The Functions,

Nature and Process

of Communication
After going through this module, you are
expected to:
1. explain the nature and process of
communication;
2. understand the relationship of the
functions of communication to everyday
life; and
3. illustrate the process of
communication.

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 Look at the pictures below. Identify the different
ways of communicating with others.

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• Look at the pictures below. Identify the different
ways of communicating with others.

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 Activity 1
• Relate an experience where a problem
arose because you or someone else did not
communicate
• What happened as a result of the failure to
communicate?
• Did the restoration of communication help
resolve the problem? If so, how?

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 ACTIVITY 2

• How do you feel when someone you know

refuses to talk to you?
• Why do you think communication is an
important need for humans?

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 is what ?
It is a process of exchanging –
Information
Ideas
Thoughts
Feelings
Emotions
Through –
Speech
Signals
Writing
behaviour
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 Communication….
• Is the transmission and reception of
information between a human source
(enconder) and receiver(decoder) using a
signaling system.
• Is stirring up of ideas in the mind of
another.

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 Elements of Communication
• Senders – convey messages by converting
their thoughts into symbols or observable
signals such as words. This is called
codification and is usually done through the
use of language.
• Receivers-hear the signals and convert the
symbols into their thoughts. This is called
decoding or deciphering.
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• Messages- are the ideas or thoughts that
are transmitted from sender to receiver
• They are the result of the interpretation of
symbols, when meaning is derived from
observable signals.

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• Verbal and nonverbal symbols-
symbols are observable signals
transmitted from sender to
receiver.

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• Channel- refers to the medium
through which the message is sent.
They connect the sender and the
receiver.

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The communication process

Communication is the process

of passing information from a
source to a receiver
 Encoding

Encoding is putting thought or

information into words, signs or symbols.
 Encoding

This allows the message to be conveyed

to the receiver.
 Message

• Message – is the information being

transmitted from the sender to the
receiver
 Channel

• Is the medium used to transmit

the message
 Decoding

• Is when the sender interprets the

message and gives it meaning from his/
her perspective
 Feedback

• Is the response given to the

sender from the receiver.
 Feedback

Allows the sender to determine if the

message was received and how
accurately it was received
 Noise

• Anything that disrupts the

communication process for
example language.
 Process of

Sender Encoding

Channel Noise Message

Feedback Barrier
Channel

Decoding
Receiver

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 Performance Task

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 Communication Models
Communication is
classified into two groups:
• Linear
• Interactive
 Linear Model

Here information is transmitted

from sender to receiver via a
channel without the sender
receiving any feedback (See fig 1)
 Linear Model

Example: Talking to a person and

that person is ignoring you
Linear Model
Sender

Message

Receiver
 Interactive Model

• Here there is feedback; it allows

the sender to know that the
message was received.
 Interactive Model

Example: Having a conversation

with someone
 Interactive Model
Noise Message

Encoder Decoder
Sender Receiver
Decoder Encoder
Feedback
 Types of
People communicate with each other in a number of ways
that depend upon the message and its context in which it
is being sent.

Types of communication based on the communication

channels used are –
 Verbal Communication
 Nonverbal Communication

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 Verbal
 It refers to the form of communication
in which message is transmitted
verbally.
 Communication is done by word of
mouth and a piece of writing.
 In verbal communication remember
the acronym “KISS” (keep it short and
simple).
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Verbal Communication is divided
into:
Oral Communication
Written Communication

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 Oral
 In oral communication, Spoken
words are used.
 It includes face-to-face
conversations, speech,
telephonic conversation, video,
radio, television, voice over
internet.
 Communication is influence by
pitch, volume, speed and
clarity of speaking.
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Advantages –
It brings quick feedback.
In a face-to-face conversation, by reading
facial expression and body language one
can guess whether he/she should trust
what’s being said or not.
Disadvantages –
In face-to-face discussion, user is unable to
deeply think about what he is delivering, so
this can be counted as a fault.
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Written

 In written communication,
written signs or symbols are
used to communicate.
 In written
communication message
can be transmitted via email,
letter, report, memo etc.
 Written Communication is most
common form of
communication being used in
business.
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 Advantages –
Messages can be edited and revised
Written communication provide record and backup.
A written message enables receiver to fully
understand it and send appropriate feedback.
Disadvantages –
Written communication doesn’t bring instant
feedback. It take more time in composing a written
message as compared to word-of-mouth and number
of people struggles for writing ability.

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 Nonverbal
• Nonverbal communication
is the sending or receiving
of wordless messages.
Such as gesture, body
language, posture, tone of
voice or facial expressions,
is called nonverbal
communication.
• Nonverbal communication
is all about the body
language of speaker.
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 Levels of
• Intrapersonal Communication is
communication that occurs in your
own mind. It is the basis of your
feelings, biases, prejudices, and
beliefs.
– Examples are when you make
any kind of decision – what to
eat or wear. When you think
about something – what you
want to do on the weekend or
when you think about another
person.
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• Interpersonal communication is the communication
between two people but can involve more in
informal conversations.
– Examples are when you are talking to your friends.
A teacher and student discussing an assignment.
A patient and a doctor discussing a treatment. A
manager and a potential employee during an
interview.
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• Small Group communication is communication within formal
or informal groups or teams. It is group interaction that
results in decision making, problem solving and discussion
within an organization.
– Examples would be a group planning a surprise birthday
party for someone. A team working together on
– a project.

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• One-to-group communication involves a speaker who
seeks to inform, persuade or motivate an audience.
– Examples are a teacher and a class of students. A
preacher and a congregation. A speaker and an
assembly of people in the auditorium.

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• Mass communication is the
electronic or print transmission
of messages to the general
public. Outlets called mass
media include things like radio,
television, film, and printed
materials designed to reach
large audiences.
– A television commercial. A
magazine article. Hearing a song
on the radio. Books, Newspapers,
Billboards. The key is that you are
reaching a large amount of people
without it being face to face.
Feedback is generally delayed with
mass communication.
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 Public Communication
• Involves communicating to a wide group of
people with very varied traits, background,
interests, and persuasions.
• It therefore requires a lot of background
explanation in expressing your ideas..
• It means avoiding specialized language such
as jargon or slang.

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 Intercultural Communication
• Involves communicating with a person or
group of people who may not share the
same assumptions, values, allegiances as
that of yours and may have different
associations with the symbols you take for
granted as having a particular meaning.

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 Barriers of

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 • 2. Perceptual barriers
• 1. Physical barriers

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• 3. Emotional barriers • 4. Cultural barriers

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• 5. Language barriers • 6. Gender barriers

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7. Interpersonal barriers

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 How to Overcome Barriers of

• Taking the receiver more seriously

• Crystal clear message
• Delivering messages skilfully
• Focusing on the receiver
• Using multiple channels to communicate instead of
relying on one channel
• Ensuring appropriate feedback
• Be aware of your own state of mind/emotions/attitude

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Tools of effective

• Be Brief
• Manners
• Using “I”
• Be Positive
• Good listener
• Spice up your words
• Clarity
• Pronunciation
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