrate concepts from the nature, process, elements, and functions of communication, accompanied by a rationale and visuals.