PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION; AN
INTRODUCTION → 3 known reasons of communication:

 “transaction” in which the participants are  to inform

mutually engaged in the process of creating  to persuade
the same meaning”  to entertain

→ this definition answers the:  3 main reasons of communication (Harold

 what: a transaction Dwight Laswell)
 why: create the same meaning  surveillance of the environment
 how: mutual engagement of communication  correlation of components of society
 people communicate to share information for  cultural transmission between
the deduction of similar denotation generation

→ through communication we can do observations of

 we communicate to connect with other the:
people by:
 speaking  past events
 writing  present events
 typing  future events
 delivering: - in the setting or atmosphere, we
 sign belong to
 symbol - these observations can be interpreted
 gesture to decide on possible actions to be
 expression undertaken

▪ example: information on weather updates, trends, or

 we give, transfer, and share information with status; affects how we perceive and how we react
people to create meaning
 this makes us social beings who find → according to Laswell,
confinement a punishment
- surveillance is a function among
political leaders to alert society of
 Communication (in simple words)
dangers or opportunities
- the process by which human’s:
 thoughts → “No man is an island”
 ideas
- stresses our basic need to connect with
 beliefs
other people through differing modes:
 aspirations
 speaking
 hopes
 writing
- are shared or given to another who
 messaging
receives and reacts
 showing gesture
- communication is a process
 keeping silent
→ communication is sharing:
→ communication keeps culture moving from one
 ideas generation to another
 thoughts
→ the components of a particular culture are:
 feelings
 culture  preserved
- to others  maintained
 practiced
→ communication is the imparting or exchanging of
 by generations through
information or news.  relays of practices
 written histories
 communication is the act of conveying
 recorded documentaries
meanings from one entity or group to another
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 Transmission- said as a function carried  phone call
out by institutions like:  e-mail
 Family  Tweet
 Church  a written document, etc.
 School
 Community  receiver
- to hand down to the next generations: - decodes the received message into
 values important information
 norms
 customs  feedback
 traditions - he response of the receiver delivered
back to the sender
- helps the sender determine if the
 Communication- considered a rudimentary message has been received or
activity among humans such as in: understood
 academic areas
 professional areas  requirement for quality communication:
 our ability to interlink with other people - smooth flow of elements
- a system that involves an - absence of noise or disturbances
interconnected and symbiotic group of
elements working together as a whole COMMUNICATION PROCESS, PRINCIPLES
to achieve a desired outcome/goal AND ETHICS
- in every communication exchange,
 Communication Ethics
there are 2 prime interlocutors:
- humans are born with the ability to
 the sender
communicate
 the receiver
- babies can make gestures or sounds to
indicate their desires for food or toys
 sender
 then, growing as kids, they learn how to make
- initiator of communication
sounds and write the alphabet which becomes
- as they desire to share or convey an
more comprehensive as they mature
idea or concept to the target receivers
- has the role of selecting: → we were born gifted to communicate but to
 words communicate effectively is a different matter
 symbols
 gestures  it is a skill that must be learned and enhanced
 to concretize the message to be through exposure and experiences because it
sent establishes a pattern of a person’s:
- the source (sender) is challenged to  beliefs
accurately and clearly encode the  attitudes
message in a way understood by the  values
receiver to achieve successful  it becomes the ‘foundation of an effective
communication democratic and multicultural society’ (Rai
Technology University, n.d.)
 the message → communication skills are critical for intrapersonal
- may come in different forms: identity and success in professional life
 verbal
 nonverbal  to communicate is easy but communicating
 written language effectively is a challenge
 symbols  it requires knowledge of certain principles and
- may be sent through a skills to deliver a message
medium/channel such as:
 face-to-face conversation
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 most misunderstandings or conflicts among  reason
people are caused by a lack of skill to - as essential to the integrity of
communicate with ethics communication

 ethics is an integral part of communication  we endorse:

 we do not simply choose words;  freedom of expression
 we choose words for the effect they will have  diversity of perspective
on:  tolerance of dissent
 our audiences - to achieve the informed and
 on ourselves responsible decision-making
 on society fundamental to a civil society
 we choose the manner of communication  we strive
because sometimes “what matters is not what - to understand and respect other
you say, but how you say things” communicators before evaluating and
responding to their messages
→ this reminds us that when we communicate,

 we ask ourselves how harmful or helpful our  we promote

words and our ways are - access to communication resources
and opportunities as necessary to
 National Communication Association fulfill human potential and contribute
CREDO for Ethical Communication to the well-being of:
- approved by the National  families
Communication Association  communities
Legislative Council, 1999  society

 Questions of right and wrong arise whenever  we promote

people communicate. - communication climates of caring and
 Ethical communication is fundamental to mutual understanding that respect the
responsible thinking, decision-making, and the unique needs and characteristics of
development of relationships and communities individual communicators
within and across contexts, cultures, channels,
and media.  we condemn
 Moreover, ethical communication enhances - communication that degrades
human worth and dignity by fostering individuals and humanity through:
truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal  distortion
integrity, and respect for self and others.  intimidation
 We believe that unethical communication  Coercion
threatens the quality of all communication and  Violence
consequently the well-being of individuals and  expression of intolerance and hatred
the society in which we live.
 Therefore, we, the members of the National  we are committed
Communication Association, endorse and are - to the courageous expression of
committed to practicing the following personal convictions in pursuit of
principles of ethical communication: fairness and justice

 we advocate sharing:
 information
 we advocate:  opinions
 truthfulness  feelings
 accuracy
 honesty
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
- when facing significant choices while - communicators have the responsibility
also respecting privacy and to give and acquire adequate and
confidentiality accurate information
- as an ethical communicator, respect
 we accept responsibility for truth means being informed on a
- for the short- and long-term topic before posing as any kind of
consequences of our communication authority on the subject
and expect the same of others - we also need to consider the accuracy
of the information and the accuracy
with which we use it
 Other Considerations in Ethical - when we communicate, we expect
Communication (Johansen, nd.) people to react in some way to what
we say and do
 Ethical Communicators are Respectful - when we use inaccurate information to
of Their Audience influence others, we cause difficulty
- communication is a two-way process for them and ourselves
- the communicator must consider the
audience's ideas and feelings during  Ethical Communicators Do Not Falsify
the interaction Information
- worse than the distortion of
 Ethical Communicators Consider the information is falsifying information
Consequences of their Communication - failing to find the information useful
- every communicator must bear in to our goals, we make it up
mind that the ultimate aim of - this is a form of cheating; therefore, it
communication is to promote the should by all means be avoided
common good
- communication must be set in a way  Ethical Communicators Respect the Rights
that conflict is reduced or eliminated of Others to information.
- respect for truth and ethical
 Ethical Communicators Respect the consideration of others also means
Truth respecting the rights of others
- a great deal of the ethics of regarding information and access to
communication involve respect for the information
truth - collecting information is an integral
- indeed, as one has put it, the part of the research process, but
assumption of truth undergirds the stealing information is theft, taking
very concept of communication itself: something that does not belong to us
 "an inherent end of speech is - beyond the personal act of theft,
the communication stealing information is unethical
 of belief" (Kupfer 118) because it prevents other people from
- if we cannot trust the other party, we securing information and
cannot accurately judge how to unnecessarily makes their lives more
respond difficult
- if we cannot accurately judge how to
respond, then our communication
becomes increasingly ineffective

 Ethical Communicators Use Information  Principles of Communication

Properly
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 Scott Cutlip and Allen Center (1952) of the  Creativity
University of Wisconsin - is being able to craft inspirational and
 wrote about the 7 C’s of Communication in inventive messages through word
their book Effective Public Relations choice and sentence structures
 in 2010, the 7 was further enriched by
Michael Osborn who added 3 more C’s and  Captivating
transformed courtesy into cultural sensitivity - messages are interesting ones that
 throughout the years, these have become catch attention and demand better
guides in communication, both written and responses
oral
 Cultural Sensitivity
 Correctness - means having respect and
- refers to the proper, accurate, and consideration for the perspectives, and
acceptable use of the right level of feelings of other people it implies
language sincerity and respect
- it implies that the language should
adhere to grammatical rules

 Completeness
- means that the sender should convey
all facts that the receivers need for the
latter to give an appropriate reaction

 Concreteness
- is being specific, definite and vivid, or
particular

 Conciseness
- appeal to receivers and will help them
comprehensibly respond
- it is achieved by eliminating wordy
expressions and those obvious to the
receiver and conveying only relevant
information

 Consideration
- is emphasizing the ‘you’ approach
- it is being aware of human nature and
practicing empathy
- it is not losing temper, being more
tactful, and focusing on how the
message receiver will be benefitted

 Clarity
- is achieved by using precise and
appropriate words and constructing
effective sentences
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION NATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION'S

CREDO FOR ETHICAL COMMUNICATION
 ADDRESER
- Sender/receiver/encoder/decoder  ETHICAL COMMUNICATION
- The one who speaks and the one who o ANCIENT GREEKS
listens - The academic study of
 MESSAGE Communication began
- The most important element - first defined the study of rhetoric—
- The main reason why communication the art of persuading others through
exist public speaking and oratory.
 CODE
- The language used in the message o In 95 CE, Roman Rhetorician Quintilian
- Part of the element because of - published a twelve-volume textbook
intercultural communication on the theory and practice of rhetoric
o English- the linguafranca of the world called;
 CHANNEL/MEDIUM  “Institutes of Oratory.” In this work,
- Where the message travels Quintilian establishes that the perfect
- Can either make of break the orator is first “a good man,” and after
communication process that he is a good speaker
 SETTING
- The environment  Quintilian’s “Good Man Theory”
- It can determine message as well  believed that a speech should stay genuine to a
 NOISE message that is "just and honorable." Known
- It is inevitable as his “good man theory,”
- There will always be noise  asserted that if one cannot be genuinely good,
 FEEDBACK then one cannot be a good speaker for the
- Two- way process people.
 ADJUSMENT  being a good speaker for the people is about
- Mode that you do to repair the more than simply getting one’s message
communication across. It also means being in service to the
 MESSAGE FORM people—helping to build a more prosperous
- Way of adjusting the message and cohesive society in which everyone can
thrive

BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

 National Communication Association
(NCA)
- is considered the preeminent
 CODE BARRIER
organization in advancing
- The use of different language
Communication as an academic
 VOCABULARY BARRIER
discipline dedicated to fostering and
- Words that has variety of meanings
promoting free and ethical
 CONCEPT BARRIER
communication.
- Has background like historical,
cultural, etc.
 CREDO FOR ETHICAL
 BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
COMMUNICATION
- Historical happenings
- Founded in 1914, The NCA has a long
history of supporting research and
educational initiatives in the field of
Communication
- The NCA believes ethical
communication is “fundamental to
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
responsible thinking, decision making, through distortion, intimidation,
and the development of relationships coercion, and violence, and through
and communities within and across the expression of intolerance and
contexts, cultures, channels, and hatred
media
- The NCA believes that unethical
communication threatens the well-  We are committed to the courageous
being of individuals and society. expression of personal convictions in
- NCA formally endorsed a set of pursuit of fairness and justice.
principles called the Credo for Ethical
Communication, first approved in  We advocate sharing information,
1999 and more recently reaffirmed in opinions, and feelings when facing
2017. significant choices while also
respecting privacy and confidentiality.
 These principles offer us building blocks to
establish our personal ethical code—a guide
for how we can become a good speaker for the We accept responsibility for the short-
people. and long-term consequences for our
own communication and expect the
o THE NINE PRINCIPLES same of others.
 We advocate truthfulness, accuracy,  VERBAL COMMUNICATION
honesty, and reason as essential to the
integrity of communication. TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

 We endorse freedom of expression, - words of a particular language are

diversity of perspective, and tolerance used for passing the message
of dissent to achieve the informed and - verbal communication is of four types
responsible decision making
fundamental to a civil society. o Oral Communication
- communication is done through
spoken words.
 We strive to understand and respect - Personal traits such as clarity of
other communicators before pronunciation, pitch, slang, volume,
evaluating and responding to their speed, etc. influence this mode of
messages. conversation.
- It is an effective form of
 We promote access to communication communication.
resources and opportunities as
necessary to fulfill human potential  Advantages of Oral Communication
and contribute to the well-being of  High level of transparency and
individuals, families, communities, understanding
and society.  Quick feedback
 Flexibility
 Time and other resources saving
 We promote communication climates  Helpful for teamwork
of caring and mutual understanding  Best for confidential exchange of
that respect the unique needs and information
characteristics of individual  Quick resolution of disputes
communicators.  Receptive and encouraging
 Facial expressions and body language
 We condemn communication that visible
degrades individuals and humanity
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
3. Precision
 Disadvantages of Oral Communication - The sender should ensure exactness of
 Informal and no proof of decision, if any the message. Only relevant issue
 Poor personal traits, such as stammering, should be included in the message and
weaker command on language, slang, non- that too with accuracy.
coherence visible 4. Conviction
 Less authentic - The sender should believe in the facts
 May consume long time in meetings that are being communicated to others.
 Requires great attentiveness and The oral presentation should evince
receptivity confidence of the sender.
 No legal standing 5. Logical sequence
- The sender should present the message
 Methods to Improve Oral Communication logically. The points to be spoken first
Skills and what should follow to convey the
meaning and motives of the sender
 Speak in a clear, confident strong voice: effectively to the receiver need to be
- Keep the pace of your speaking looked into.
average, not very slow not very fast. 6. Appropriate word choice
- While speaking, face the audience. - Words are symbols. They have no
 Be coherent fixed or universal meanings. The
- One should speak coherently with meanings of words at that moment are
concentration on your subject only. in the mind of the sender.
- Try not to be distracted from your - Therefore, the sender should select the
subject, try to prevent other thoughts words which are suitable and
at that time understandable to the other party and
 Avoid using filler words those which convey exactly the same
- It is better to pause for a second rather meanings as the sender
than using filler words, such “Yeah”, wanted.
“So”, “Um”, “Like” 7. Use natural voice
- frequent use of filler words disturb - Natural voice conveys integrity and
coherence and distract audience conviction. It is advised to use natural
 Be an active listener voice in oral communication.
- Verbal communication is a two-way 8. Communicate with right person
process; - It is essential to know whom to
- you should therefore, be an active communicate. If you communicate a
listener too. right message to a wrong person, it
- Try to understand a question/query may lead to lot of problems.
quickly, because it looks odd to ask to - Be sure in recognizing the right person
repeat the question. to communicate with.
9. Do not get guided by assumptions
- Never assume that your listener has
 Essentials of Oral Communication knowledge already on the subject
1. Clear pronunciation matter. You may be wrong many times
- The message should be pronounced in such assumptions.
clearly, otherwise the receiver may not - You can be good only when you are
understand the words of the sender. confident in your message without any
2. Brevity omission.
- A brief message is considered the most
effective factor since receiver’s
retention capacity is limited in oral 10. Look for feedback
communication. The sender should be - When communicating, if you are
as brief as possible. smart enough in collecting feedback
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
verbally or non-verbally, you can  A poorly written communication may
quickly alter the message, if necessary. create poor impression.
11. Allow to ask questions  Feedback is not instant.
- It is important to give freedom to the  There is no personal touch.
receiver to rise questions whenever he
feels ambiguity or confusion.  Principles of Written Communication
- 0In a way, the communicator should 1. Clarity
encourage the receiver to ask - Written communication requires
questions. Such questions are clarity of thought and clarity of
opportunities to clarify doubts. expression like using simple words,
active construction, avoiding
o Written Communication ambiguity and Jargon, using simple
- communication is written in words or sentences, etc.
symbols and is transmitted via e-mail, 2. Completeness
letter, memo, etc. - The writer needs to check the
- This mode of transmission is meant completeness of the message. He
for mass circulation, instead for an should verify whether all questions are
individual written communication is answered in the message or not.
most commonly used in business and 3. Conciseness
its contents, vocabulary, style, - Brevity is very important for effective
precision and clarity are very writing. The writer should include
important achieving its objective. only relevant facts and avoid
- Written communication is accurate repetitions.
and serves as a permanent record 4. Consideration
- You can also fix responsibility to the - This principle advocates that the
people though this communication writer should convey respect to the
- is much time reader in his writing. It is always
- consuming and more expensive when better to emphasize positive and
compared to oral communication. pleasant facts.
- The writings should reflect the
 Advantages of Written Communication integrity of the writer.
 It is a permanent record and can be used as 5. Courtesy
reference in future. - According to this principle, courtesy
 The sender can write and re-write to make will be observed through promptness
it error free before sending. in writing and giving replies,
 The presence of the sender and the avoidance of imitating expressions,
receiver is not required. sincere apology for an omission and
 Sometimes there are complex matters that generous thanks for a favour.
cannot be talked over in a satisfactory 6. Correctness
manner. - According to this principle, the writer
 In the written communication, complex should give correct facts in the
matters can be explained. message. The message should be sent
 Being a written document, there are no to the reader at the right time and in
chances of misconception. the correct style.
 The message can be sent to a large number
of people .
 Written communication is accurate and serves
 Disadvantages of Written Communication as a permanent record.
 It is time consuming.  One can reach a large number of people
 If the sender does not have good command through this media simultaneously.
on the language, he/she has to struggle to  You can also fix responsibility to the people
write the message. though this communication.
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 However, written communication is much time during the presentation itself. It makes
consuming and more expensive when the decision making process quicker.
compared to oral communication.  Helpful in publicity
- Attractive designs influence the people
o Visual and Audio Visual Communication and facilitate publicity.
- These communication pictures in aid
to the oral presentation can create  Disadvantages of Visual and Audio Visual
powerful impression, as a proverb Communication
goes, “A picture is worth a thousand
words”  More expensive
- Audio-visual communication is a - Preparation of designs, graphs, etc.
combination of sight and sound. Now involves higher expenses because it
big business organizations use this requires special software and skilled
mode of communication extensively persons.
particularly for training programmes,  Time consuming
publicity, mass education and mass - The process of preparing visual
propaganda. presentation requires more time.
 Some times more complex
 Advantages of Visual and Audio Visual - Presentation of complex data through
Communication graphs and bar diagrams may make
the presentation cumbersome. As a
 Popular result, it may be difficult for the
- Technological development has audience to understand.
facilitated audio-visual  Infrastructural problems
communication to become very - Many institutions and organizations
popular. may not have adequate facilities for an
 Supports oral communication effective presentation of video
- The use of graphs, pictures and communication.
diagrams etc. makes the - Due to lack of facilities, it may not be
communication more attractive and possible to prepare high quality of
easily graspable. audio-visual aids.
 Easy presentation of complex data
- Complex data can be presented in an o Silence
easy and understandable manner in the - silence is also a mode of
form of graphs, pictures and diagrams. communication.
 Helpful for rural clients - It is defined as a way of
- Visual and audio visual communication without words, sign of
communication is very helpful signals.
particularly for the rural population - Apparently, this mode of
where the percentage of the illiterate communication may appear to be
and semi-literate people is higher. without any action, but in fact, it is not
They can understand the information necessarily inaction.
presented visually in abetter manner. - It can mean a person is anxious or
 Saves time fearful of speaking.
- It saves time as a large number of
people can see the presentation at the  Advantages of Silence Communication
same time.  Saves from embarrassment
 Decision making is quicker - As mentioned above, silence
- As the data are presented visually, they sometimes may save from
can be understood and followed more embarrassment.
quickly. The queries can be clarified
 Self-control
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
- Silence may be a sign of self-control - The founder of kinesics, Birdwhistell
when somebody talks in an offending defined it as “Facial expression,
language. gestures, posture and gait, and visible
 Attracts appreciation arm and body movements”.
- Silence may be appreciated by the - He argued that all body movements
people under provocative convey meaning
circumstances.
 Gives time to think o Facial Expressions
- When faced with a challenge, silence - Face is the most expressive part of the
gives the time to think about the body
possible response. - expressions and their meaning are
 Sometimes more effective almost universal across cultures
- Abraham Lincoln remarked, “The - From the facial expressions of a
more a man speaks, the less he is speaker, it is possible to infer whether
understood”. Therefore, as a manager, he is confident, excited, angry, shy,
you should understand the language of confused or tired
silence.
o Posture
 Disadvantages of Silence Communication - is the way a person stands or sits.
 May be misunderstood as shyness - The posture of a person while
- People may get the impression that speaking indicates his mental state
you are a shy person. (relaxed, confident, attentive or
 May infer as lack of confidence impatient)
- People may think that you do not have - open posture displays friendliness,
confidence. warmth, and positivity, one sits
 People may bully straight, feel spread wide open and
- By considering silence as a sign of palm facing outwards
weakness, people may bully. - closed posture displays boredom,
 May be misunderstood as sign of intrigue indifference and negativity. In this
- Silence may be taken as a sign of posture, one sites in a hunched
intrigue, because it is difficult to judge forward position with crossing legs,
about a person who keeps silence. You showing the back of the hands with
are required to interpret the language clinched hands.
of silence. - a confident posture, one walks straight
with full height, holding head high,
keeping gaze at eye level and pulling
 NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION shoulders back with relaxed legs and
- The communication without using arms
words, such as gesture, body language, - confident posture is a sign of authority
facial expression is called non-verbal and leadership. Hunched shoulders
communication. with incoherent walking indicate lack
of confidence and low self-esteem.
o Body Language (Kinesics)
- Kinesics may be defined as the study o Gestures
of the body movements, gestures, - bodily parts of the body particularly
facial expressions, etc. as a means of hands and face, move to communicate
communication. message, either in place of, or in
- Kinesics is communicating by body conjunction with speech
movement without uttering any word - There are three main types of gestures:
- the most often used non-verbal
communication.
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 Adaptors  Public Space (12 Feet or more):
- are touching behaviour and movement - the least personal of the four zones,
that can be targeted towards the self, and is typically used when a person is
objects or others. delivering a formal speech
- In general it results from anxiety or - powerful or high-profile person, such
uneasiness as CEO of a company maintains this
 Emblems distance
- are gestures that serve the name
purpose as a word.  Social Space (4-12 Feet):
- A hitchhiker’s raised thumb, or the - This distance is optimum for
“Ok” sign with thumb and index professional or social conversation,
figure making a circle with other three but not for the personal or intimate
figures sticking up are the examples of communication
emblems - conducting Board’s meetings, in the
 Illustrators classrooms,
- are the gestures to indicate the size or
shape of an object.  Personal Space (1.5 – 4 Feet)
- are used subconsciously and are - also known as “Personal Space
largely involuntary. Bubble”
- example of illustrators is to make - the zone for communicating with
gestures while speaking on telephone friends and close acquaintances
although the other person is not seen. - this zone is divided into two subzones;

o Touch (Haptics)  The outer personal zone

- is the notion of interaction through - extending from 2.5 to 4 feet is useful
touch. for private conversations
- touch, carries ethical and moral - Professional private conversations
implications in educational practice usually take place in this zone
(Simons 2014)
- Geng (2011) emphasises that touch  The inner-personal zone
can be an effective tool in order to - extends from 1.5 to 2.5 feet and is
control students with attention deficit reserved for the people who are
hyperactivity disorder. interpersonally close or are trying to
- Touch may be of several types, such as be close.
functional, professional, social-polite, - In this subzone, people can touch
friendship, warmth, etc. other while talking displaying their
- touch may have different connotations closeness.
on different occasions and between
people from different backgrounds.  Intimate Space
- This zone is reserved for closest
o Proxemics friends, family and intimate partners.
- refers to the study of human space and - A breach of this space can be
distance in communication comforting in same context, but may
- there are different space depending on be annoying and frightening in others.
the relationship between the persons
communicating. o Appearance and Artifacts
- In general, there are four types of - appearance also plays an important
space people use while role, because the first impression on
communicating; the other person created by how one
looks
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
- Colour psychology has demonstrated - All this comes under paralanguage.
that different colours can invoke Thus paralanguage refers to the non-
changes in mood. verbal elements of communication
made advertently or inadvertently
 Paralanguage while speaking.
- also known as vocalic. According to a
study, up to 90 per cent of  EFFECTIVE NON VERBAL
communication is nonverbal. COMMUNICATION
- Getting one's message across is made - One should be aware of nonverbal
easier through voice inflection, facial behaviour in the communication
expression and body gestures. process for three major reasons:
 An awareness of nonverbal
o The Scottish academic David Abercrombie behaviour will allow you to
- while we speak with our vocal organs, become better receiver of
we converse with our entire bodies. messages.
- Linguistic scholars have concluded - For example in U.S.A., one expresses
that his/her appreciation by showing thumb
communication goes far beyond the upward, whereas in India, it is used to
words we speak and into the realm of request for a lift.
inferred messages and vocal qualifiers.
- "The boundaries of paralanguage,"  You will become a better sender of
says Peter Matthews, "are signals that reinforce your idea of
(unavoidably) imprecise." communication or intention of
communication.
o David Abercrombie remarked - For example, these days, emojis have
- "We speak with our vocal organs, but become very popular while responding
we converse with our entire bodies. to the messages on Whatsapp, e-mail,
- Paralinguistic phenomena occur etc.
alongside spoken language, interact  This mode of communication
with it, and produce together with it a increases the degree of the
total system of communication. perceived psychological closeness
- The study of paralinguistic behavior is between yourself and receiver.
part of the study of conversation: the - For example, sometimes an emoji
conversational use of spoken language conveys your response to a message
cannot be properly understood unless better than words.
paralinguistic elements are taken into
account  Bovee, Thill and Schatzmen have suggested
the following to improve non
o Owen Hargie, Christine Saunders, and verbalcommunication skills
David Dickson
- "Paralinguistics is commonly referred o Pay close attention to non verbal signals
to as that which is left after subtracting  Avoid giving conflicting signals.
the verbal content from speech. The  Try to be as honest as possible in
simple cliche, language is what is said, communicating your emotions.
paralanguage is how it is said, can be  Smile genuinely. Faking a smile is obvious to
misleading because frequently how the observer.
something is said determines the  Maintain the eye contact your audience
precise meaning of what is said." expects.
- For example, while speaking, we may  Be aware of your posture and of the gesture
change our tone, accent, pitch, whisper you use.
or shout, emphasise certain words.  Try to use appropriate vocal signals while
minimizing unintentional messages.
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 Imitate the appearance of the people you want
to impress.
 Respect your audience's comfort zone.
 Adopt a handshake that matches your
personality and intention.
 Be aware of varying attitudes towards time.
 Use touch only when appropriate.

o Interpret nonverbal signals carefully

 Be aware that people may give false
nonverbal cues.
 Remember, few gestures convey meaning in
and of themselves.
 Consider nonverbal signals in the context of
situation and culture