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1. ORAL COMMUNICATION
IN CONTEXT
FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION

2. • By the end of the lesson, you will have been able to
• explain the nature and process of communication;
• differentiate various models of communication;
• discuss functions of communication;
• distinguish the unique features of one communication process from the other;
• practice effective verbal and nonverbal communication during social interactions;
• explain why there is a breakdown of communication;
• apply strategies in overcoming communication breakdowns;
• practice effective communication skills;
• evaluate the effectiveness of an oral communication;
• practice learning and thinking skills, life skills, and ICT literacy; and
• reflect on your learning on the fundamentals of communication.

3. WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
• Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or
information from one person to another within and across channels,
contexts, media, and cultures (McCornack, 2014). There is a wide
variety of contexts and situations in which communication can be
manifested; it can be a face-to-face interaction, a phone
conversation, a group discussion, a meeting or interview, a letter
correspondence, a class recitation, and many others.

4. NATURE OF COMMUNICATION
• 1. Communication is a process.
• 2. Communication occurs between two or more people
(the speaker and the receiver).
• 3. Communication can be expressed through written or
spoken words, actions (nonverbal), or both spoken words
and nonverbal actions at the same time.

5. ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
• Communication is divided into elements which help us better understand its mechanics or process. These elements are the following:
• 1. Speaker – the source of information or message
• 2. Message – the information, ideas, or thoughts conveyed by the speaker in words or in actions
• 3. Encoding – the process of converting the message into words, actions, or other forms that the speaker understands
• 4. Channel – the medium or the means, such as personal or non-personal, verbal or nonverbal, in which the encoded message is
conveyed
• 5. Decoding – the process of interpreting the encoded message of the speaker by the receiver
• 6. Receiver – the recipient of the message, or someone who decodes the message
• 7. Feedback – the reactions, responses, or information provided by the receiver
• 8. Context – the environment where communication takes place
• 9. Barrier – the factors that affect the flow of communication

6. PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

7. MODELS OF COMMUNICATION
Shannon-Weaver Model
• Known as the mother of all communication models, the Shannon-
Weaver model (1949) depicts communication as a linear or one-
way process consisting of five elements: a source (producer of
message); a transmitter (encoder of message into signals); a
channel (signals adapted for transmission); a receiver (decoder of
message from the signal); and a destination.

9. 2. Transaction Model
• Unlike the Shannon-Weaver Model, which is a one-way process, the Transaction
Model is a two-way process with the inclusion of feedback as one element.

10. FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION
1. Control – Communication functions to control behavior.
2. Social Interaction – Communication allows individuals to interact with
others.
3. Motivation – Communication motivates or encourages people to live
better.
4. Emotional expression – Communication facilitates people’s expression of
their feelings and
emotions.
5. Information dissemination – Communication functions to convey
information.

11. FEATURES OF AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
1. Completeness
Complete communication is essential to the quality of the communication process in
general.
Hence, communication should include everything that the receiver needs to hear for
him/
her to respond, react, or evaluate properly.
2. Conciseness
Conciseness does not mean keeping the message short, but making it direct or straight
to the
point. Insignificant or redundant information should be eliminated from the
communication

12. 3. Consideration
To be effective, the speaker should always consider relevant information about
his/her
receiver such as mood, background, race, preference, education, status, and needs,
among
others. By doing so, he/she can easily build rapport with the audience.
4. Concreteness
Effective communication happens when the message is concrete and supported by
facts,
figures, and real-life examples and situations. In this case, the receiver is more
connected to
the message conveyed.
5. Courtesy
The speaker shows courtesy in communication by respecting the culture, values,

13. 6. Clearness
Clearness in communication implies the use of simple and
specific words to express ideas. It is also achieved when the
speaker focuses only on a single objective in his/her speech
so as not to confuse the audience.
7. Correctness
Correctness in grammar eliminates negative impact on the
audience and increases the
credibility and effectiveness of the message.

14. BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

15. VERBAL AND NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Verbal Communication refers to an interaction in which
words are used to relay a message. For effective and
successful verbal communication, use words to express
ideas which can be easily understood by the person you
are talking to. Consider appropriateness, brevity, clarity,
ethics, and vividness when engaging in this type of
communication.

16. 1. Appropriateness
The language that you use should be appropriate to the
environment or occasion (i.e.,
whether formal or informal).
2. Brevity
Speakers who often use simple yet precise and powerful words
are found to be more credible.
Try to achieve brevity by being more direct with your words.
Avoid fillers and insubstantial
expressions which do not add to the message, such as “uh,” “you
know,” “I guess,” and others.

17. 3. Clarity
The meanings of words, feelings, or ideas may be interpreted differently by a
listener; hence,
it is essential for you to clearly state your message and express your ideas and
feelings.
4. Ethics
Words should be carefully chosen in consideration of the gender, roles, ethnicity,
preferences,
and status of the person or people you are talking to.
5. Vividness
Words that vividly or creatively describe things or feelings usually add color and
spice to
communication. Hence, you are encouraged to find ways to charm your audience
through
the use of vivid words.

18. • Nonverbal communication refers to an interaction where behavior
is used to convey and represent meanings. All kinds of human
responses that are not expressed in words are classified as
nonverbal communication. Examples of nonverbal communication
are stares, smiles, tone of voice, movements, manners of walking,
standing and sitting, appearance, style of attire, attitude towards
time and space, personality, gestures, and others.

19. Mastery of nonverbal communication is important for several reasons:
1. It enhances and emphasizes the message of your speech, thus making it more meaningful,
truthful, and relevant.
2. It can communicate feelings, attitudes, and perceptions without you saying a word.
3. It can sustain the attention of listeners and keep them engaged in the speech.
4. It gives the audience a preview to the type of speaker you are.
5. It makes you appear more dynamic and animated in your delivery.
6. It serves as a channel to release tension and nervousness.
7. It helps make your speech more dramatic.
8. It can build a connection with listeners.
9. It makes you a credible speaker.
10. It helps you vary your speaking style and avoid a monotonous delivery.