Communication Skills ENG2024/2013

CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Human Communication

Concept
Communication
Process
Source
Receiver
Message

Channel
Feedback
Code
Verbal codes
Nonverbal codes

Encoding
Decoding
Noise
Physical noise
Physiological noise
Psychological noise

Semantic noise

Communication begins
with self
Communication involves
others
Communication has a
content and relational
dimension
Communication involves

Definition
The process by which individuals convey information
to each other to generate meaning.
Communication is a combination of different
activities to generate meaning.
The initiator of a message.
The intended target of a message.
The verbal and nonverbal form of the idea, thought,
or feeling that the source wishes to communicate to
another person or group of people.
The means by which a message moves from the
source to the receiver of the message.
The receivers verbal and nonverbal response to the
sources message.
A systematic arrangement of signals to create
meanings in the mind of another person or people.
Consists of symbols and their grammatical
arrangement.
All symbols that are not words, including bodily
movements, the use of space and time, clothing and
adornments, and sounds other than words.
The process of translating an idea or thought into
code.
The process of assigning meaning to an idea or
thought that has been received.
The interference that occurs to disrupt or influence
the smooth flow if interchange in communication.
Factors outside the receiver that make it difficult to
hear.
Biological factors in the receiver or sender that
interfere with accurate reception.
Forces within a communicator that interfere with the
ability to express or understand a message
accurately (mental factors).
Message that is distorted due to ambiguity in words,
sentences or symbols used in the transmission of
the message.
Our background, experiences and life that affect
how we communicate with others.
The consideration that we give when we interact
with people or machines
When speaking there is an understanding between
the people that the exchange of information is
relevant and the need to recognise different levels
of perceived authority between them.
About the multiple aspects of the message: verbal,
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choices

Communication quantity
does not increase
quality
Communication is
pervasive
Communication cannot
be reversed

Meaning rests in People,

not words

No single person or
event causes anothers
reaction
Context
Intrapersonal
Communication
Interpersonal
Communication
Dyadic communication
Small group
Communication
Public Communication

Mass Communication

Digitally mediated
communication
Media convergence

Technological
convergence
Communicative
competence
Empathy

nonverbal, relationship between speakers, channel

and etc. Any change in any one of the variables will
affect the communication process.
Just because people can speak for a long time does
not mean that they are necessarily getting their
message across.
It cannot be avoided. Our whole cognitive
processing is designed to convey messages, even if
this is just speaking to yourself.
Once is message is passed it cannot be undone.
The content may be forgotten over time, but
whatever is communicated consciously or
unconsciously influences the exchange of
information.
Understanding of what people communicate is
subjective and dependent upon the interlocutors
perceptions, background and understanding of
language.
Every attempt at communication includes elements
and factors over and above the actual conversation.
A set of circumstances or situation in which
exchanges of information take place.
The process of generating messages and ideas
within yourself in your own mind.
Communication that involves one or more persons
where information is exchanged.
Communication between two people or parties.
The process of exchanging information amongst a
small number of people.
The process of using messages to generate meaning
in a situation in which a single speaker transmits a
message to a number of receivers.
The process of using messages to generate
meanings in a mediated system, between a source
and a large number of unseen receivers.
Any form of communication that is conducted
through new communication technology.
The way in which broadcasting, publishing and
digital communication combine to achieve
communication.
The focuses on the way that electrical devices
influence the effective exchange of information
between people.
The ability to exchange information in a reliable and
effective way through a common system of symbols,
signs or behaviour.
The value of taking the others perspective and
understand the other persons point of view.
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Cognitive complexity
Self-monitoring

Dialogue
Ethics

Meaning
Metaphors
Communication does
not always require
complete
understandingSocial rituals

Many attempts to
influence others
Deliberate ambiguity
and deception
Communication is
complicated
Communication cannot
be repeated

The ability to construct a variety of frameworks for

viewing an issue.
The ability to separate a part of their consciousness
and observe their behaviour from a detached
viewpoint.
The act of taking part in a conversation, discussion
or negotiation.
The understanding that communication is in
accordance with the interlocutors code of civility,
politeness, honesty etc.
This is the understanding that is perceived when a
message has been received.
A means of understanding the meaning of
something in terms of describing it as another.
It is not always necessary for persons
communicating to be able to comprehend the entire
message.
Different habits which may be connected to
upbringing which may be a part of the
communication process.
The process of trying to convey your message
through repetition and contributing extra
information.
While there may be an ethical code for clarity and
honesty, this can obviously be broken so as to
convey a false meaning.
So many different factors in any communication
that a simple message may be formulated from
hundreds of different influences.
It is virtually impossible to replicate the exact
circumstances, including tone and nonverbal signals
in subsequent interaction.

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CHAPTER : Perception, Self and Communication

Concept
Perception

Active perception
Subjective perception
Identity factors

Gender identity
Temporal condition

Perceptual Constancy
Roles
Present feelings and
circumstances
Co-culture
Selection
Selective attention

Selective exposure

Selective perception
Selective retention

Organisation
Figure
Ground
Closure

Proximity
Similarity

Definition
The process of using the senses to acquire
information about the surrounding environment or
situation
Means that your mind selects, organizes, and
interprets that which you sense.
Your uniquely constructed meaning attributed to
sensed stimuli
You are not identical to anyone else as people differ
from each other in terms of biological sex, gender,
height, weight, body type, ableness, and ethnicity
that make up an individuals identity.
How you feel about and express your gender
A temporary condition such as headache, fatigue, or
a pulled muscle and hunger which may affect ones
perception.
The idea that your past experiences lead you to see
the world in a way that it is difficult to change.
The part an individual plays in a group; an
individuals function or expected behaviour.
How you feel at the moment affects your
perceptions and influences your communication with
others.
A group whose beliefs or behaviours distinguish it
from the larger culture of which it is a part.
You neglect some stimuli and focus on others
The tendency, when you expose yourself to
information and ideas, you focus on certain cues
and ignore others.
The tendency to expose yourself to information that
reinforces, rather than contradicts, your beliefs or
opinions.
The tendency to see, hear and believe only what
you want to see, hear and believe.
The tendency to remember better the things that
reinforce your beliefs rather than those that oppose
them.
The grouping of Stimuli into meaningful units or
wholes
This is the focal point of your attention.
The background against which your focussed
attention occurs.
The tendency to fill in missing information in order
to complete an otherwise incomplete figure or
statement.
Objects or information that are close to each other
will be perceived as a unit or group.
Ideas and elements are grouped together because
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Interpretation
Interpretative
perception
Relational satisfaction

Degree of involvement

Personal past
experience
Expectations
Social roles
Knowledge of others

Stereotyping
Prejudice

First impression
Clinging onto inaccurate
first impression

Self-serving bias

Focus more on negative

impressions instead of
positive ones
Influenced by what is
most obvious: Intense
factor
Influenced by what is
most obvious:
Repetitious factor
Influenced by what is
most obvious:
Contrastive factor
Influenced by what is
most obvious: Motive
Assume that others are
similar to us.

they resemble each other / share attributes.

The assignment of meaning to stimuli
Perception that involves a blend of internal states
and external stimuli
The behaviour that seems positive when you are in
a satisfying relationship might seem completely
different when the relationship isnt going well.
We sometimes view people with whom we have
relationship more favourably than those whom we
observe from a detached perspective
Same as perceptual constancy
The anticipation that you have might shape your
interpretations
The part you play in various social contexts
Your knowledge about another persons situation will
help you to interpret his behaviour differently than
you would if you were unaware of what had
happened
Making a hasty generalization about a group based
on a judgment about an individual from that group.
An unfavourable prejudgment that we make about
an individual because of his/her membership in a
stereotyped group.
An initial opinion about people upon meeting them
When the labels we attach are inaccurate, because
after we form an opinion of someone, we tend to
hang on to it and make any conflicting information
fit our image.
We often judge ourselves more charitably than we
judge others in which the outcome is always
favourable to our situation
Favour / focus more on negative impressions instead
of positive ones
The most glaring attributes (loud music, bright
colours)
Happens a few times (dripping faucets, persistent
people)
Acting differently than they always do (a normally
happy person who acts grumpy or vice versa).
The factors that determine what information we
select from our environment. ( the motives drives
the action and interpretation)
People commonly imagine that others possess the
same attitudes and motives that they do.
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Perception Checking
Step 1: Description of
observed behaviour
Step 2: Suggest TWO
possible interpretations
Step 3: Seek
Clarification
Empathy
Perspective taking
Emotion
Concern
Identity management

Symbolic interactionism

A process of describing, interpreting, and verifying

that helps us understand another person and his or
her message more accurately

The ability to re-create another persons perspective

to experience the world from others point of view.
to take on viewpoint of other person
to experience the feelings of other people
to genuinely care for other persons well-being
l) The control (or lack of control of the
communication of information through a
performance.
Refers to the process of development of the self
through the messages and feedback received from
others.

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CHAPTER 3: Language and Meaning

Concept
Language

Decode
Semantics
Syntax
Encode
Pragmatics
Phatic communication

Culture

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Denotative meaning
Connotative meaning
Slang

Clich
Euphemism
Profanity
Jargon
Regionalisms
Gender-biased language
Racist language
Heterosexist language
Ageist language
Equivocal words

Definition
A system of symbols, letters, or words with arbitrary
meanings that are governed by rules and used to
communicate.
Assign meaning to words in order to translate them
into thoughts of your own.
The study of the way humans use language to
evoke meaning in others
Is the way in which words are arrange to form
phrases and sentences.
The process of translating thoughts and ideas into
words.
The study of language as it is used in a social
context, including its effect on the communicators.
Communication that is used to establish a mood of
sociability rather than to communicate information
or ideas..
The socially transmitted behaviour patterns, beliefs,
attitudes, and values of a particular period, class or
community.
Our perception of reality is determined by our
thought process and this is determined by our
language.
The meaning of a word, which is usually found in a
dictionary.
An individual or personal meaning that may be
emotionally laden.
Is a specialised language of a group of people who
share a common interest or belong to a similar
culture.
An expression that has lost originality and force
through overuse.
A more polite, pleasant expression used in place of
a socially unacceptable form.
This is language is disrespectful of things sacred.
The technical language developed by a professional
group such as medics, engineers, accountants etc.
Words and phrases specific to a particular region or
part of the country.
Language that privileges a certain gender over
another.
Language that insults a group because of its skin
colour or ethnicity.
This is language that implies that everyone is
heterosexual.
Language that denigrates people for being old or
young.
Words that have more than one correct dictionary
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Relative words
Descriptiveness

Paraphrasing
Operational definition
Concrete language
Dating

Frozen evaluation
Indexing

Cultural competence

Doublespeak
Sexist language
Colloquialisms

definition.
Words that gain their meaning by comparison.
The practice of describing observed behaviour or
phenomena instead of offering personal reactions or
judgments.
Restating another persons message by rephrasing
the content or intent of the message.
To reveal the meaning of something by showing how
it works or it is made of, or what it consists of.
Words or statements that are specific rather than
abstract or vague.
This is specifying when you made an observation,
which is necessary because everything changes
over time.
Where you do not allow your assessment or
understanding of a concept to change.
Identifying the uniqueness of objects, events and
people.
The ability of individuals and systems to respond
respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures,
classes, races etc.
Language that is purposefully constructed to
disguise its actual meaning.
This is language that excludes individuals on the
basis of gender.
words and phrases used informally. Sometimes
they can be unclear, particularly to a non-native
speaker of the language.

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CHAPTER 4: Nonverbal Communication

Concept
Nonverbal
communication
Repeating
Emphasizing
Complementing

Contradiction
Substituting
Regulating
Nonverbal codes

Kinesics
Emblems
Illustrators
Affect displays
Regulators
Adaptors
Proxemics
Chronemics
Tactile communication
Paralinguistic features
Vocal cues
Pitch
Rate
Inflection
Volume
Quality
Nonword sounds

Definition
The process of using wordless messages to
generate meaning.
Sending the same message both verbally and
nonverbally
The use of nonverbal cues to strengthen the
message
Using nonverbal and verbal codes to add meaning
to each other and to expand the meaning of either
message alone.
Sending verbal and nonverbal messages that
conflict
When nonverbal codes are used instead of the
verbal.
Nonverbal codes are used to monitor and control
interactions with others.
Are codes of communication consisting of symbols
that are not words and can include non-word
vocalisations.
The study of body movement, including posture ,
gestures, and facial expressions..
Nonverbal movements that substitute for words and
phrases.
Nonverbal movements that accompany or reinforce
verbal messages.
Nonverbal movements of the face and body used to
show emotion.
Nonverbal movements that control the flow or pace
of communication
Nonverbal movements that are performed
unconsciously and usually show the real emotion.
The study of space and how it affects
communication
Refers to the way that people organise and use time
differently to compose their messages.
The use of touch in communication.
The non-word sounds and non-word characteristics
of language such as pitch, volume, rate and quality.
All of the oral aspects of sound, except the words
themselves.
The highness or lowness of your voice.
How rapidly or slowly you speak.
The variety or changes in pitch.
The loudness and softness of the voice
The unique resonance of the voice, such as
huskiness, nasality, raspiness or whininess
Sound like mmh, huh and ahh, as well as the
pauses of the absence of sounds used for effect.
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Pronunciation
Articulation
Enunciation
Silence
Objects
Artifacts

Saying a word correctly

Coordinating ones mouth, tongue and teeth to
make words understandable to others
Combining pronunciation and articulation to produce
a word with clarity and distinction.
The lack of sound
Refers to the study of the human use of clothing and
other artefacts as nonverbal codes.
Objects or decoration which are visible such as
jewellery, bags, glasses etc, which hold
communicative potential.

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