Effective Communication: Elements, Types, and Strategies
Effective Communication
Elements of Communication
- Communication: The intentional process of transmitting information between a sender and a receiver.
- Process: Encoding and decoding.
- Intentional: Transmitting information through signals (signs).
Factors of Communication
- Sender: Sends the message (encoded).
- Receiver: Receives the message (decoded).
- Message: The transmitted signal (e.g., text).
- Context: The content referred to in the message. The entire universe or reality being communicated.
- Code: The system of signs and rules used to communicate.
- Channel: The physical environment through which the message is transmitted.
Functions of Communication
- Expressive/Emotive: Focuses on the sender and expresses feelings, emotions, or moods.
- Appeals/Conative: Focuses on the receiver and seeks a response.
- Representational/Referential: Focuses on the message and expresses information.
- Poetic: Focuses on the message’s aesthetic qualities, using rhyme, rhythm, figures of speech, etc. (e.g., proverbs, tongue twisters, songs, poems, slogans, jingles, advertising).
- Phatic: Focuses on the channel and is used to establish, maintain, or end communication, checking the contact quality between partners.
- Metalinguistic: Focuses on the code itself, referring to the language used.
- Situational: Focuses on the context or environment of the communication.
Oral Communicative Interaction (Private and Public)
Monologue, conversation, discussion, dialogue, debate, interview, survey, panel, symposium, forum, plenary, confession, commercial transaction, consultation, oral examination, oral questioning, lecture, class, oral report, talk, conference speech, statement, sermon, show, declamation, soliloquy, theatrical performance, etc.
Levels of Speech
Dependent on the cultural level of the speakers.
- Cultured Level: High cultural training.
- Common Level: Everyday, colloquial, standard.
- Popular Level: Low cultural knowledge, simple vocabulary, but not vulgar.
- Marginal Level: Poor vocabulary, often replaced by gestures and swear words. Lack of education and contact with standard language. Vulgar.
Communicative Status
Confidence level between communication partners.
- Formal: No close relationship or trust between partners.
- Informal: Close relationship and trust between partners.
Language Standards
- Cultured – Formal: A well-educated person in a situation without close trust with stakeholders.
- Cultured – Informal: A well-educated person in a situation of trust.
- Uncultured – Formal: A person with low education but linguistic awareness in a situation without trust.
- Uncultured – Informal: A person with low education but linguistic awareness in a situation of high trust.
Language: The Language, the Standard, and Speech
- Language: An abstract, conventional, arbitrary system of signs shared by speakers. A communication code embodied in a specific language (e.g., Spanish).
- Standard: A functional variant of the language shared by a community. The collective use of language (e.g., Chilean Spanish).
- Speech: The concrete and particular realization of language, with infinite variations. The individual use of language.
Variables of Language
- Time (Diachronic): Language changes over time.
- Place (Diatopic): Dialectal variations within a language.
- Situation (Diaphasic/Stylistic): Formal vs. informal styles.
- Social Stratum (Diastratic): Variations based on education level.
Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Relationships
- Symmetrical: Peers, equals. Colloquial language, close proximity.
- Asymmetrical: Different levels of hierarchy or unfamiliarity. Formal language, distant proximity.
Speech Acts: Direct and Indirect
- Direct: Straightforward expression. Example: “Veronica, hand me the book, please.”
- Indirect: Expressing a request without directly stating it. Example: “Would someone kindly pass me the book, please?”.
Types of Speech Acts
- Locutionary: The act of saying something.
- Illocutionary: The intended meaning.
- Perlocutionary: The effect on the receiver.
Categories of Speech Acts
- Assertive: Statements of fact.
- Expressive: Expressions of emotion.
- Directive: Commands or requests.
- Commissive: Promises or commitments.
- Declarative: Declarations that change a state of affairs.
Modalizations of Discourse
Grammatical expressions used to distinguish fact from opinion.
- Logical (Certainty/Doubt): clearly, undoubtedly, maybe, perhaps, etc.
- Appreciative (Value Judgment): Expressing subjective opinions.
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
- Verbal: Using language (oral or written).
- Nonverbal: Facial expressions, gestures, proxemics (use of space), images, signs, symbols.
- Kinetics: Body and facial movements.
- Proxemics: Use of personal and social space.
- Iconic: Use of two-dimensional images (traffic signals, signs, media, etc.).
Paraverbal Elements
- Oral: Tone, pitch, intensity, rate.
- Written: Spatial distribution, punctuation, typography.
Types of Oral Speech
- Person-to-Person: Monologue, dialogue, conversation, interview, etc.
- Person-to-Audience: Oral report, presentation, lecture, speech, etc.
Conversation
A demonstration of dialogue, involving verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal elements. An exchange of ideas and opinions, requiring a response.
Types of Conversation
- Common: Everyday, informal conversations.
- Semi-structured/Structured: Pre-planned conversations with some organization, such as discussions or interviews.
Principles of Conversation
- Opportunity: Speaking at the appropriate time.
- Brevity: Speaking concisely.
- Quality: Being truthful and respectful.
- Relevance: Staying on topic.
- Clarity: Using precise and logical language.
Discussion
An exchange of information and viewpoints aiming to reach an agreement or consensus. Arguments and evidence are used to support different perspectives.
Interview
A meeting where predetermined questions are asked to gather information. Spontaneity can still play a role.
Types of Interviews
- Journalism
- Psychological
- Labor/Job
- Medical
- Judicial/Legal
Rules for Effective Interviews
- Willing participation from both interviewer and interviewee.
- A pleasant and respectful environment.
- Avoid interruptions.
- A clear purpose.
- Respectful roles.
- Truthful information.
- Credible recording of the interview.
Parts of an Interview
- Introduction
- Body/Development
- Closing/Termination