Lecture - Importance of Communication

8/10/2019 Lecture - Importance of Communication

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Lecture 1 - 1ECE200 - Prof. J. N. McMullin

Lecture 1

The Nature and Importanceof Communication


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Learning Objectives

To understand the nature and importance ofcommunication

To become acquainted with the rhetorical foundationsof communication

To understand the role of situation in shapinghuman interaction


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As much as 75 per cent of the average persons day isspent communicating.

Those in technical jobs are estimated to spend between 50per cent and 90 per cent of their work day engaged incommunication tasks.

The Nature and Importance ofCommunication


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We listen a book a day, we speak a

book a week, read the equivalent ofa book a month, and write theequivalent of a book a year,

... Walter Loban


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Communication has been studiedtheoretically for thousands of

years...


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The Shannon-Weaver Modelbased on A Mathematical Theory of Communication,

Claude Shannon, 1948.


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The Rhetorical Triangle

Three Elements of the Rhetorical Triangle


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Aristotles* Modes of Persuasion:(how to make a convincing argument)

ETHOS

PATHOS

LOGOS

*Greek philosopher (384-322 BCE). Aristotle was the student of Plato and tutor to Alexander

the Great. His works on a number of subjects such as logic, metaphysics, biology, rhetoric,ethics, and poetry have survived. His work on metaphysics, in particular, exerted aninfluence on medieval theologians. ...


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Ethos:Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker.

An ethos-driven document relies on the reputation of theauthor.

3 important elements:

Good will - genuine respect and concern for others

interests and views

Good Judgment - a sensible and reasonable point

of view based on a full understanding of what is at stake

Good Character - integrity and credibility


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Pathos:

Pathos is appeal based on emotion.

Advertisements tend to be pathos-driven.


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Logos:

Logos is appeal based on logic or reason.

Documents distributed by companies or corporations are

logos-driven.

Scholarly documents are also often logos-driven.


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The Nine Axioms* of

Communication

Effective Communication for the Technical Professionsby Jennifer MacLennan, U. Saskatchewan

*Axiom: Self-evident and necessary truth; a proposition which it is

necessary to take for granted; a proposition whose truth is so evidentthat no reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; afundamental theorem that serves as a basis for deduction of other

theorems. ...


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1. Communication is not simply an exchange of information,but an interaction between people.

2. All communication involves an element of relation as wellas content.

3. Communication takes place within a context of persons,objects, events, and relations.

4. Communication is a principal way of establishingourselves and maintaining credibility.

5. Communication is the main means through which weexert influence.


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6. All communication involves an element of interpersonalrisk.

7. Communication is frequently ambiguous: what is unsaidcan be as important as what is said.

8. Effective communication is audience-centred, not self-centred.

9. Communication is pervasive: you cannot notcommunicate.


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Rhetorical Situation

Definition:The context of a rhetorical act; minimally, made up of a rhetor, an

issue, and an audience. Put another way, a rhetorical situation occurswhen a rhetor, an audience, a medium (such as a text or speech), and

a context converge to create a rhetorical act, such as writing orspeaking.


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Points to Remember - 1

As much as 75 per cent of the average persons day isspent communicating.

Those in technical jobs are estimated to spend between50 per cent and 90 per cent of their work-day engaged incommunication tasks.

All communication involves a speaker (or writer), anaudience, and a message.

Communication is a dynamic process that involvesadapting your message to suit the needs andexpectations of the audience, while at the same timerecognizing that your message has the power toinfluence and change the attitudes of the people whohear it.

All communication involves relation as well as content.


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Points to Remember - 2

Your credibility depends on the quality of yourcommunication (and vice versa)

All communication involves influence and risk. Nonverbal and other unspoken elements can enhance or

detract from verbal messages.

Communication always takes place in a context ofpersons, events, and relationships.