Characteristics of Communication (continues)

b. Communication necessitates negotiation of meanings of symbols.  Two of the foregoing definitions specify that communicators “use” and/or “negotiate the meanings of verbal and nonverbal symbols.”  The information that is exchanged can be comprised of a range of feelings, thoughts, wants, needs, and intentions.  These may or may not be explicitly expressed or articulated in words.  Their representations are called symbols. Spoken and written words refer to verbal symbols, while vocal tones, facial expressions, gestures, body movements, physical appearance, and manners are all examples of non-verbal symbols, which according to Brantley and Miller (2005), are also termed as signals.

As a communicator, you must bear in mind that each participant in the communication process has a different frame of reference (background, assumptions, and culture) which may interfere with the transmission and reception of messages or influence the interpretation of certain symbols.  This requires that there is “negotiation of meaning” between communicators in order to arrive at a shared understanding and perception of symbols and hence, to be able to communicate effectively.   

ACTIVITY 3:

1. Individually, find out and compare how Filipinos and other cultures attach meanings to the following signals:

                    a.       a wink

b.       thumbs down

c.        the color white (or black)

d.       silence

e.       crossed arms

c.        Communication is contextual.  Another characteristic of communication reflected in the definitions and stressed in the transaction model is that communication occurs in a context.  The principle behind this is that communication adapts to and is shaped by these circumstances.  There are three general types of context:

§  Psychosocial Context.  This type of context draws on the interaction among the emotional history, social relationships, and cultural capital of the participants.  Variables such as age, sex, gender preference, religion, and socioeconomic status are all considered in this category.  The extent to which communicators are aware and sensitive of these factors will certainly affect the communication process, particularly the reception and interpretation of symbols.  If you had a friend who betrayed or took advantage of you, your attitude towards that person the next time you meet and your reaction to his or her statements may be affected by your previous experience, feelings, and culture. 

§  Logistical Context.  This is also termed as the physical context and is concerned with the setting (time and place) and occasion.  For instance, bumping into your teachers at a local coffee shop outside the school one evening would possibly allow you to chat informally and share personal experiences, but inside the classroom during schooldays, where the atmosphere is more serious and the authority of the teacher is recognized, talk becomes more planned and tone towards each other is deferential or respectful. 

§  Interactional Context.  The various compositions or classifications of interaction will dictate the style of communication that will be employed by the communication participants.  This is what is regarded as interactional context.  There are six major categories of interactional context:

Ø  Intrapersonal context. The idea behind intrapersonal context is “self-talk” or inner speech, which reflects your own self-concept or your overall understanding of yourself.  Your self, according to Engleberg and Wynn (2008), shares a core with others at the center of the communication process.

Ø  Interpersonal context.  This refers to communication between people, usually dyads: two people interacting to accomplish a particular task or purpose.  One example of this is the correspondence that occurs between an interviewer and an interviewee.  Relationships are also classified as occurring in this type of context. 

Ø  Group context. This is the communication that transpires when more than two people, usually three to seven, interact in order to carry out a common goal.  Your family interactions, study groups, organizational and club meetings, neighborhood gatherings belong in this type of context.

Ø  Organizational context.  This context is related to workplace communication which exposes one or more individuals to several communicative opportunities among individuals, dyads, and groups.

Ø  Public or presentational context.  In this type of context, a single speaker creates meaning with a selected audience, which can range from literally few to tremendously large in number and that is present at the delivery of the message.  Presentational communication may be held as formal, such as research presentations at conferences or seminars and campaign speeches, or it could be informal at a varying degree such as classroom presentations and reports.  However, classroom activities when structural and with careful planning become formal.

Ø  Mass communication context.  In contrast to the presentational context, the context of mass communication is characterized by an individual or a network sharing a message to an audience who are not directly present and often unknown.  More often than not, the sender of the message cannot see or observe how the audience reacts.  Examples of forms of communication that fall under this category include newspapers, books, magazines, television, radio, and other forms of computer-mediated or digital platforms.