COMMUNICATION BASIC CONCEPTS or instructions, still constitutes

communication.
There are various definitions of
communication. They are not all the same, 3. Communication is the transfer of
but they mostly only differ in fairly minor information from one or more people to
ways. The word itself is derived from the one or more other people
Latin verb communicare, which means "to
. The last definition only applies to
share" or "to make common". That
communication between people. This last
derivation provides one half of the English
definition is perfectly satisfactory for our
meaning of communication.
purposes, It implies at least two people –
―Communication, which is etymologically one at each "end" of the process. It can, of
related to both ―communion and course, involve many more than two
community, comes from the Latin people.
communicare, which means ―to make
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
common or ―to share.
Effective communication combines a set of
The other half of the meaning of
skills such as non-verbal communication
communication has to do with information
that involves body language, sign and
and meaning. These are related, but not
symbols where active listening, ability of
identical, concepts. However, in simple
presentations confidently and efficiently to
definitions like the three shown below,
the receivers are another.
information is far more likely to be
mentioned, than meaning. Why is that? It is • Good speaking skills: The need for giving
difficult to do justice to the interaction emphasis on the English - speaking skills is
between information and meaning in a brief of utmost importance in the present
definition. scenario with an objective to make the job
aspirants gainfully employed.
THREE SIMPLE DEFINITIONS
• Good listening skills: Speaking and
1. Communication is the sharing of
Listening are the two sides of a same
information
listening habits. But listening is often a
The first of these three definitions is the neglected skill now a-days. Many studies
simplest, and also the broadest. Because of have also revealed that business people
those qualities, it is also a little nonspecific. spend 45 percent of their working time for
listening. The primary rule that the students
2. Communication is the giving and
remember while listening to someone is to
receiving of messages
listen deeply without any kind of
The second definition reminds us that defensiveness.
information, here called a message, must
• Good writing skills: It is no doubt that
be received, as well as sent, to complete
good writing is a sacred sign. Good writing
the process. For example, a message
skills are very much essential for effective
launched in a bottle might achieve
communication. In this competitive world,
communication, but it also might not.
students should know how to write
Two-way communication is certainly more different formal and informal letters,
common, and is often preferable, but a one- reports, memos and e-mails. In spite of
way delivery of information, such as advice numerous papers written and many
presentations made throughout their
college career, many of these people will gender, values, experiences, and other
not be able to communicate via written traits.
communication. Hence, students of present 
 The sender’s message refers to the
generation must not ignore these important
ideas and feelings encoded. It may be in
skills and with continuous practice and hard
verbal form (words) or nonverbal
work they surely augment writing skills. symbols (paralanguage, including pitch,
tone, and volume; body language,
• Good reading skills: In addition to the
including gestures and facial
above skills, reading is also most important expressions, posture, and eye
language. Quick, efficient, and imaginative movement; physical distance to the
reading techniques are essential in order to receiver, and appearance/clothing).
achieve academic success. It is said that 
today‘s readers are tomorrow‘s leaders. In  The channel, also called medium, is
view of the need to read vast amounts of a vehicle used in message conveyance.
It is based on the form of delivery
materials relating to different fields of
(verbal or nonverbal) and the means
knowledge, students should learn different used in delivering (face-to-face or
reading styles such as - skimming, scanning technology-mediated).
intensive reading and extensive reading and 
also, they must develop a real  The receiver is the decoder or the
recipient of the message who, likewise,
• Body language: Effective communicators has his or her own attributes.
are the people who are good listeners and 
respond verbally and none verbally. All of  Feedback pertains to the verbal or
nonverbal behaviors like the gestures we nonverbal responses to the sender’s
encoded signals. It gives information on
make, the postures, the proper use of tone,
how the message is interpreted.
how we maintain the proxemics, how much 
eye contact and facial expression we make.  Interference or noise relates to the
This is a critical part of the communication factors that hinder the recipient’s ability
process. Various studies show that for only to send or receive messages. Serving as
35% of the message you convey is verbal a barrier to communication, it can
communication and the remaining 65% is be external (physical environment, e.g.,
a loud party)
non-verbal. Hence, students must pay
or internal (psychological/mental
serious attention to the nonverbal cues and interference, e.g., biases and wandering
signals to improve ability to communicate thoughts; physiological, e.g.,
and make it more effective. articulation problem; semantic, e.g.,
jargon and abstract ideas).
ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION: 
 Context is the situation and
As an interdependent process of sending,
environment in which the
receiving, and understanding messages
communication occurs. Its dimensions
(Dunn & Goodnight, 2011), the steps are
are physical (place, e.g., classroom),
interlinked, continuous, and dynamic,
social (pertaining to the occasion and
involving the following elements:
the people involved, e.g., students in a
class), and cultural (attitudes, beliefs,
 The sender is the encoder or the
and the practices of the senders and
source of the message. This entity can
receivers).
be a person, a group of people, or an
organization with their own distinct
characteristics in terms of age, race,
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNICATION Verbal communication is the use of sounds
and words to impart one’s thoughts or
Communication is a two-way process.
feelings. Though the concept encompasses
Main aim of communication is to receive o both vocal (spoken words) and nonvocal
to be receive, retain and understand the (e.g., writing, sign language), the focus is on
message. This process is incomplete until the former.
the response or reaction based on proper
Largely associated with oral
understanding is available. Communication
communication, it has these succeeding five
is an ongoing process. When
functions gleaned from several sources
communication is missing human activity
(Flores, 2016; “Functions of
come to an end.
Communication”, 2016; Nuss, 2014;
• Communication is necessary in all types of Remoral, 2017; & Tenedero, 2016).
organization and at different levels of
Here are the different functions of verbal
management.
communication:
The main purpose of communication is to
1. Regulation (Control) – used to regulate or
create mutual understanding by giving and control another person’s behavior or
receiving information or even persuading or action
influencing others and eliciting actions. Example: A parent who counts one to
three to stop their child from misbehaving.
• Communication consist not only facts but 2. Social Interaction – used to form
ideas and emotions too. relationships with other people
Example: Initiating small talk with a
Communication is much more meaning stranger.
than words, both verbal and nonverbal 3. Motivation – used to express one’s
communication are part and parcel of desire, goal, likes and dislikes, or needs and
effective communication. The pitch, tone wants
and facial expressions often have more Example: Saying, “I will soon travel
around the world.”
persuading ability meaning than words. We
4. Information – used to acquire and share
can communicate a lot through sign, information with others.
symbols and gestures for example a victory Example: Discussing the topic before the
sign made by two fingers communicates exam.
better than words. 5. Emotional Expression – used to express
one’s feelings and emotions
VERBAL AND NONVERBAL Example: Saying, “He really broke my
COMMUNICATION AND THEIR FUNCTIONS heart.”

Every time you send a message, you expect

it to be understood exactly as you intended In contrary to verbal communication,
it to be. If this happens, the process of nonverbal communication uses signs
sharing ideas is successful. However, it does and symbols instead. There are seven (7)
forms of nonverbal communication:
not happen at all times. The
communicators’ choice of communicating 1. To replace – substitute words
ideas, either verbally or nonverbally, affects Example: Raising one’s thumb instead of
the clarity of the message. Knowing more saying, “It’s good.”
about these choices can help one decide on 2. To repeat – duplicate and reinforce one’s
what to use. message
Example: Waving one’s hand while saying
“Hello” or “Goodbye”.
3. To complement – enhance and add evaluating and responding to their
nuance to one’s words messages.
Example: Hugging a person whing saying, “I 2. Help promote communication
miss you.” climates of caring and mutual
4. To accent – add emphasis on the verbal understanding that protect the
intent unique needs and characteristics of
Example: Adding “very” to in the line, “I am individual communicators.
VERY hungry!” 3. Condemn communication that
5. To regulate – control the flow of degrades individuals and humanity
conversations through distortions, intolerance,
Example: Rotating your hand to signal your intimidation, coercion, hatred, or
partner to keep talking. violence.
4. Commit yourself to the courageous
6. To contradict – action contradicts words expression of your personal
Example: Saying “I’m fine” with a grumpy convictions in pursuit of fairness and
face. justice.
7. To deceive – using signals to mislead 5. Accept responsibility for the short-
others term and long-term consequences
Example: Saying “I’m okay” with a smile of your own communication and
even though one is hurt inside. expect the same from others.
6. Avoid plagiarism—the presentation
According to Albert Mehrabian, a of the work of another person in
psychologist known for his pioneering work such a way as to give the impression
on nonverbal communication, when words that the other’s work is your own.
and body language contradict, one is 7. Promote honesty, truthfulness, and
inclined to believe the latter (Belludi, 2008). accuracy as essentials to the
If this takes place, movements or gestures integrity of communication.
may become barriers to a successful
exchange of ideas. Hence, a harmony In brief,  communication is ethical when it
between the verbal and the nonverbal is follows certain established principles or
crucial in attaining effective communication. rules of conduct. These principles promote
respect, harmony, and overall positive well-
Ethical Communication being of the communicator’s relationship
The sender’s message can affect the with others and the society in general.
receiver in a positive or negative way.
Hence, communication ethics are
important.  Ethics pertains to a set of
principles or rules for correct conduct as to
what is right or wrong and what makes
something right or wrong. 
 
Below are the basic principles of ethical
communication (Hybels & Weaver, 2009;
Wood, 2014). The first five are laid down by
the National Communication Association
(NCA), an organization of American
teachers and public speakers. The sixth
principle is echoed by Wood (2014), a
scholar and professor of communication
and gender.

1. Strive to understand and respect

others’ communications before