Unit 1: The Elements of Communication
Let's begin by exploring several components of communication and the factors that set oral presentations apart from other forms of content delivery. Understanding how these elements work together will show what happens when we give a presentation. Scholars think about our communications as processes where senders and receivers interact. We exchange messages with each other simultaneously, and participants constantly adapt their messages based on their interpretations of contextual stimuli. In other words, we communicate with other people at the same time that they communicate with us, and we modify what we say and do based on what we see or hear from others.
In this unit, we will apply this one-to-one-person communication model to public contexts. The interaction happens simultaneously, and the setting of a presentation will determine how each participant reacts.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- identify why public speaking is an important skill set;
- identify the main elements of the communication model;
- explain the role of audience feedback during a presentation as it relates to models of communication; and
- explain the impact of context and interference on public speaking.
1.1: Presenting to an Audience
Before we get started, let's discuss the importance of presenting to an audience.
Take a moment to watch this video, which summarizes three benefits of learning how to present to an audience.
1.2: The Communication Model
Scholars have created several communication models, but most agree on the following elements:
Sender/Receiver: In every communication, two or more people send and receive messages simultaneously. Even those who do not speak communicate through nonverbal responses, such as eye contact, body language, and interjections.
Message: When we communicate, we convey a message to another person. The message is the verbal and nonverbal information exchanged between people who interact.
Encoding/Decoding: We use communication techniques to translate our thoughts into verbal language, gestures, or facial expressions. When we put these symbols together, they form a message. Encoding refers to how we translate the thoughts in our head into the symbols we send to another person. Decoding is the process the recipient uses to translate and understand those symbols.
Interference: Most communication is messy – several factors can cause our messages to get lost or confused. Scholars call anything that prevents us from successfully sending or receiving a message "noise" or "interference".
Three categories of interference are external, internal, and physiological.
- External interference refers to things that prevent us from hearing another person speak, such as a crowd or a crying baby.
- Internal interference also confuses how we receive messages, like problems we might be contemplating, something we are trying to remember, or recent arguments that are still on our minds.
- Physiological interference includes things like hunger, physical exhaustion, illness, or having an aching back.
Communication Context: Communication never occurs in a vacuum. We approach every situation with our preconceptions, thoughts, and unique relationships. Scholars say "meanings are in people" to explain how meaning refers to what the listener hears, not the words the speaker spoke or what they intended to say. Conversations also occur in different places, and conditions like the time of day or other aspects of the environment can affect how we approach or decode a message or interaction.
Four elements describe the communication context that affects our interactions:
- Temporal – the time of day, season, or year;
- Physical – what is happening around us;
- Social – the relationship we have with the other person; and
- Psychological – what we are thinking.
This video explores and considers these models in more depth. As you watch, think about your presentation as a transaction with the people in your audience.
1.3: Feedback
Most people think talking while someone else is speaking is rude, especially during a public presentation, unless the presenter encourages audience participation or interaction. Regardless, most of us give some feedback during a presentation. We send nonverbal messages or cues to the presenter: we express confusion when lost, smile or laugh when amused or engaged, and yawn when bored. Effective presenters pay close attention to these verbal and nonverbal cues and respond accordingly.
For example, effective educators monitor their students to see if their lecture is getting too wordy or if students lose focus by offering blank stares, closing their eyes, or looking at their phones. These teachers will switch tactics to re-engage their students. They may move to give a different visual perspective, call on students for feedback, or shorten the lecture to help retain focus on the central message.
This short article discusses how the feedback process works during a presentation and how a speaker gathers feedback from an audience.
1.4: Context and Interference
Presenters should consider their audience's experiences and elements that could influence how the audience interprets their message. Does your presentation precede lunch or follow another dynamic and engaging presentation? Is your audience familiar with your topic and interested in your message, or do you need to persuade them to change their opinion? Outside factors influence how well you can deliver your message.
Read this chapter to explore the simultaneous transmission and interaction aspects of communication. The relational and cultural context can affect how your message is transmitted and communicated.
Review this communication model to explore the things that can affect our understanding of a given interaction.