Lecturer Roxana Bîrsanu, PhD

 Difficulty in setting a clear-cut definition due to the complexity of

the term
 Franck E.X. Dance (1970) – over 15 meanings
 Basically, communication is the process of sending and receiving
messages through verbal and/or nonverbal means, under the
influence of distinct contexts
 Carey (1992) defines it as “a symbolic
process whereby reality is produced, maintained, repaired and
transformed”
 Beginning of “Manuscript Era” – around 3500
BC; transition from oral to written; it lasted for
around 5,000 years
 “Print Era”: 1450 – 1850. Invention of the
printing press and ability of produce mass
written texts.
 “Audiovisual Era”: 1850-1990 – radio,
telephone, telegraph, television.
 “Internet Era”
 Mainly consists of the following elements:
 Participants: sender + receiver
 Message: verbal or nonverbal
 Encoding/decoding process
 Channel: encoded messages are sent to the
receiver via a channel, mostly visual and/or
auditory
1. The transmission model- usually one-way,
with focus on the sender
2. The interaction model – a two-way process;
communication is an exchange, with focus on
feedback
3. The transaction model – communication
shapes reality; sender, receiver and context of
communication are equally important
 Forms of communication based on the
participants
 Intrapersonal
 Interpersonal
 Group
 Public
 Mass
Intrapersonal communication – usually takes the
form of reflective thinking. It is normally
triggered by some internal or external stimulus.

Interpersonal communication - helps create,

preserve and put an end to human relationships.
It is more goal-oriented than intrapersonal
communication.
 Group communication – people communicate in order to achieve
a common goal. It is more formal than interpersonal
communication and it is usually imposed by the need to achieve
group assignments.
 Public communication – is usually sender-focused. The sender
transmits most of the information to an audience. Best example –
public speaking.
 Mass communication – form of public communication, but which
addresses more people through print or electronic media.
- Channels for mass communication
- The technology
- Interaction between participants
 Definition: awareness of effective and
appropriate communication patterns and the
ability to use and adapt such knowledge to
various contexts.
 Unconscious incompetence
 Conscious incompetence
 Conscious competence
 Unconscious competence
 You can‟t literally „die of embarrassment‟. Audiences are usually
understanding.
 It always feels worse than it looks.
 Take deep breaths, which releases endorphins fighting the adrenaline you
feel.
 Dress professionally to
enhance confidence.
 Research early. Better information
means higher confidence.

 Practice and get feedbback from a trusted source.

 Visualize success through positive thinking.
 Think of a person who possesses a high level of
communication competence. What makes you
think this?
 What anxieties do you have regarding
communication and/or public speaking?
Identify strategies to overcome them.
Verbal communication
 Oral: speech, phone conversations, radio, meetings
 Written: memos, e-mails, letters, reports etc.

Language:

- helps us express our identity

- impacts our credibility
- is a means to gain control
- is fun – word games
- is dynamic – neologisms, slang; textese
Non-verbal communication
- a process whereby we convey meaning by using other forms of
behaviour than words
- 7% of the message is verbal , while 93% is body language, facial
expressions and vocal elements.
Features:
 no use of language
 culturally determined
 vague and ambiguous
 completes or conflicts the verbal message
 mostly spontaneous, not rehearsed
 usually conveys feelings and attitudes
 high degree of informality
 Elements:
 Paralanguage
 Body language (kinesics):
- oculesics
- head movement & posture
- facial expressions
- gestures
 Haptics
 Proxemics
 Chronemics
 Pitch
 Volume - adjust it depending on the setting, physical distance or
relationship
 Speaking rate – slow vs fast speaker
 Tone of voice
 Verbal fillers: „uhh‟, „hmm‟, „like‟, „ah‟
 Vocal isolators: pauses and silence
 Vocal features: coughs, yawns, laughter etc.
 Gestures:

- adaptors (subconscious movements: clicking a

pen, fidgeting with fingers etc.)

- emblems: gestures with a specific agreed upon

meaning (thumbs-up)
- illustrators
 Head movement & posture

 Oculesics . Eye contact – functions

 Facial expressions; consistency between facial
expressions and message content
The study of communication by touch
- functional-professional (barbers, doctors, tattoo artists)
- social-polite (handshake, pat on the shoulder)
- friendship-warmth
- love-intimacy
Time:
- biological

- personal

- physical

- cultural
 Space and distance
 Edward T. Hall:
 intimate space: up to 40-50 cm
 personal distance: 50-70 cm
 social distance: 1.5 – 3 m
 public distance: 3-6 m
 It can indicate respect.
 It can suggest disapproval.
 It can create listening contexts.
 It can be an indication of empathy.
 It can reveal feelings of guilt.
 Provide examples of how eye contact plays a role
in communication throughout the day.
 Paralanguage adds emphasis to our utterances in
order to influence the meaning. Explain the
following: „She is my friend‟. „She is my friend‟.
„She is my friend’.
 Provide examples of how chronemics sends
nonverbal messages in the academic, professional
and personal settings.
 Identify some nonverbal bevahiours that would
signal a positive/negative interaction on a first
date and on a job interview.
“Say what you mean, mean what you say, but
don‟t say it mean”

 Passive – I lose, you win

 Aggressive –I win, you lose
 Passive-aggressive – I lose, you lose
 Assertive – I win, you win
- Avoid expressing opinions or feelings
- The result of low self-esteem
- These communicators often feel depressed
- They are often resentful because their needs are
not met
- Often feel anxious because life seems out of
control
- They tend to speak softly and apologetically
- They let others decide for them
 “I don‟t know what my rights are”
 “I don‟t know”
 “You decide for me”
 “People never consider my feelings”
 “I‟m weak and unable to care for myself”
 Verbally and/or physically abusive
 Communicators are brutally honest
 They seem to look down on the others
 They disregard feelings, opinions and ideas
 They may be sarcastic, shout, boast, use threats
or condescending remarks
 Demanding, manipulative, self-promoting
 “I can dominate and intimidate you”
 “You are to blame”
 “I‟ll get my way no matter what”
 “You‟re not worth anything”
 “I‟m superior and right and you‟re inferior and
wrong”
 P/A communicators may seem passive on the
surface, but they are angry on the inside
 They have difficulty in acknowledging their anger
 They use facial expressions which don‟t match
how they feel
 They use subtle sabotage
 They deny there is a problem
 They become alienated from those around them
 Individuals clearly state their opinions and
feelings
 They advocate their needs without violating
the others‟ rights
 They have good eye contact
 They speak in a calm and clear voice
 They don‟t allow others to manipulate them
 They stand up for their rights
 They have a relaxed body posture
 “We are equally entitled to express ourselves”
 “I place a high priority on my rights being
respected”
 “I respect the rights of others”
 “I think… I believe…”
 “I can‟t control others but I can control myself”
 It increases our self-esteem
 It helps us achieve our goal
 It enables us to make decisions and free choices
in life
 It protects us from being manipulated by
others
 It reduces anxiety
 It helps us express a variety of ideas and
feelings, both positive and negative
 Passive Aggressive Assertive
compliant, submissive, sarcastic, harsh, firm, but polite and
puts himself down, interrupts, critical, clear, actions match the
praises others disrespectful of others words spoken

Eyes avoids eye contact, looks narrow, staring, warm, welcoming,

down, pleading expressionless friendly, comfortable
eye contact

Posture makes body smaller, makes body bigger, relaxed, open,

leaning, hunched head high, hands on welcoming
shoulders hips, feet apart
Hands together, fidgety pointing fingers, making open, appropriate
fists, clenched hands on gestures
hips

Consequences give in to others, don‟t make enemies, upset good relationships with
get what they want, self- others, feel angry and others, happy with
critical thoughts, resentful outcome and
miserable compromise
 Situation A P P/A Assertive

Making an appointment

Asking for help

Making a request of your boss

Responding to undeserved criticism

Saying”no” to a family member

Saying “no” to a friend

Asking someone to stop annoying you

Use the 4 communication styles to deal with the
following scenarios:
• When you go to work, you discover that your
manager booked you for a shift on a day you
requested off.
• There was a test on one of your classes, but you
were home sick and missed it. Since you don‟t
have any certificate from your physician, the
teacher won‟t allow you to give the test.
• You‟re at a restaurant and you‟ve waited a long
time to be served. When in the end your meal
arrives, it is not what you ordered.