Lecture Reviewer
Grouped by week — Week 1 · Week 2 · Week 3
Week 1 — Introduction to Communication
What is Communication?
The word communication comes from the Latin word "comunicares" meaning "to share" or "to make ideas common."
Language is the fundamental difference between humans and animals — only humans possess this complex, structured system. It has 3 components: Grammar (system of rules), Phonology (sound system), and Lexicon (vocabulary).
Types by scope: Intrapersonal (within oneself — inner talk), Interpersonal (between people), Group, Mass communication.
7 Components of the Communication Process
1. Source/Sender — originates the message
2. Encoding — translating an idea into symbols, words, gestures, or pictures
3. Message — the content being communicated
4. Channel — the means by which the message flows (air, phone, letter, screen)
5. Receiver — the one who receives the message
6. Decoding — interpreting symbols back into intelligible meaning
7. Feedback — the receiver's response back to the sender
Encoding = sender translating → Decoding = receiver interpreting. A common exam trap: they are often swapped in questions!
4 Types of Interference (Noise)
Psychological Barriers — thoughts or feelings that hamper correct interpretation (semantic noise, preoccupation)
Physical Barriers — environmental conditions blocking communication (loud noise, distance)
Linguistic and Cultural Barriers — language differences, different cultural backgrounds
Mechanical Barriers — malfunctioning devices, gadgets, or poor signals
3 Communication Models
Aristotle's Model — Focuses on public speaking and persuasion; emphasizes the speaker, speech, and audience.
Lasswell's Model (1948) — Asks 5 questions: Who? Says what? In which channel? To whom? What effect?
Shannon & Weaver Model (1949) — Focuses on signal transmission, noise, and achieving maximum capacity with minimum distortion.
Berlo's SMCR Model — Emphasizes psychological and social factors affecting both source and receiver. S=Source, M=Message, C=Channel, R=Receiver.
The 9 C's of Effective Communication
| # | Principle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clarity | Clear and unambiguous message |
| 2 | Concreteness | Specific, definite, vivid details |
| 3 | Courtesy | Respectful and polite tone |
| 4 | Correctness | Accurate grammar, facts, and language |
| 5 | Consideration | Tailoring the message to the audience's background and context |
| 6 | Creativity | Original and engaging delivery |
| 7 | Conciseness | Brief and to the point |
| 8 | Cultural Sensitivity | Awareness of cultural differences |
| 9 | Captivating | Making messages interesting to command attention |
Consideration = tailoring to audience. Captivating ≠ correct grammar (that's Correctness). A very common exam trap!
4 Cultural Barriers to Global Communication
Cultural Relativism — beliefs/practices understood only within that person's own culture
Lack of Knowledge of Others' Culture
Discrimination and Harassment
Language Differences
Week 2 — Global Communication in Multicultural Settings
Types of Cultural Communication
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Intercultural | Sending/receiving messages across languages and cultures; mutual exchange and respect (Jandt, 1998) |
| Cross-Cultural | Comparison of cultures; one culture often treated as "the norm" |
| Multicultural | Several cultural groups living alongside each other without deep interaction |
| Intracultural | Within the same racial/ethnic group or co-culture |
| International | Between representatives of different nations |
| Interracial | Between people of different races |
| Interethnic | Between people of different ethnic origins |
A Subculture is a smaller group within a larger culture that shares distinct language or behavioral patterns (e.g., a teenager and a senior citizen in the same neighborhood).
Context Communication Styles
High-Context Communication — tradition-linked and indirect; meaning relies on context, non-verbal cues, relationships.
Low-Context Communication — straightforward and explicit; relies on direct verbal messages.
High-context = INDIRECT (not straightforward). Low-context = DIRECT. A very common true/false trap!
5 Language Registers (Nordquist, 2018)
| Register | Description & Example |
|---|---|
| Frozen | Historic language intended to remain unchanged — constitution, prayers, pledges |
| Formal | Professional, academic, or legal settings; respectful and restrained |
| Consultative | Specialized knowledge being offered — doctor-patient, teacher-student |
| Casual | Informal; between friends and familiar acquaintances |
| Intimate | Reserved for special occasions between two people — inside jokes, whispered words |
Frozen ≠ Formal. Frozen is for historic/unchanged language (constitution, prayers). Formal is for professional/academic settings. Frequently confused in exams!
3 Register Classifications
Formal Register — business letters, academic papers
Informal Register — personal emails, blogs, journals
Neutral Register — delivers facts without being strictly formal or informal; reviews, articles, technical writing
Media Literacy Framework (5 Key Aspects)
1. Messages are 'Constructed' — media messages are created, not natural
2. Embedded Values — "What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented? Who or what is missing?"
3. Interpretation Varies — different people interpret the same message differently
4. Interests (Commercial/Political) — who benefits from the message
5. Creative Language — what techniques are used and how effective they are
5 Guidelines for Intercultural Competence (Gamble & Gamble, 2008)
1. Acknowledge Validity and Differences
2. Eliminate Bias and Prejudices
3. Acquire New Skills
4. Understand Cultural Context
5. Practice Active Listening
Week 3 — Communication Aids, Strategies & Technology
3 Types of Communication Strategies
Verbal — uses spoken or written words
Nonverbal — uses body language, facial expressions, physical distance, or tone of voice
Visual — uses signs, web pages, illustrations, images
AAC — Augmentative & Alternative Communication
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication — devices that support or replace spoken communication.
Unaided Communication — does NOT use additional equipment. Examples: body language, gesture, vocalization, signing.
VOCAs (Voice Output Communication Aids) — dedicated electronic devices that produce voice output for individuals who cannot speak.
Unaided = NO equipment needed. A common false statement in exams says unaided requires electronic devices — that's FALSE.
Multimedia Presentations
Multimedia Presentation — combines text, audio, images, animations, video, and interactive elements.
4 Key Characteristics: Text & Graphics · Photos & Video · Audio & Animation · Special Features (custom navigation, links, web uploads)
5 Steps to Effective Presentations: (1) Define Purpose & Audience → (2) Gather & Organize Information → (3) Cite Sources → (4) Check Technical Issues → (5) Be Creative (But Don't Overdo It)
Design rules: No more than 2 types of fonts · Minimum font size of 18 pts · Follow the 1-6-6 Rule: 1 main idea, 6 bullets, 6 words per bullet.
The 4 P's: Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance of the person putting on the presentation.
Pecha Kucha
A dynamic presentation style using exactly 20 slides × 20 seconds each = 6 minutes and 40 seconds total.
Slides change automatically — the speaker must synchronize speech perfectly with the automatic advance.
Key tips: Say your topic in a sentence · Use just a few main points · Give yourself visual cues (subtle reminders on each slide) · Tell a story with images.
Pecha Kucha slides advance AUTOMATICALLY, not manually. A very common false statement in exams!
Blogging
A blog (shortened from weblog) is a personal journal website where users can post entries, images, videos, and links.
Blog posts are displayed in reverse chronological order — the most recent content appears first.
Can be used for academic purposes — promotes writing skills when peers provide feedback.
Engaging intro strategies: Ask a thought-provoking question · Share a shocking fact · Lead with a success story. (NOT: "Use formal academic language only.")
Identification
30 items — click "Show Answer" to reveal
Enumeration
15 items — list the correct answers
True or False
30 statements — click the badge to reveal
Multiple Choice
30 items — click an option to check