Oral

Communication
in Context
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Nature, Process, and Functions
of Communication
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature and basics of communication. The scope of this module permits it
to be used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to
correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module is composed of one lesson entitled “The Nature, Process, and
Functions of Communication” covering topics on:
1. Nature of Communication;
2. Process of Communications; and
3. Functions of Communications.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. explain the functions, nature and process of communication:
a. define Communication (EN11/12OC-Ia-1);
b. explain the nature and process of communication (EN11/12OC-Ia-2); and
c. discuss the functions of communication (EN11/12OC-Ibe-8)

Lesson
The Nature, Process, and
1 Functions of Communication

This lesson sets out the basic knowledge in studying oral communication. It
features the definition and nature of communication. Moreover, this presents how
communication process takes place and its functions in various contexts.

What’s In

Listening and speaking represent the majority of our daily activities. This
keeps the world moving. Thus, communicating with different people brings us the
essence of existence. We share information, express thoughts, interact with people,
and partake on emotions of others in a seemingly logical process that involves various
elements and means. In your previous grade levels, you have learned that
communication deals with listening, speaking, reading, writing, and viewing. But in
this subject, you will explore and experience deeper understanding of the listening
and speaking skills that suit your context.
 What’s New

Activity 1. Understanding Communication

To better understand the nature of communication, we need to observe and
become a part of the communication itself. Follow the instructions in this activity
and learn more about the nature, processes, and functions of communication.

1. Watch some communication situations that take place in the market, stores,
school, streets, restaurants, or office.
2. You can open your television, cellular phone, or gadgets with your internet
data and look for the abovementioned communication situations or
personally visit the respective places.
3. Always observe safety and take care of yourself at all times if you prefer to
personally observe the communication situations in your contexts.
4. Examine and critically analyze how communication takes place in various
places.
5. In your observation, try to answer the following questions in a one half (1/2)
sheet of pad paper.
a. Based on what you watched, how will you describe communication?
b. How did the communication start?
c. What are the elements needed to complete the conversation?
d. How did the communication end?
e. What are the purposes of the conversation / communication that you
watched?

Communication Defined
Communication is derived from Latin word “commūnicāre”, meaning “to
share". It is a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which
participants not only exchange information but also create and share meaning within
and across channels, contexts, media, and cultures (McCornack, 2014).

Communication is a dynamic, interactive, and symbolic process that involves

the effective transmission of facts, ideas, thoughts, feelings and values (Francia,
2017). It is also symbolic because it involves not only words but also symbols and
gestures that accompany the spoken message. It is not passive and does not just
happen. Individuals actively and consciously engage in communication to develop
information and understanding required for effective group functioning. It is dynamic
because it involves a variety of forces and activities interacting over time. The word
process suggests that communication exists as a flow through a sequence or series
of steps. The term process also indicates a condition of flux and change. The
relationships of people engaged in communication continuously grow and develop.
 Thus, communication follows a process; it is interactive, symbolic, and
dynamic. Communication process involve speaker, message, encoding, channel,
receiver, decoding, feedback, context, and barriers. Lastly, communication serves as
means for control, social interaction, motivation, emotional expression, and
information dissemination (Sipacio & Balgos, 2016).

What is It

Nature of Communication

Being familiar with the nature of communication gives us the overview of on

the basics of communication.

Table 1. Nature of Communication

PROCESS INTERACTIVE SYMBOLIC DYNAMIC

Communication Communication Communication can Communication
involves a series of engages two or more be verbal (spoken or involves a variety of
logical steps to people, the receiver written words), forces and activities
effectively transmit and the sender with nonverbal (actions) interacting over
messages. inter-stimulation or both verbal and time.
and response. nonverbal.

Questions: Which nature of communication do you observe the most? What other
characteristics of communication would you like to add? May you share situations
where the following nature of communication is present.

Since communication itself is a process, it involves nine (9) vital elements

that interact with one another for a logical conversation and to serve the purpose of
communication.

Table 2. Elements of Communication

1. Speaker The speaker is also known as the “sender or communicator”. The

speaker is the source of information who intends to convey the
message with the intention of passing information and ideas to
others. Anyone can become a speaker but not at the same time.

2. Message This is the topic of communication to be delivered to somebody

else. Message may take the form of opinion, attitude, feelings,
views, orders, or suggestions conveyed by the speaker in words
or in actions.

3. Encoding Encoding is the process of converting the message into symbols

such as words, actions, or other perceivable forms that the
speaker understands.
 4. Channel This refers to the medium or the means in which the encoded
message is conveyed personal or non-personal through speaking,
writing, gesturing, signaling, etc. There are only five channels:
ears, eyes, skin, mouth, and nose. Message is sent and received
through our senses.

5. Receiver Receiver is a person who receives the message or for whom the
message is meant for. The receiver of the “listener” is the one who
makes sense of what is said and reacts to it. It is the receiver
who tries to understand the message in the best possible manner
in achieving the desired objectives.

6. Decoding This deals with the process of extracting or interpreting encoded

meaning in the message of the speaker by the receiver.

7. Feedback Feedback is the positive or negative result of monitoring by the

speaker of the receiver’s response. Similarly, it is the process of
ensuring that the receiver has received the message and
understood in the same sense as sender meant it. Feedback may
include reactions, responses, or information provided by the
receiver. It is the essence of a two-way communication.

8. Context Context is the communication situation or the environment

where communication takes place which can be physical
(classroom, auditorium, streets, etc.) or psychological (classroom
not for teaching but for PTA meetings).

9. Barriers These are the factors that affect the flow of communication and
can misrepresent the message and intention of the message
being conveyed which may result in failure of the communication
process.
Questions: How do you describe the elements of communication? Can the process
of communication be completed even without the presence of a single element of
communication? Why? Why not? Cite at least one communication situation and
identify the elements in the presented situation?

Process of Communication

Knowing the process of communication helps us understand how

communication takes place from the beginning until the end in a certain context.

Table 3. Process of Communication

Steps in
Description Examples
Communication
1. Developing This is known as the “planning Anna loves David, her
the Idea stage” where the speaker plans the suitor, as a brother.
topic for to start the
communication.
 2. Encoding The speaker converts the topic into She thinks of ways to
a perceivable form that can be personally tell him.
communicated to others.
3. Developing The speaker gets the transmittable She wants to tell him “I
Message message in oral, written, symbolic love you as my
or nonverbal forms. brother.”
4. Selecting The speaker chooses the medium She decides to talk to
Channel of communication which can be him personally.
speaking, writing, signaling,
gesturing, etc.
5. Transmitting The speaker actually transmits the Anna tells David,
Message message through the chosen “David, I love you as my
medium. brother.”.
6. Receiving This involves reception of the David hears all the
Message speaker’s message in the through words of Anna.
hearing, seeing, feeling, and so on.
7. Decoding The receiver interprets, analyzes, David analyzed the
and tries to understand the words of Anna and feels
speaker’s message. heartbroken.
8. Providing Feedback means receiver’s He turns speechless
Feedback response to the sender’s message. and nods to Ana while
This shows if the receiver correctly tears fall from his eyes.
understood the decoded message
or not.
Questions: How will you describe the process of communication? How is feedback
important in the process? Cite your own example of the process of communication.

Functions of Communication

We communicate in a number of reasons and to attain an individual or

group objectives. These serve as the functions of communication.

Table 4. Functions of Communication

Function Description Examples Context

1. Control Communication can be used to Making requests and
control person’s behavior. commands
2. Social This allows individuals to Sharing day to day
Interaction interact with other people. experiences with others
3. Motivation Communication can motivate or Graduation message of
encourage people toward encouragement
something better.
4. Emotional This facilitates people’s Sharing joys and
Expression expression of their emotions and sadness through
personal feelings. shouting, writing,
stories, etc.
5. Information Communication functions to Reporting statistics,
Dissemination convey facts, data, and scientific and academic
information. data, and historical
facts

Questions: How do you describe the functions of communication? Which among the
given functions do you mostly used? Which do you think is the most important? Why
or why not? Share at least one example context where the different functions of
communication can be observed.

The preliminary activity and discussions you have had reorient you on the
nature, process, and functions on communication. Knowing all those concepts help
you establish full view of communication, how it takes place, how it is used to attain
purpose, and how to be a good communicator in general.

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education - Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)