Communication & Language Study Notes

Definition: a set of symbols (words) and sounds systematically arranged to convey meaning shared by a speech community—i.e., a particular group, place and time.
- MUST possess three, rule–governed subsystems to qualify as a language:
  • Grammar / syntax – orderly rules for combining words.
  • Phonology / phonetics – recognized inventory of sounds and accepted ways of sequencing them.
  • Lexicon / vocabulary – socially-agreed register of word forms & meanings.
A complex human activity

Mother-tongue / First Language (L1)
- Unconsciously acquired in early childhood from the surrounding speech community.
- Example: Tagalog for children born & raised in Manila.
Second Language (L2)
- Consciously learned or discovered—formally in school or informally via exposure.
- Motivations: curriculum requirements, migration, professional advantage, popular culture, etc.
- Example: English formally studied as part of the Philippines

Occurs whenever speakers of different tongues interact (trade, travel, social media, migration).
Outcomes
- Gradual acquisition of each other’s vocabulary & sounds (borrowing, code-switching).
- Creation of new mixed varieties (pidgins → creoles) understandable to both parties.
Example: A Tagalog speaker and a Korean speaker with limited shared English negotiate meaning, fashioning novel word pronunciations comprehensible to both.
Real-world relevance: Explains emergence of Philippine English, Singlish, Spanglish, etc.

“Systematic process of exchange of thoughts, ideas, concepts or views between two parties aimed at understanding.”
May be influenced by factors surrounding the activity
- mode of communications
- context in which it is done
- purpose and style

Verbal
- Utilises words (spoken or written) → e.g., saying “HELLO.”
Non-Verbal
- Uses gestures, body language, facial expressions → e.g., clapping to show appreciation.
Visual
- Conveys meaning through images, symbols, colour coding → e.g., red traffic light signals “STOP.”
Note: In multimodal messages, these modes intertwine (e.g., a PowerPoint talk = verbal + visual + non-verbal).

Intrapersonal
- “Self-talk”; internal dialogue for reflection, self-motivation, anxiety regulation.
- Example: Whispering to yourself, “I can do this” before an exam.
Interpersonal
- Interactive exchange between at least two people; relationship-building.
- Sub-type: Transactional interpersonal → oriented toward completing a task or obtaining something (e.g., jeweller convincing a buyer).
Extended / Mass-personal
- Uses electronic media (TV, radio, webinars, social apps) to reach larger, often anonymous audiences.
- Requirement: heightened preparation, formality, ethical care (public footprint is permanent).
Organizational
- Occurs within institutions that impose specific communicative rules & channels.
  • Formal structure
  – Downward (boss → staff)
  – Upward (staff → boss)
  – Horizontal (same level, different units)
  – Crosswise (different levels & departments intersecting)
  • Informal structure – unofficial “grapevine” (example: “MARITESS”).
Intercultural
- Interaction between persons of differing linguistic, religious, ethnic, social, educational or professional backgrounds.
- Requires cultural intelligence, respect, sensitivity to power distance & face-saving.

Formal Communication
- Language: polite, structured, often pre-planned; may be oral (lecture) or written (business letter, proposal).
- Purposes: to inform, entertain, persuade, document.
Informal Communication
- Language: spontaneous, casual, personal; colloquialisms & code-switching allowed.
- Purposes: socialization, strengthening bonds, emotional support.

Aristotle (circa 300 BCE)
- Linear, rhetoric-based
  • Speaker → Speech → Audience
- Emphasis: persuasive public speaking; roots of ethos, pathos, logos.
Lasswell (1948)
- “Who - says What - in which Channel - to Whom - with what Effect?”
- Highlights functions: surveillance, correlation, cultural transmission.
Shannon–Weaver (1949) “Mathematical Model”
- Technical, engineering focus; introduced $noise$ & $feedback$ .
- Elements: Sender → Encoder → Channel (Noise) → Decoder → Receiver.
Berlo’s SMCR (1960)
- Source – Message – Channel – Receiver
- Each component expanded:
  • Source/Receiver: Communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, social system, culture.
  • Message: content, elements, treatment, structure, code.
  • Channel: five senses—hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting.
- Importance of matching code & skills between S and R.
Schramm (1954, 1956)
- Circular model with overlapping fields of experience; roles continuously switch: Encoder/Interpreter/Decoder ↔ Decoder/Interpreter/Encoder.
- Introduces concept of “shared field of experience” for successful meaning-making.

General (applies to both oral & written)