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Purposes of Communication Explained

This document discusses the purposes of communication. It identifies five main purposes: to inform, evoke, entertain, argue, and persuade. To inform is to impart knowledge and clarify information. To evoke relies on passion and controversy to make a point. To entertain transmits pleasure and goodwill. To argue aims to persuade one side of a debate. To persuade is to move listeners to action. The document also categorizes types of speeches by purpose and delivery method.

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Emma Alexanders
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100% found this document useful (2 votes)
9K views3 pages

Purposes of Communication Explained

This document discusses the purposes of communication. It identifies five main purposes: to inform, evoke, entertain, argue, and persuade. To inform is to impart knowledge and clarify information. To evoke relies on passion and controversy to make a point. To entertain transmits pleasure and goodwill. To argue aims to persuade one side of a debate. To persuade is to move listeners to action. The document also categorizes types of speeches by purpose and delivery method.

Uploaded by

Emma Alexanders
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Communication for Various Purposes
  • Purposes of Communication
  • Kinds of Speech

COMMUNICATION FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES

At the end of this module you are expected to:


 identify various communication fundamentals that comprise successful
communication;
 identify important purposes of communication;
 exhibit understanding on the components of rhetorical situations; and
 deliver effective speeches relevant to your field of specialization.

LESSON 2 Purposes of Communication

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the
world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”
-Tony Robbins

Various information and meaning are conveyed when people communicate with each
other. People may use language, which is a system of symbols in communicating. These
symbols can either be written or spoken.
Communication is considered as one of the basic activities of human beings, which may
be used for varied purposes. Communication can be informative, affective, imaginative,
persuasive, and ritualistic.
Informative communication pertains to the presentation of messages that are objective,
truthful, and unbiased. Affective communication takes place when people express their positive
and negative feelings about people, circumstances, or events. People who engage in
imaginative communication are those who express their appreciation on fictional massages from
books, films, and conversations. Persuasive communication on the other hand takes place
when people attempt to influence the beliefs or actions of others, while ritualistic communication
is done when people are able to meet social expectations.

Why do people communicate?

Communication is a part of everyone’s life; people from walks of life communicate. They
do so to express their feelings, opinion, aspirations, dreams, fears, apprehensions or regrets in
life. Humans are creative beings, and they know how to communicate in various and creative
ways through verbal, non-verbal, linguistic, or non-linguistic cues.
Specifically, people communicate in order to inform, evoke, entertain, argue, and
persuade. These purposes are discussed briefly below:

1. To inform
To inform is to impart knowledge, to clarify information, and to secure understanding.
2. To evoke
To evoke means to rely on passion and controversy to make a point. Evocative
communication centers on controversial topics that typically use emotion to make a point.
Evocative communication must show a lot of enthusiasm and concern for the topic and must
use personal experience to draw the audience. Using government research, statistics and data
can all help make their topics more believable and more engaging.

3. To entertain
To entertain is to transmit a feeling of pleasure and goodwill to the audience. The
communicator is considered gracious, genial, good-natured, relaxed, and demonstrates to his or
her listeners the pleasant job of speaking to them.

4. To argue
To argue is to persuade, to assent to the plausibility of the communicator’s side of a
debatable question. The speaker’s purpose is to appeal to the intellect of his or her listeners so
that they will be convinced.

5. To persuade
To persuade is to move the listeners to action. The communicator should demolish the
listener’s objection, and prove the acceptability of his or her argument or position.

INFOR CORNER

Kinds of Speech according to Purpose

1. Informative Speech

According to Osborn and Osborn (1988) an informative speech gives rather than asks or
takes. The demands on the audience are low, as the listeners are asked to attend, to
comprehend, to understand to assimilate, but not to change their beliefs and behaviors.

2. Persuasive Speech

Gronbeck (1994) explains that persuasive speaking is the process of producing oral
messages that increase personal commitment, modify beliefs, attitudes, or values.

3. Argumentative Speech

This is a speech that aims to persuade that audience to assent to the plausibility of the
speaker’s side of a debatable question.
Kinds of Speech according to Delivery

1. Read Speech

Reading from a manuscript is a manner of speaking where a written speech is read and
delivered word for word.

2. Memorize Speech

This is a written speech which is mastered and delivered entirely from memory. This
kind of speech requires the speaker a considerable memory skill in order not to forget his or her
presentation.

3. Impromptu Speech

This is a speech where the speaker develops his or her ideas, thoughts, and language
at the moment of delivery.

4. Extemporaneous Speech
This is a speech where the topics or ideas are prepared beforehand; however, the
speaker will compose his or her views and language only at the moment of delivery.

Common questions

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Persuasive and argumentative speeches overlap in their aim to convince the audience. Both seek to modify the beliefs, attitudes, or actions of the listeners . However, they are distinct in their approach. Persuasive speeches typically focus on increasing personal commitment and altering values through emotional and logical appeals . Argumentative speeches, while persuasive in nature, are specifically structured around proving the validity of a particular side of a debatable issue by appealing to the audience's intellect and logical reasoning .

The benefits of using an impromptu speaking style in professional settings include enhanced adaptability to audience feedback and a more authentic, engaging presentation as the speaker responds directly to the immediate context. It can demonstrate the speaker's quick thinking and expertise. However, drawbacks include the potential for disorganized thoughts, inability to recall important points without preparation, and increased risk of miscommunication or factual errors if the speaker is not fully confident in their knowledge of the topic .

The delivery method of a speech significantly influences its effectiveness and reception by the audience. Read speeches enable precise language but can lack engagement due to limited eye contact and interaction. Memorized speeches are polished and professional but can seem robotic and stressful if forgotten lines occur. Impromptu speeches allow for spontaneity and direct interaction, capturing audience attention through a natural flow of ideas, but they require quick thinking. Extemporaneous speeches offer a balance of preparation and flexibility, enabling the speaker to be adaptive to audience feedback while maintaining coherent structure .

Informative communication is characterized by the presentation of messages that are objective, truthful, and unbiased. Its primary objective is to impart knowledge, clarify information, and secure understanding without attempting to change the audience's beliefs or behaviors . This sets it apart from other forms like persuasive communication, which aims to influence beliefs or actions .

Evocative communication differs from entertaining communication in that it relies on passion and controversy to make a point, often centered on controversial topics, and uses personal experience and emotional engagement to draw the audience . Emotion plays a central role by stirring the audience's feelings to support the communicator's viewpoint. In contrast, entertaining communication focuses on transmitting a feeling of pleasure and goodwill, being more about the enjoyment and positive reception of the audience without necessarily influencing their beliefs or actions .

Understanding the various purposes of communication is essential for delivering effective speeches because it allows speakers to tailor their messages to suit the audience's expectations and the specific context of the communication. By recognizing whether the goal is to inform, persuade, entertain, or evoke emotions, speakers can choose appropriate language, tone, and content to engage their audience effectively and achieve their desired outcome. It also ensures that the speech meets the informational, emotional, or motivational needs of the audience, which is crucial in fields where precision and impact are key .

It is important for a communicator to demolish the listener's objections in persuasive communication because overcoming objections is crucial to altering the audience's attitudes and motivating them to act. By effectively addressing and refuting counterarguments or concerns, the speaker can build trust and credibility, reinforcing the strength and validity of their position. This strategy ensures that the audience is not only convinced by the logical content of the message but also feels reassured and confident in the argument's reliability, thereby increasing the likelihood of persuasion .

Considering communication as a system of symbols with both linguistic and non-linguistic cues implies that understanding and interpreting messages requires recognizing the diverse ways in which meaning can be conveyed. Linguistic cues, such as words and sentences, provide the structure for conveying ideas, while non-linguistic cues, like gestures, tone, and facial expressions, add depth and context, and can often carry more influence. This multidimensional approach to communication underscores the importance of cultural and perceptual awareness, as different cultures and individuals might interpret these cues differently, affecting overall communication efficacy .

Personal experience can be used effectively in evocative communication by serving as a relatable and authentic point of connection with the audience. Sharing personal stories or experiences allows the speaker to illustrate points vividly, evoke empathy, and create a strong emotional bond. By offering insights into the speaker's perspective, these narratives can validate the argument being made, enhance credibility, and make controversial topics more accessible and engaging to the audience .

To ensure an informative speech remains engaging and comprehensible, strategies should include structuring the speech with a clear outline, using visual aids to illustrate complex points, and incorporating storytelling to add relatability and interest. Simplifying technical jargon and providing examples can help clarify complex information. Using an enthusiastic tone and varying speech pace helps maintain attention, while repeating key concepts reinforces understanding. Encouraging questions and interaction increases involvement and ensures clarity .

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