Oral Communication & Elements of Communication

Nature & Elements of Communication (Intro)

• Definition (McCornack $2014$): “Process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one person to another within and across channels, contexts, media, and cultures.”

• Key idea: Communication encompasses speaking, listening, body language, tone, and even silence

Core Characteristics of Communication

• $1$. Communication is a Process

  • Continuous, dynamic series of steps: sender → message → channel → receiver → feedback

• $2$. It is Meaning-Making

  • Focus on how individuals construct sense out of stimuli, not just word transfer

  • Example: Teacher saying “I need to see you after class” leads to three divergent interpretations (trouble, praise, request for help) influenced by personal factors

• $3$. It is Contextual

  • Meaning shifts with setting, relationship, timing

  • Code-switching between teacher–student vs. peer-to-peer registers

• $4$. It Uses Verbal & Non-Verbal Cues

  • Verbal: words, language choice, tone

  • Non-verbal: facial expressions, gestures, posture, silence

• $5$. It is Culturally Bound

  • Behaviors, values, traditions shape message styles and interpretation

Elements of Communication (Comprehensive List)

• Verbal

• Non-Verbal

• Context

• Speaker & Receiver

• Message

• Schema

• Encoding & Decoding

• Channel

• Feedback

• Noise (multiple sub-types)

• Barriers

Speaker & Receiver Dynamics

• Speaker: Originator of information

• Receiver: Decoder & interpreter

• Role-switching occurs fluidly in dialogue

Message

• Content (ideas, information, feelings) conveyed verbally or through actions

• Accurate reception depends on receiver’s interpretation of sender’s symbols

Schema

• Personal reservoir of culture & experiences

• Similarity between sender & receiver schema boosts interpretation accuracy

  • “Bigger chance of correct interpretation” when schemas overlap

  • Shared language proficiency critical

Encoding

• Transforming thoughts into words, gestures, images, etc.

• Accurate encoding requires alignment with receiver’s potential decoding framework

Channel

• Medium carrying the message (air, paper, microphone, digital device)

• Quality tied to absence of noise

Noise (Interference Categories)

• Physical: external sounds (construction, loud music)

• Technological: poor connections, malfunctioning devices

• Physiological: bodily conditions (sore throat, cough)

• Psychological: internal distractions (stress, fatigue)

• Semantic: jargon, language differences (e.g., “boondocks,” “cooties”)

• Cultural: divergent meaning of words (e.g., “biscuit,” “gift”)

• Effects: reduce signal clarity, necessitate compensatory strategies (repetition, clarification)

Decoding

• Receiver’s mental process of assigning meaning to symbols received

• Influenced by schema, context, noise, and cultural background

Feedback

• Receiver’s observable or verbal reaction

• Functions & importance:

  • Confirms understanding

  • Allows immediate correction

  • Strengthens relationships (trust, respect)

  • Encourages engagement; both parties stay active participants

Context

• The situational environment where communication unfolds (physical, social, historical, psychological)

• Alters vocabulary, tone, formality, and non-verbal behavior

Consequences of Communication

• Essential for developing self-concept and social relationships

• Without it, personal growth and community bonds stagnate

Individual Task – Model Answers (Pages $67–71$)

• Definition: Communication is the process of sharing ideas, feelings, or information so they are understood (spoken, written, gestural, etc.)

• Core characteristic sample: “It is a process” — continuous flow involving sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback

• Schema mismatch consequences: Different experiences/knowledge → differing interpretations → misunderstandings

• Feedback: Receiver’s response; vital for confirming comprehension & making clarifications

Numerical & List References (Presented in LaTeX)

Connections to Prior Knowledge / Real-World Relevance

• Links to basic Shannon–Weaver model (though not named) via sender-channel-receiver paradigm

• Example scenarios replicate real classroom interactions, online messaging pitfalls, and intercultural workplace dynamics

• Storytelling and emoji activities mirror real social media practices, showing theory–practice alignment