Oral communication involves a process between two or more people where messages are encoded and decoded. Effective communication has several key elements and characteristics including completeness, conciseness, consideration, concreteness, courtesy, clarity, and correctness. Barriers to communication can occur due to language differences, psychological or physiological factors, physical barriers, or attitudes. Intercultural communication requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural differences as well as skills like demonstrating willingness, checking understanding, and reflecting on experiences. Developing intercultural sensitivity involves moving through stages from denial to acceptance of other worldviews. Competent intercultural communicators are reflective, open-minded, sensitive, and adaptable.

1. Oral Communication
Nature of Communication
 A process
 Occurs between two or more people
 Can be expressed through written or
spoken words, actions, or both spoken
words and nonverbal actions at the
same time.
Elements of Communication
1. Speaker – the source of information or
message
2. Message – the information, ideas, or
thoughts conveyed by the speaker in
words or in action
3. Encoding – The process of converting
the message into words, actions, or
other forms
4. Channel – the medium or the means,
such as personal or non-personal,
verbal or nonverbal, in which the
encoded message is conveyed
5. Decoding – Interpreting the encoded
message
6. Receiver – recipient
7. Feedback – reactions, response
8. Context – environment where
communication takes place
9. Barrier – factor that affect the flow of
the communication
Elements of Communication
1. Shannon-Weaver Model : the mother
of all communication models.
2. Transaction Model : a two way process
with the inclusion of feedback as one
element.
3. Interactive Model - exchange of ideas
and messages taking place both ways
from sender to receiver and vice-versa.
4. Schramm's Model : built on the theory
that communication is a two-way
street, with a sender and a receiver.
Communication was circular rather
than linear.

2. 5. Intermediary/Gatekeeper Model -
frequently depicted in introductory
texts in mass communication, focuses
on the important role that
intermediaries often play in the
communication process.
Functions of Communication
 To provide information (Information
dissemination) - functions to convey
information.
Flows of information:
1. Downward Flow - from superiors or
elders to subordinates in the form of
directives or updates.
2. Upward Flow - from subordinates or
family members to superiors or elders
in the form of feedback and reports or
suggestions.
3. Horizontal Flow (peer to peer) - from
worker to worker, husband to wife and
vice versa, sibling to sibling, or
manager to manager in the form of
data and reports
 To motivate (Motivation) - pursuit of
his goal or objective.
 To control or regulate - to exercise
restraint or direction formally or
informally.
 To Facilitate Emotional expression -
the release or unloading of emotions,
resulting in catharsis
 Social Interaction - to act and react to
the behavior of people around us. By
revealing our thoughts and feelings, we
elicit reactions from others.
Goffman’s category of social interaction:
1. Exchange – social behavior is
exchanged for a reward
2. Competition – two or more interact
and fight for a goal that only one can
win
3. Cooperation – working together and
realize common goal
4. Conflict – strong disagreement that
results to an angry argument
5. Coercion – getting something or
making someone do something by
using threats
Kinds of Talks or Oral Context
1. Small Talk – nonthreatening
communication; to effect social
interaction
2. Light-control Talk – tactful use of
power to get results; may be used to
motivate people
3. Heavy-control Talk – designed to lace
blame: to control or regulate people
4. Search talk – nonthreatening
approach; to gather data or the
consensus of others: provide
information
5. Straight Talk – problem-solving and
conflict resolution; o facilitate
emotional expression for catharsis,
which is the act of purging, cleansing,
and unloading of ideas and emotions.
Summary
Social interaction can be achieved through
small talk, motivation of people can be done
by the means of light-control talk, regulation
and control can be effected by engaging in
heavy-control talk, information can be
provided by using search talk, and emotional
expression can be best attained through
straight talk.

3. Features of Effective Communication
Professors Broom,Cutlip, and Center (2012) list the 7Cs of
Effective Communication
1. COMPLETENESS - essential to the
quality of the communication process
in general
2. CONCISENESS - does not mean
keeping the message short, but making
it direct or straight to the point.
3. CONSIDERATION - speaker should
always consider relevant information
about his/her receiver. (mood,
background, race, preference,
education, status, and needs)
4. CONCRETENESS - supported by
facts, figures, and real-life examples
and situations
5. COURTESY - respecting the culture,
values, and beliefs of his/her receivers.
6. CLEARNESS - The use of simple and
specific words to express ideas
7. CORRECTNESS - Correctness in
grammar eliminates negative impact
on the audience and increases the
credibility and effectiveness of the
message.
Barriers to Communication
 Emotional Barriers
 Use of Jargons
 Lack of confidence
 Noisy Environments
 Difference in perception and viewpoint
 Physical barriers to nonverbal
communication
 Language differences
 Expectation and prejudice
 Cultural barriers
Barriers to Communication by category
 Language Barriers
 Psychological
 Physiological
 Physical
 Attitudinal
Intercultural Communication
 Culture – total inherited ideas,
beliefs, values, and knowledge that
constitute the shared bases of social
action
 Intercultural Communication –
exchange of messages between and
among people with different
linguistic and cultural origins;
Requires both knowledge and skills
Intercultural Communication skills
 Demonstrate willingness
 Talk to people
 Adopting behavior
 Checking understanding
 Not afraid to apologize
 Using local television to learn
 Reflecting experiences
The developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
 Structure that explores how people
experience cultural differences
Bennet and Bennet (2004)
Stage 1. Denial – does not recognize cultural
differences
Stage 2. Defense – starts to recognize cd and is
intimidated by the resulting to superior view
on cultures
 Ethnocentrism – one’s own culture is
better than others
 Xenocentrism – another culture is
superior to one’s own

4. Stage 3. Minimization – see cd, they bank
more on the universality of ideas rather than
on cd ““Once we see through the cultural
differences, we really are just the same!”
Stage 4. Acceptance - begins to appreciate
important cultural differences in behaviors
and eventually in values
Stage 5. open to world views when accepting
new perspectives.
Stage 6. Individuals start to go beyond their
own cultures and see themselves and their
actions based on multifarious cultural
viewpoints.
Characteristics of Competent Intercultural Communicators
 Reflectiveness or mindfulness
 Open-mindedness
 Sensitivity
 Adaptability
 Ability to engage in divergent thinking
and sytems-level thinking
 Refrain from showing bias when
talking to someone through these tips:
Politeness
Intercultural blunders