CHAPTER 1

The Communication
Process and
Its Components
OBJECTIVES
01

02

03

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05
 LESSON 1
The Communication Process and Its
Components
 As the process of sharing meaning in any context. In
addition, Wood (2003), in her book Communication in
our Lives, defined communication as systematic process
in which people interact with and through symbols to
create and interpret meanings.
Figure 1. Communication Process

Communication is a process.
This process includes context,
participants, messages,
channel, presence or absence
of noise, and feedback.
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04
Context
01
Context is the setting in which
communication occurs. This could
02 be physical, social, historical,
cultural, or psychological.
03
Physical Context refers to where
communication takes place.
Temperature, lightning, noise level
are factors that affect the
communication process.
Social Context is the relationship
that exist between and among
participants. We communicate
with our friends, family,
workmates or strangers. For
instance, we communicate
differently with our parents or
siblings at home and this changes
when we talk to our professor or
classmates
Historical Context is the
background provided by the
previous communication between
the participants that influences
understanding of the current
encounter
Psychological Context includes
the moods and feelings each
person brings to the
communication
Cultural Context includes beliefs,
values, norms, that are shared by a
large group of people (Lusting and
Koester, 1993 in Verderber, 1999).
Participants

Participants are the people

communicating-the sender and the
receiver. As sender, we form
messages and send them through
different means. The receiver
processes the message and reacts
to them
Message

Communication takes place

through sending and receiving of
messages. Messages are encoded
or decoded information in a
communication process.
Channel

During communication, the message is

carried through a channel. A channel,
according to Verderber (1999), is both
a route traveled by the message and
the means of transportation. Messages
are transmitted through sensory
channels. Face-to-face communication
has two basic channel: sound (verbal
symbols) and light (non-verbal cues).
Noise

Noise is anything that interferes

with communication. It can be:
External Noises are sights, sounds
and other stimuli in the
environment that draw people’s
attention away from what is being
said. For instance, your professor is
giving instructions for a class
activity but your attention is on the
student outside the classroom
laughing out loud
Internal Noises are thoughts and
feelings that intervene with the
communication process. For
instance, day dreaming in class
Semantic Noises are unintended
meaning aroused by certain
symbols that prevent
comprehension.
Feedback

Responses to message are called

feedback. Feedback shows how the
message sent is heard, seen, and
understood. If the transmission of the
message is not successful, the sender
may find other ways doing so. The re-
encoded message is also feedback
because it gives meaning to the original
receiver’s response. Feedback improves
communication
Lesson 2. Levels of Communication

Verbal communication encompasses

any form of communication involving
words, spoken, written, or signed
Non-verbal communication includes
body language, such as gesture, facial
expression, eye contact, and posture.
Touch is a non-verbal communication
that not only indicates a person’s
feelings or level of comfort, but
illustrates personality characteristics
as well.
Intrapersonal communication
occurs within the person, this is
sometimes referred to as cognitive or
personal communication or “self-talk.”
Activities such as thought-processing
and decision-making are
intrapersonal communication.
Interpersonal communication refers
to communication that occurs
between two persons who establish a
communicative relationship.
Interviews, small group discussion
and conversation are forms of
interpersonal communication
Public communication is a speaker
sending message to an audience. It
could be a direct, face-to-face message
delivery of a speaker to an audience,
or it could indirect, using radio or
television.
Lesson 3. Function of Communication

01
We communicate to meet needs.

02 We communicate to enhance or
maintain our sense of self.

03 We communicate to fulfill social

obligations.
04
Communicate to develop relationship.

05
Communicate to exchange information.

06
Communicate to influence others.
Lesson 4. Principles of Communication

01
Communication is purposive.

02
Communication is continuous.

03 Communication messages vary in

conscious encoding.
04
Communication is relational.

05
Communication has ethical implications.

06
Communication is learned.
Lesson 5. Communication Ethics

01 Speaks with sincerity,

02 Does not knowingly expose an audience to

falsehood or half-truths that can cause
significant harm,
03
Does not premeditatedly alter the truth’

04
Presents the truth as she or he understand it,
05 Raises the listeners level of expertise by
supplying the necessary facts,
06 Employs message that is free from mental as
well as physical coercion,

07
Does not invent or fabricate information,

08
Gives credit to the source of information.