Purposive Communication

Handout

Communication, Importance and Process

Communication is a human act of sending (verbal or nonverbal, online or offline) and receiving
of messages where interpretations are normally constructed in the process. Communication is a
natural activity of people. We almost engaged in all sorts of communication.
"One cannot communicate"- Watzlawick.
apparently, all human beings are wired for communication activities in one's lifetime.
Studying communication therefore enables us to have a good grasp of this unavoidable human
activity and hopefully makes us good and responsible participants. By being good participants
means that as senders and recivers of messages, a common understanding is achieved, resulting
in a successful communication.

What then is verbal communication?

Purposive communication is an intentional communication that happens within the bounds of
specific contects.

Context- Communication happens in specific contexts. Context includes:

Setting or environment- family, school, workplace, religious communities
Social relations- friends, husband, wife, parent, child, colleague, boss, subordinate.
scenes (place, time and occasion)- business meeting, job interview, social gathering: parties,
wedding etc.)
Culture- history, tradition, beliefs, norms, values.

Context are vital considerations in our communication acts since they aafect the process of
sending and receiving of messages. Communication must be suitable to the specific context
hence should be intentional or purposive.

It is therefore logical to explain purposive communicatio as a communication applied in specific

setting, environment, scene, social relations and culture.

Communication as a Process

Communication is a process whereby people create and transmit meaning through the exchange
of verbal and noverbal messages in a particular context.
Since a communication is a process, it is something continued.
example: an argument that is extended for several momths, an exchange of messages between
officemates.
There are times however that we terminate our communication with someone or a group when
we already lose the purpose or goal in communicating with the participant/s. Nevertheless, even
if one does not anymore consciously make an effort to converse or interact with the other
person, this is still an act of communication as this sends messages such as "I don't want to
associate with you anymore..." or simply" there is no more reason that we should be talking."
Hence, communication may not have a definite end.

The sender uses encoding. He translates what he has in his head to understandable language,
with the intention that the recipient will understand what he means.
Conversely, the recipient tries to ‘crack’ the sender’s message through decoding. He interprets
what he’s seeing and hearing and translates it into thoughts.

Review on the Basic Principles of Communication

"Many can argue-not many can converse."
A. Bronson Alcot

Sender
The sender of the message is highly important element being the source of the idea. As the
sender, it is expected that one possesses the skills required in transmitting messages. The skills
could incluce the ability to use the language that the receiver understands. For instance, it is
inept to use English laguage if your audience is keener in using their local language in a
Philippine or Asian setting. Along with using appropriate language is the applications of
linguistic features such as correct grammar, phonetics (for spoken messages); choice of words or
jargons for an appropriate audience; sentence construction; and discourse competence.

The sender's credibility is of great importance as well. People will more likely reject a message
if the sender is proven to be unreliable. The message will only be as good and valid as its source.

Delivery
In oral communication, this could include:
·0 good voice projection
·1 use of appropriate eye contact
·2 proper articulation of words
·3 emphasis on important words
·4 appropriate intonation

Receiver
They must (have):
·5 Good listening skills- requires one to focus on what is conveyed and as much as
possible eliminate all possible distractions or noises (physical, environmental,
psychological, emotional) that would hinder one from understanding the message.
·6 Good comprehension skills- necessitates sharpness of cognition, which can be
achieved through continuous studies and acquisition of information and knowledge.
·7 listen/read objectively- the receiver's prejudice could possibly affect one's
receptiveness towards the message. For instance, if a receiver dislikes the sender, the
 former would likely be doubtful towards whatever message the latter relays. We should
set aside biases to avoid erroneous interpretations.

Message
For messages to be accurately understood and positively received, the 5C's in communication
maybe followed:

Courtesy -another word for courtesy is politeness.

·8 Usage of polite words and tones means one respects the receiver.
·9 Tact and diplomacy is always appreciated.
·10 Developing the "we" attitude, using positive words instead of negative.
·11 Being considerate of the reciver's feelings
·12 Selecting gender free terms.
·13 Responding promptly to important messages

Clarity - messages which are unclear oftentimes di nit achieve their desired effect.
·14 correct word usage
·15 grammar
·16 pronunciation
·17 sentence construction
·18 delivery

Conciseness - is saying what needs to be done in a few words. Lenghty messages can result in
information overload and overwhelm listeners/readers of messages.
·19 avoid flowery words
·20 the goal is to communicate/express not to impress

Concreteness - refers to being specific.

·21 providing example/evidence makes a message a lot easier to understand.

Completeness- to avoid ambiguity

·22 do not leave out important details
·23 give answer to 5Ws and 1H

The Importance of Feedback

Messages in communication will always have an effect on the receiver. There are messages that
trigger positive reactions and at times negative depending on the kind of message relayed, how it
is communicated and how it is interpreted.
It is therefore important to know the feedback of our audience/s (reader/listener) in order to
make necessary clarifications and revisions of our messages.

Channel
Modern channels - smart phones, tablets, personal computer, laptops
Older channels - telephone, radio, television and printed texts (books, newspaper, magazines,
journal, poster)

The choice of channel may depend on the availability, practicality, and its impact on the receiver.
For instance communicating with our loved ones abroad, using smart phones, tablets, or
computers are deemed practical and convenient. For those living in areas where Internet
connection is unavailable, traditional telephones are still very useful. In acquisition of
information and entertainment, many rely on printed texts. TV has also been a popular channel
for information and entertainment while radio remains popular especially in certain areas of the
provinces.

Barriers in Communication

Physiological Barrier- to communication may result from the receiver’s physical state.
For example, a receiver with reduced hearing may not fully grasp the content of a spoken
conversation especially if there is significant background noise.

Physical Barrier- they are the most obvious barriers to effective communication. These barriers
are mostly easily removable in principle at least. They include barriers like noise, closed doors,
faulty equipment used for communication, closed cabins, etc. An example of a physical barrier to
communication is geographic distance between the sender and receiver(s).
Emotional Barrier- are mental walls that keep you from openly communicating your thoughts
and feelings to others. ... Examples of emotional barriers that prevent individuals from effective
communication include: Anger - Anger can affect the way your brain processes information given
to you.

Mechanical Barrier- stems from a problem in machinery or instruments used to transmit the
message. ... Examples of mechanical communication barriers are noisy communication machines
or instruments, absence of means of communication instruments, transmission interruption and
power failure.

Language Barrier- is the lack of a common language that prevents two or more people from
speaking to or understanding each other through verbal communication. An English-speaking
person traveling in China and encountering people who only speak Chinese could be said to be
facing a language barrier in her efforts to communicate. The Chinese citizens may understand
her gestures for things like "phone" or "water," but in terms of a shared common language, they
have none.

Cultural Barrier- causes behavior and personality differences like body language, thinking,
communication, manners, norms, etc. which leads to miscommunication. For example, in some
cultures eye contact is important whereas in some it is rude and disrespectful. ... Beliefs are also
another cause for cultural barrier.

Nonverbal Communication
Kinesics
Proxemic
Chronemic
Haptic
Environmental
Articfact
Eye Contact
Terretoriality
Appearance
Paralanguage

Communicative Competence
Refers to the linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, strategic proficiency of the sender and the
receiver of the communication.

Linguistic competence- Linguistic skill is a product of being educated and exposed to a

language. Includes the ability of the communicator to use appropriate:
Morphology- words
Syntax- grammar
Phonology- pronunciation
Semantics- meanings
Pragmatics- meaning of utterances in specific context
Sociolinguistic competence- it treats the social aspect of language
One's sociolinguistic competence is demonstrated in the manner that a communication
participant tailor fits his/her utterances for a particular audience/s. For instance, it would be less
appropriate for an engineer to insist on using his/her professional jargons to an audience with a
different occupational background.
Discourse competence- refers to how ideas are linked across sentences (paragraphs, stories,
news, essays etc. ) or utterances (speeches, lecture/talks, sermons etc.) using appropriate
organizational ideas, cohesion and coherence.
Strategic competence- refers to speakers ability to adapt to the use of verbal and nonverbal
language to compensatefor communication problem caused by the speaker's lack of
understanding of proper grammar use and/or insufficient knowledge of social behavior and
communication norm. This communication competence may include the ability to use synonyms
or employing gestures to get the message across.

Ethics in Communication
The term ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, which means custom, habit, character, or
outlook. Although people from different cultures varu in moral philosophies, people in general
expects to be treated with dignity, fairness, respect or with basic courtesy in their
communication encounters.
Ethics in communication can take a universal approach, which can be displayed in several ways
including but not limited to the ff:

1. Adhering to the golden rule or the platinum rule

The golden rule asserts to always treat others in the same way you want to be treated whole
platinum rule according to Bennet (1980) stresses on treating others the way they wish to be
treated.
2. Considering the feelings of the receiver
Humans are not only cognitive but also emotional beings. If you are less careful with our words,
tone and non-verbal gestures, people could be negatively affected.
3. Acknowledging the source of the idea and information
It is unethical and unlawful for someone to convey other people's intellectual property without
recognizing the author's name or organization.
4. Speaking the truth
This is a universal rule. Unfortunately, there are alson those who (for whatever reason) seem to
enjoy propagating falsehood. Take for instance the abundance of fake news or what other calls
alternative facts on the Internet.

Globalization

Drivers of Globalization
Colonization- This marked the beginning of globalization. In the Philippines for instance, history
tells us that the Spaniards, Americans, and the other colonizers have introduced their cultures
(language, food, clothing, beliefs, values, education etc.) to the country, and some of these ways
had been conciously or unconciously adopted by the Philippine society up to this day and age.
Diaspora- This refers to the people's movement and inhabitation in countries outside of their
own. Other scholars calls this migration.
Reasons why people migrate:
·24 Employment opportunities
·25 Education
·26 Intermarriage
·27 Professional advancement
Technologies- have immensely facilitated globalization. With the internet people are no longer
stranger to the events outside of their own country. Exposure to various political, economic and
social systems through the global news, current events and other media publicities have
considerably educated people.

Subculture and Communication Differences

A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.-
Mark twain

Direct and Indirect Communication

Goal is clarity and honesty
words are esential
confortable with confrontation

Millennial Terms
With the advent of social media and texting came an entirey nnew way to communicate. It's a mix
of shorthand, conjoined words, abbreviations, and phrases that came about because of a meme
or even a mistake on social media that people found funny- and useful communicating in a digital
age.
1. Phubbing- it means someone is talking to you while he or she is texting or on a computer. It's a
negative term only because it's impossiblefor most of us to talk and type at the same time.
2. Hundo P-this phrase is pretty obvious is you think about it. It means "a hundred percent" or
that the person using the phrase is supportive and approves.
3. JOMO (Joy of missing out)- means missing something that was lame in the first place.
4. Sorry not sorry- fake apologies are part of the ethos when you are a millennial. You are a little
sorry, but you also want to make fun of the idea of being sincerely apologetic when it is not
deserved.
5. I can't even- it means the speaker is losing patience, is at loss for words, and are pretty
annoyed about something.
6. The struggle is real- when millennials use this phrase at work, it means they are annoyed. They
might use this phrase to let you know there is a tough problem or a real hardship.
7. On fleek- used originally on an Instragram post about eyebrows, being "on fleek" means being
on point. In a business context, it means something was well executed and is worthy of
aknowledgement.
8. Dipset- It means to bail out on something- to leave because something is lame. You might
dipset from a meeting if the topic is boring.
9. Bae- this word has fallen out of favor, it means significant other.
10. V- is common because it adds some emphasis to texting and social media conversations. It
means "very," as in "I'm v excited" about shooting this project. It also means you don't have to
trype three extra letters.
11. Perf- another shortened word, perf means "perfect" and denotes agreement to a cause or
plan.
12. JK- just kidding
13. It me- this is a shortened version of "it's me" is often used as a term of agreemnet and self
identification. This means the person identifies with the topic, but they don't want to explain at
length. It's a quick way to say you can relate to something.
14. P- it's a replacement for pretty (as in "I'm pretty excited")
15. SMH- shaking my head, is used when you agree to someone's comment or opinion.