Introduction to Human Communication

1. ENG 2013 COMMUNICATION SKILLS
CHAPTER 1:
Human Communication
• Definition of Communication
• Components of
Communication
• Communication Contexts
• Communication Principles
• Communication Competence
• Characteristics of Competent
Communicators

2. What is COMMUNICATION?
The process of
using messages to
generate meaning
(Pearson et al., 2013)

3. Communication is a process
1)an ongoing activity;
2)an exchange or a set of behaviours;
3)transactional; and
4)might involve personal history that
contributes to interpretation of
meaning

4. Communication is symbolic
1)Symbols (verbal and non-verbal symbols,
signs and behaviours) are used to represent
ideas.
2)Symbols are chosen and agreed upon
arbitrarily for message to be clear.
3)Can be ambiguous / misinterpreted

5. Scenario 1
A boy is looking out of the window when his
teacher is teaching.
Message sent:
Symbols used:
• The boy is not paying attention.
• He is bored
• He is thinking about something in his mind
- He is looking out of the window
- His facial expression shows that he is not
interested in the lesson
- He does not make eye contact to anyone
in the classroom

6. Analysing the scenarios
•Read the given scenarios.
•Answer the given questions.
•Write your answers on Socrative
•Complete the activity within 10 minutes.

7. Scenario 2
Ms. Travis is a senior manager at my office. She
is always well and neatly dressed to work. Also,
she often wears black formal suits.
Message sent:
Symbols used:

8. Scenario 3
Two people are on a date. It has been
hours, but they are not talking to each
other.
Message sent:
Symbols used:

9. Components of Communication
• People
• Message
• Channel
• Feedback
• Code
• Encoding & Decoding
• Situation
• Noise
(Pearson et al., 2013)

10. Components of Communication
1. People
As a source – initiate message
As a receiver – the intended target of the message
2. Message
Verbal or non verbal form of ideas, thought, or feeling
that the source wishes to communicate to the
receiver(s)

11. Components of Communication
3. Channel
The means by which a message moves from source to
the receiver of the message.
4. Feedback
Receiver’s verbal or non verbal response to the
source’s message

12. Components of Communication
5. Code
A systematic arrangement of symbols used to create
meaning in the mind of a person(s)
6. Encoding & Decoding
Encoding: the process of translating an idea or thought into
a code.
Decoding: the process of assigning meaning to that a idea
or thought.

13. COMMUNICATION
Meaning can only be understood if communicators can
obtain common meaning for the verbal and non-
verbal symbols used.

16. Pair discussion
• Task: You have received this
cake from your best friend.
• Use the Encoding & Decoding
Model to explain what went
wrong in the communication
when the cake was being
purchased.

18. Components of Communication
7. Noise
Any interference in the encoding and
decoding processes that reduces
message clarity.
Physical
Physiological
Semantic
Psychological

19. Physical Noise
A distraction in the form of external environment
(actual sounds, sights, etc. in the surroundings)
Loud
sounds
Distracting
sights
Proximity
A piece of
food
between
front teeth

20. Physiological Noise
A distraction in the form of biological factors
(pain, discomfort within us that distracts us)
headache
toothache
fatigue
Illness

21. Psychological Noise
A form of mental distraction (the wandering of the mind;
emotions about deliverer or message)
Worrying
about bills
Day dream
about a
loved one
Thinking
about lunch
during
lectures

22. Semantic Noise
Ambiguity (complexity of meaning that confuses) in
words, sentences or symbols that hinders the transmission
of the message
Jargon
Double
meaning
words

23. Components of Communication
8. Situation
The location where the communication takes place (refer to
Communication Context Notes)
Type of situation
Channel
Relationship
between people
influence Overall TONE
of interaction

24. Communication Contexts
1) INTRAPERSONAL communication
2) INTERPERSONAL communication
 DYADIC communication
 SMALL GROUP communication
3) PUBLIC communication
4) MASS communication
5) DIGITALLY MEDIATED communication
(Adler & Rodman, 2006; Pearson et al., 2013)

25. Communication Contexts
• Intrapersonal Communication
- The process of using messages to generate meaning within the
self
(i.e: arguing with yourself in making decision to accept or decline
a request, resolving internal conflict, planning for the future)
• Interpersonal Communication
- The process of using messages to generate meaning between at
least two people in a situation that allows mutual opportunities
for both speaking and listening.

26. Communication Contexts
• Dyadic Communication
- the interaction between a pair of individuals.
• Small Group Communication
- The process of using messages to generate meaning in a small group of
people
(i.e: families, a group of colleagues, study groups)

27. Communication Contexts
• Public Communication
- The process of using messages to generate meaning in a
situation in which a single speaker transmits a message to a
number of receivers, who give non-verbal or sometimes
feedbacks.
(i.e: lectures, presentation in class, stand-up comedy)
• Mass Communication
- The process of using messages to generate meaning in a
mediated system (electronic / print media) between a source
and a large number of unseen receivers.
(i.e: Twitter, YouTube, newspaper, televisions, weblogs)

28. Communication Contexts
• Digitally Mediated Communication (DMC)
- A form of communication that is conducted and shared
through communication networks
(i.e: email messages, online discussion group threads,
Snapchat, Whatsapp, Facebook messages)
- Messages can be delivered and received synchronously (occurring at
the same time, immediately) or asynchronously (not at the same time,
substantial delay in interaction)

29. Comparing the Contexts
CONTEXTS Intrapersonal
Comm
Interpersonal
Comm
Public
Comm
Mass
Comm
Computer-
Mediated Comm
Number of People
Engaged? 1 2 – 10+ 10 – 100’s
100o’s -
millions
2 –
billions
Intimate or Formal? Totally
intimate
Usually
Intimate
Usually
Formal
Usually
Formal
From Intimate
to Formal
Opportunity for
Feedback?
Constant
Feedback
Usually
Constant
Not
much
Almost
None
From Constant
to None
Is Message Scripted? None Not
Usually
Almost
Always
Usually From None to
Totally
Role of Deliverer and
Receiver?
No
Roles
Alternating
Casually
Mostly
One Sided
Mostly
One Sided
From
Alternating to
One Sided

30. Communication Principles
1) Communication begins with self.
2) Communication involves others.
3) Communication has a content and a relational dimension.
4) Communication involves choices.
5) Communication quantity does not increase communication quality.
6) Communication is pervasive.
7) Communication cannot be reversed.
8) No one single event or person leads to another’s reaction
9) Meanings rest in people, not words.
(Adler & Rodman, 2006; Pearson et al., 2013)

31. How you see yourself can make a great difference in how you communicate
1. Communication begins with self.
Life
Experiences
Values
Biological/
Mental
State
Cultural
background
Belief
system
Socio-
economic
background
Self-
concept/
Self-esteem

32. One learns to accept roles in response to other’s expectations
2. Communication involves others.
Life
Experiences Values
Biological/
Mental State
Cultural
background
Belief
system
Socio-
economic
background
Self-
concept/
Self-esteem
Perceptions
/ Prejudices

33. The content of the message describes the behaviour that is expected
3. Communication has a content and a relational dimension.
See me after the
meeting.
Content
message
Expected
behavioural
response
Relational
message
How the message
should be
interpreted?
Can you come to my office
after the meeting?

34. 4. Communication involves choices
Message
Aspects
Characteristics
of the
Speakers
Non-verbal
Behavioural
Aspects
Verbal
Relationship
between
Speakers
Characteristics
of the
Audience
Transmission
Channel
Used
The
contexts
A change in any of the variables affect the entire communication process

36. 5. Communication quantity does not increase quality
GREATER
amount of communication
DO NOT necessarily lead to
more accurate and shared meaning
Disagreement Deeper into
conflict
Very poor
listening /
empathy skills
Misunderstanding

37. 6. Communication is pervasive
COMMUNICATION
occurs all the time
If you’re not communicating with yourself, you
CONSTANTLY observing others and drawing inferences
from their be (even if others did not intend messages
for you)

38. 7. Communication cannot be reversed.
• Once words are uttered, they cannot be taken back/
they cannot be erased.
• Even when one’s hurtful
comments are forgiven,
often the damage is done/
comment lingers in the mind
of the other person.

39. 8. No one single person or event causes another’s reaction
When
Jim joked
with
Helena,
she
shouted
back at
him
Helena was
scolded for
handing in
her work
late
Helena had a
small
accident on
the way to
college
Helena
woke up
late
Helena stayed
up late to
complete her
assignment
Jim has
trouble
reading
others’
body
language
In the past,
Helena was
often
receptive of
Jim’s jokes
Jim’s jovial, playful
behavior is often
tolerated by
everyone including
his family members.

40. 9. Meanings rest in people, not words
June : I want to buy a car… A cheap one…
Leeza : Around RM10-20,000?
June : No (looks surprised). I think around
RM100-120,000..
Leeza : ??
• People assign personalized meanings to words.
(connotative meaning)
• Even though words have denotative meaning (meaning
that is formally assigned (i.e., meaning in dictionary), we
assign different meanings to words.
• Example:

41. Communication Competence
The ability to effectively exchange meaning through a common system of
symbols or behaviours which enhance or maintain the relationship.
(Pearson et al., 2013)
There is no “ideal” way to
communicate
Competence is situational
Competence is relational
Competence can be learned
• Many types of communication styles
• The effectiveness of different types of
communication styles depends on the context
• Cannot assume a person has / lacks competence.
• Judged based on degrees or areas
• Behavioural that is competent in one relationship is
not necessarily competent in another.
• Factors like maturity, education and training can
boost a person’s competence

42. Characteristics of competent communicator
• A wide range of behaviours
When faced with potential conflict, competent communicators
can choose their actions from a range of behaviours.
• Ability to choose the most appropriate behaviour
- Choose a strategy that works best in a given situation. What
work for one person may not work for another
• Skill at performing the behaviour
The ability to put the skills into practice effectively

43. Characteristics of competent communicator
• Empathy / perspective taking
- The ability to understand the other party’s point of view
• Cognitive complexity
- The ability to construct with a variety of frameworks for viewing
an issue
- Ability to analyse the behaviour of others
• Self – monitoring
- The ability to pay close attention to one’s behaviour and
use these observations to shape the way one behaves

44. What have we learned in this topic?
1. Define COMMUNICATION.
2. Name and describe TWO (2) COMPONENTS of COMMUNICATION?
3. Name the 4 types of NOISE? Describe each with example
4. What is COMMUNICATION CONTEXT?
Describe ONE (1) of them with an example

45. References
•Adler, R. B. & Rodman, G. 2006. Understanding
Human Communication. 9th Ed. Oxford: Oxford
University Press
•De Vito, J. A. 2014. Human Communication. The Basic
Course. 12th Ed. Essex: Pearson
•Pearson et al., 2013. Human Communication. 6th Ed.
Singapore: McGraw Hill