SAINT COLUMBAN COLLEGE

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

A.Y. 2020-2021

ORAL
COMMUNICATI
ON IN
CONTEXT
MODULE 2

By:
RAYMOND A. MABANTA

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Functions of Communication: Regulation and Control
At the end of this module, I can
➢ define regulation and control as functions of communication through examples;
➢ identify a speaker's purpose in various communication situations;
➢ show an understanding of the strategies used by a speaker to convey his or her
ideas effectively; and
➢ evaluate if a communication strategy is effective or not.
Communication serves a number of functions. Two of these functions are regulauon
and control. Regulation, according to Oxford Dictionaries, is "a rule or directive made and
maintained by an authority." It is also "the action or process of regulating or being regulated.
In other words, communication is mainly used by persons in authority or those who represent
authority in order to regulate or direct their subordinates. However, regulation can also be
performed by members of a group who may not necessarily have authority but could assume
leadership, depending on established relationships within the group.

Meanwhile, Oxford Dictionaries defines control as "the power to influence or direct people's
behavior or the course of events" or "a means of limiting something." In other words, another
function of communication is to influence or direct people's behavior or action in a certain way.
While regulation is aimed at making sure people are following certain communication rules,
norms, or protocol, control is all about influencing people to behave based on the personal
motivation of an individual in authority.

Big Idea:
Failure to follow rules and regulations has consequences.

Consider the following examples.

➢ The traffic aide in the middle of an intersection
gestures traffic signals or blows his whistle to direct
the flow of vehicles and pedestrians. In doing so, he
prevents vehicles from crisscrossing without regard
for other motorists and accidents from ensuing.
➢ Religions all over the world have sets of laws that they prescribe to their faithful. These
laws are moral guides that direct the faithful on how to live and how to interact with
other people. In addition, certain people in a religious group are given the authority
preach these moral guides.
➢ A town crier in kingdoms of old would go around villages reading edicts from monarchs
to their subjects. These edicts were followed by the villagers as a sign of loyalty and
obedience to the king or queen.
➢ Upon using a mobile app or an online service, you are given a set of terms and conditions
in order to regulate how you should use the app or the service.

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 ➢ The school principal releases a memorandum to implement new rules. Sometimes,
the school would also release letters to parents to inform them of new rules or remind
them about existing ones. Announcements are also made during student assemblies to
control and disseminate information effectively.
Communication Strategy

According to Participatory Communication Strategy Design: A Handbook, a

communication strategy is a well-planned series of actions aimed at achieving certain
objectives through the use of communication methods, techniques, and approaches. The skill
in crafting effective communication strategies is necessary, particularly in organizations.
Communication strategies are usually constructed whenever an organization faces a crisis.
Consider this situation: the president of the country needs to discuss with his constituents
the aspects of a pressing issue or concern. In such a situation, the president must be able to
clearly and effectively convey his thoughts, ideas, and recommendations about the issue to
ensure that his constituents fully understand every relevant detail and concern. The president is
also expected to answer questions from his cabinet, staff, constituents, and journalists to
clarify certain matters. Hence, appropriate communication strategies must be employed by
the president to get his point across.
Here is another situation: the chief executive officer (CEO) of a financially struggling
company needs to pacify her disgruntled employees. How will she uplift their low morale? How
will she assuage her employees' fears of possible retrenchment, late wages, and other similar
concerns? Will she meet her employees personally or send lawyers to explain for her? In this
situation, the use of appropriate communication strategies will be essential, not only to ensure
the smooth, civil, and continuous exchange of ideas between the CEO and her employees, but
also to prevent possible conflict from surfacing.
In most cases, it is up to the communicator to come up with an appropriate
communication strategy for a particular situation. The following tips will help you formulate
your own effective communication strategies:
1. Set clear and attainable goals in a given time frame.
2. Focus on the issue, if any, not on people.
3. Be flexible and open-minded.
4. Listen to all stakeholders affected.
5. Demonstrate sensitivity at all times.
6. Be genuine, honest, and open to all parties.
7. Present facts and verifiable data.
8. Take control of the situation but be compassionate.
9. Be considerate and learn when to compromise.
10. Use affirmative responses and give due credit.
So, what communication strategies can you think or to apply to the two situations given
(the president and the CEO)?

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Essential Learning

Regulation and control are functions of communication that are present in many
aspects of life across many groups of people-from a parent or teacher who enforces rules
that their young wards should follow to a referee who explains the dos and don'ts in a boxing
match. In addition, verbal and nonverbal cues give hints to the purpose of the speaker,
while communication strategies help make effective and successful communication.
Regulation and control are communication functions that are carried out by people
in authority such as police officers, teachers, among others. Even the people in the
government use these communication functions to effectively communicate the laws that
govern the land and execute programs for peace and order, the economy, and the well-
being of its constituents.

Functions of Communication: Social Interaction and Emotional Expression

At the end of this module, I can
➢ define social interaction and emotional expression as functions of
communication;
➢ describe communication strategies for effective social interaction, emotional
expression, and control;
➢ identify the nonverbal cues that accompany spoken language toward successful
social interaction and emotional expression; and
➢ evaluate if a communication strategy is effective or not.

You live in a society comprising many people, but the group you are most familiar with is
your social circle. You are familiar with the members of your social circle because you mingle
and communicate with them often.
Remember the time when your social circle was limited to only your parents and
immediate family members? Over the years, however, your social circle has expanded to
include other relatives, friends, classmates, teachers, and even close acquaintances. In fact,
you likely have several social circles now. For instance, you may have your immediate family
circle; your extended family circle that includes relatives such as godparents, grandparents,
and cousins; your peer circle that includes your friends and classmates; and your community
circle that comprises your neighbors and other familiar persons whom you interact with in
your community.

Big Idea:
Effective communication is essential if we want to build and maintain lasting
relationship with our family and friends.

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 How were these social circles formed? All throughout your life, you have been
communicating, associating, and forging relationships with other people, starting from your
parents and immediate family all the way to the last person you interacted with today. These
processes of communicating, associating, and interacting help you form bonds or relationships
with others. These relationships eventually lead to the formation of your social circles.
As you form social circles, you become a better communicator. This, in turn, could
enhance your relationship with the members of your existing social circles and enable you to
establish more social circles. In addition, having more social circles means having more
opportunities of social interaction, which is another function of communication.
According to the Handbook of Language and Social Interaction, social interaction is
the "spontaneous verbal exchanges occurring in natural settings that are typically familiar to
the interactants." The day-to-day social interactions you engage in are made deeper by shared
emotions. The closer you are to the person you interact with, the deeper the emotions that
you share. How do you express your emotions to your parents and siblings? How does it differ
from the way you express your emotions to people outside of your family?
An emotional expression is a manifestation of one's internal emotional state. It is an
important social signal that conveys a variety of information regarding a person's state of
mind and his or her intentions.
Emotional expression is another function of communication. Every day, you express
yourself emotionally through words and gestures. Generally, the closer the relationship or
the tighter and more familiar the circle you are in, the easier it is for you to communicate how you
feel. You show love or anger differently to different people depending on how close you are to
them. Similarly, the degree of emotion-grief or happiness, for example-that you express varies
depending on the type of relationship you have with the social circle you interact with.

Big Idea:
Always be true to what you feel. Following your heart’s desire can go a long
way and can lead to honesty in actions and truthfulness in relationships.

Certain protocols or rules should be observed for the success of social interactions,
especially if they are outside your immediate circles. In many instances, you have to interact
with people you barely know-acquaintances, coworkers, employers, and even virtual
strangers. ln such instances, you will likely conduct and express yourself differently since the
familiarity and intimacy you enjoy when you interact with the people in your social circle are
no longer present. For example, your language and tone will likely be different, as well as your
gestures and other nonverbal cues.
Take, for example, your future employer. Will you talk to him or her in the same way you
talk to your parents or godparents? You will most likely talk to him or her and act in a more formal|
manner considering his or her position. Even in cases where there is already a sense of familiarity

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and camaraderie between you and your boss, you will likely be more measured and careful when
you speak and act, lest you overstep the boundaries of the boss-subordinate dynamic.
Below are some examples of protocols of social interaction.
• Do not be overly familiar with your superior or any person of authority. Address him or
her appropriately and show respect at all times.
• Do not make inappropriate jokes or body contact.
• Always show respect and courtesy.
• Do not use loaded words.
• In an argument, focus on the issue and do not resort to personal attacks.
The ways people express emotions also vary. Some people wear their emotions on their
sleeves, which means they openly express their feelings. Others, on the other hand, are more
reserved when they convey their emotions. In addition, some people express their emotions
either orally or in writing. Others express positive emotions by giving gifts or by endearing
physical gestures. In many respects, the ways people express emotions are largely determined
or influenced by their purpose for expressing such.
Essential Learning
Social interaction and emotional expression are two of the important functions of
communication for young adults like you. It is imperative that you maintain and nurture
the social circles that you have already formed and then make new ones along the way.
It is just as crucial for you to learn how to express your emotions effectively. Enhancing
your skills in these two functions of communication will prepare you for more serious and
challenging communication situations in your future life as an adult.

Functions of Communication: Motivation and Information

At the end of this module, I can
➢ define motivation and information as functions of communication;
➢ identify a speaker's purpose in various communication situations; and
➢ identify the verbal and nonverbal cues that a speaker employs to achieve his or
her purpose.
Aside from teaching and training, a coach also needs to provide his or her players ample
motivation so that they will give their best both during practice and games. Similarly, teachers
and mentors must not only teach their students, but also motivate them so that they will strive
harder to achieve their dreams.
According to Psychology Today, motivation is literally "the desire to do things." The same
periodical considers motivation as the "crucial element in setting and attaining goals."

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 Often, one can direct himself or herself to do things; other times, a person needs to be
influenced or motivated by others such as motivational speakers. A motivational speaker is a
person who specializes in making speeches intended to inspire or motivate an audience. Such
speeches usually offer words of encouragement, pieces of advice, and tips on how to succeed in
life or how to accomplish certain goals. For a motivational speaker to inspire others, he or she
must be an excellent communicator-one who can interact with people from all walks of life,
relate with them, and express his or her ideas clearly and effectively. However, motivational
speakers are not the only ones who can motivate people. Everyone can be a motivator, especially
if he or she has the requisite communication skills.
Another important function of communication is information. This function of
communication is evident in news agencies, customer service, and technical support sectors
whose objectives are to share important information to people. Technical support specialists,
for example, give clients step-by-step instructions to troubleshoot or operate a gadget or
appliance, while customer service representatives share information about their products
and special offers to their clients.
Today, information dissemination has become much easier through technology. However,
the far-reaching scope of mass media and the internet, along with the ease of using such
technologies in disseminating information, has also made it much easier for some people to
misinform the general public. Hence, effective communication strategies are crucial to fulfill the
informative function of communication, especially that the failure to impart accurate information
at the right time may sometimes result in negative consequences.

Big Idea:
Be motivated to double-check the information that you see online.

Motivation
Motivation is a key communication function that aims to encourage people into action.
Simply saying "Go!" to a friend who expresses a desire to do something is already an attempt
to motivate him or her, so is giving a pep talk to a depressed classmate.
Words and gestures motivate people. For instance, offering kind and affirming words to
Someone can encourage that person to follow his or her dreams. Nonverbal cues such as a
simple pat on the back and a reassuring nod can be inspiring. Thus, being able to motivate others
through words and gestures is a skill you should develop so that you can encourage and inspire the
people around you in various ways.

Big Idea:
Always motivate people to do good and strive hard.

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Information

In the various definitions of communication in the previous modules, the word

information is used prominently. Communication, in fact, is defined in its most basic sense
as an "exchange of information." Exchanges of information, with you as either the source or
receiver of information, occur regularly in your everyday life, with the pieces of information
ranging from the relevant to the mundane. For instance, you exchange information with your
friends when you talk about the latest movies you have watched or when you compare your
projects with those of others.
One can give and receive information through various channels: through face-to-face
interaction, mass media, the internet, among others.

Big Idea:
Misinformation leads to confusion and wrong actions that could have serious
and costly repercussions.

Essential Learning
Motivation pushes people to work hard or give their best, but only certain people are
capable to push others into action through words and gestures. These people are excellent
communicators who know how to motivate and inspire.
Meanwhile, information gives people knowledge, and with this knowledge comes the
ability to make informed choices. Today, people have access to a plethora of information
because of technological advancements. The challenge now is to obtain, make sense of,
and ultimately share vital pieces of information with others.