TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
Three types of communication may be cited depending on the number of people as senders
and receivers. These are intrapersonal where the communication takes place within one person,
interpersonal where the interaction is usually between or among a small group of persons, and
public where the message is addressed to a large audience of say 25 or more persons.
BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION
There are several factors that inevitably hinder the efficient flow of sending and receiving
message. If the message is not clear, for instance, communication cannot take place. These
hindrances that cause the failure to communicate effectively are commonly referred to as “barriers”.
Communication barriers may be classified as personal, intrapersonal, environmental, cultural and
linguistic.
Personal Barriers include perceptual and personal discomfort, style, poor attention and
retention, close-mindedness and insufficient filtration.
Intrapersonal Barriers include childhood insecurities, labelling, trauma, and negative
psychological and emotional experiences.
Environmental Barriers include noise, weather and facilities. The environment in which the
communication takes place may contain physical or emotional barriers. Physical barriers
include interference (distractions, noise, problems with technology) and discomfort
(circumstances which affect concentration such as heat, coldness, illness, etc.). Emotional
barriers like anger or sadness can affect the atmosphere and can distort messages.
Socio-cultural Barriers include education, gender, beliefs, ethics, values, motives, rules and
regulations, standards and priorities.
Language Barriers include problems on vocabulary, accent, dialect, semantic gaps, and
mispronunciation. Language is at the heart of the coding and decoding processes.
MODES OF ORAL COMMUNICATION
Nonverbal Manner
Posture is the individual’s bearing. It includes standing, walking, and sitting. There is no
definite or standard posture for everyone. A speaker must have in mind that being natural is
the best way to achieve good bearing. The impression you make on listeners depends in part
on how you look while you talk.
Tips to Improve Posture
1. Avoid slouching. One must be conscious that the body must form a straight line and
not “S” form.
2. Walk with grace and ease. Walk naturally but slowly. Never approach the listener/s in
a tiptoe manner nor with lots of noise.
3. Do not sit stiffly nor lazily. Sit with the back resting at the back of the chair and arms
resting on the chair’s arms or just place the hands on the lap. Avoid crossing the legs.
4. Observe proper grooming and attire. A speaker must always think his attire is in
harmony with the occasion. Avoid too much jewelry and accessories. Neatness and
cleanliness are essential to a speaker. It shows his own personality.
Gestures are all physical movements which concretely represent the ideas and thoughts of
the speaker. Usually, gestures are products of inner impulses and thoughts of the speaker.
Gestures precede vocal expression. For this reason, a speaker must be aware that his
gestures are compatible to the spoken ideas.
Basic Hand Gestures
1. Pointing or Index. This is done by pointing your index finger to locate or identify a thing
or an idea.
2. Dividing. Extend the hand with fingers close together and make a chopping motion or
move the hand from side to side. This indicates separation or distinction of a series of
facts or ideas.
3. Describing or Imitating. Both hands and sometimes one hand to describe or imitate
certain size, shape, or movement of things such as length, round, curvaceous, winding
or zooming.
4. Approving or Disapproving. Nodding the head to suggest assent and shaking the
head to suggest dissent may be done in varying degrees of vigor. Each degree of vigor
in nodding or shaking the head suggests certain connotations.
5. Giving and Receiving. This gesture is made by extending either or both hands with
fingers not too close together or not too spread out, palm (s) upward or toward the
audience. Imagine that you are giving or receiving some. This is the gesture that
indicates friendly relations, exchange, giving, receiving, or presenting. However, do not
clamp your elbows into your sides.
6. Rejecting or Restraining. The hand or hands are extended in front at about shoulder
height, sometimes with sweeping motion, palms turn down facing the audience and
away from the speaker. You can approximate this effect by stopping someone who is
about to bump you. This action is used with negative ideas like “Stop,” “I don’t like it,”
“One must not come near…” or “Wait a minute.’
7. Emphasizing. The fist is clenched with the row of knuckles parallel with the speaker’s
shoulder, and wrist is slightly bent. This gesture is appropriate when exclaiming for
example, “We must go on!”
8. Supine. This is executed by extending the arms forward and palms up. This was
popularized by Jesus Christ Himself. In all His public appearances He used to mean
“welcome.” It can be used by one hand at a time or by both hands together. It indicates
approval or an appeal for support. It is also used in explication.
9. Clenched or Closed Fist. This is a strong and forceful gesture used by emotional
speakers in political campaigns to show determination and fighting a spirit. The hands
may be shaken or used to pound the table or lectern to suggest earnestness or intensity
of feelings.
