THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE

- Medium for communication

- Is a unique and innate capacity of human.
Facts!!
All languages have a grammar system
Change happens to all languages
The first language that a child acquires is called the mother tongue.
Not all living creatures have the capacity for language only human beings.
All living creatures can communicate.
Two persons who do not speak the same language will able to communicate with each other.
Requirements of Language
 Grammar- a system of rule
 Vocabulary- lexicon
 Phonology- a system of sounds

ACQUIRE
o Naturally LEARN
o Unconsciously
o Formally
o Mother-Tongue
o Intentionally
o First Language
o Consciously
o Second Language
o The need for you to learn
Speech Community- people share the same set of rules in the language system.
Language Acquisition- the process of acquiring a language while growing up.
Language Contact
- exposure to other languages
- The result of language contact is a language change.
- Factors:
o Migration- transferring to other places.
Fundamental Characteristics
1. Symbolic- representation
2. Dynamic- changes from time to time
3. Learned- master the language
4. Arbitrary- unique/different word used from other language
5. Systematic- has certain rules to follow
 TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
Communication
- Defined as the exchange of thoughts, ideas, concepts, and views between or among two or more people.
Context
- The circumstance or environment in which communication takes place.
Types of Communication
 Mode
 Context
 Purpose and Style
Communication Mode
 Verbal
These two cannot be separated because verbal and non-verbal are needed for
effective communication.
 Non-verbal
 Visual- uses images to transfer messages or information.
o Examples:
 Symbols, signs, charts, diagram, maps, graphs, imagery, photos, pictograms, illustrations,
drawings and electronic communication.
 Electronic Communication- symbols or images include the emoticons, emojis, and
animation to impart the writer’s emotions or explain the intent of the message sender.
Communication Context
 Intrapersonal Communication
o Intra- means within or inside.
o communication talking to oneself.
o Some label it as dialogue, inner monologue, or self-talk.
o Psychologists use other names for it such as:
 Self-statement
 Self-verbalization
 Interpersonal Communication
o Inter- means between, among, and together.
o Interpersonal- it is meant to establish or deepen one’s relationship with others or maintain social
relationships.
o Transactional- it is to achieve or resolve something at the end of the conversation.
 Extended Communication
o It involves the use of electronic media.
o Examples:
 Tele, audio, phone conferencing, video conferencing, skype calls and other technological
means.
 Organizational Communication
o Is a communication plays in organizational context.
o Types of Organizational Structure:
  Formal- communication takes place via designated channels of message flow between
positions in an organization.
Four Approaches:
 Downward Communication
o From upper to lower positions
 Upward Communication
o Bottom to up
 Horizontal Communication
o Lateral approach
o People from the same level but from different departments
 Crosswise Communication
o Diagonal in nature
o Employees from different departments that work at various levels.
 Informal- unofficial channels of message flow.
o “grapevine” is a downside of horizontal communication.
 Intercultural Communication
o Is a communication between or among people having different linguistic, religious, social, and
professional backgrounds.
Communication Purpose and Style
 Formal Communication- employs formal language that is delivered either orally or in written form.
o The main objective is to inform, entertain and persuade.
o Example:
 Lectures, research, project proposals, public talks/speeches, business letters, and reports.
 Informal Communication- it involves personal and usual conversations
o The purpose is to socialize and deepen relationships.

COMMUNICATION PROCESSES, PRINCIPLES, AND ETHICS

Communication Model
- Will help you understand how a communication process works.
Four Conceptual Models
Aristotle’s Model
Laswell’s Model
Shannon-Weaver’s Model
David Berlo’s Model of Communication
Aristotle’s Communication Model
- The speaker is the most important variable in his communication model.

Speaker Speech Audience

Laswell’s Communication Model
- Focused on 5 W’s
 Who
 What
 Which
 Whom
 What effect
- This model is the same as that of Aristotle, but there are 2 variables added and these are:
 Medium
 Effect

Who What Which Whom What

Communicator Message Medium Reciever Effect

Shannon-Weaver’s Communication Model

- Claude Elwood Shannon and Warren Weaver’s Model that was introduced in 1949.

Information Source Transmitter Reception Destination

Sender Encoder Channel Decoder Reciever

Noise

Feedback

Berlo’s Communication Model

- It is called SMCRN.
 S- sender
 M- message
 C- channel
 R- receiver
 N- noise

Source Message Channel Receiver

Content Hearing
Communication Skills Communication Skills
Elements Seeing
Attitudes Attitudes
Treatment Touching
Knowledge Knowledge
Structure Smelling
Culture Culture
Code Tasting
General Principles of Effective Communication
1. Know your topic
2. Know your purpose
3. Adjust your speech or writing to the context of the situation
4. Know your audience
Principles of Effective Oral Communication
1. Have a clear purpose
2. Deliver a complete message
3. Aim for conciseness
4. Deliver your message in the most natural way as possible
5. Have a specific and timely feedback
7 C’s
1. Clear
2. Concise
3. Concrete
4. Correct
5. Coherent
6. Complete
7. Courteous
Ethics of Communication
 Morals influence the behavior of an individual, group, or organization thereby affecting their
communication.
 Behavior should be regulated by honesty, truthfulness, sincerity, and moral uprightness

FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
Communication Mode
- A channel through which one expresses his/her communicative intent.
- Views or feelings can be communicated through;
 face-to-face interaction
 The common mode
 Informal or casual conversation with two or more people
 Video- cameras used so that two or more people who cannot interact face-to-face interaction
can communicate.
 Audio- transmitted sound