Overview
This lecture covers the five basic functions of communication—control, social interaction, motivation, emotional expression, and information dissemination—explaining how each serves specific purposes in human interaction.
Functions of Communication
- Communication is a tool used to accomplish tasks, goals, or objectives.
- Functions of communication are the various reasons humans use language in daily life.
- The five basic functions are: control, social interaction, motivation, emotional expression, and information dissemination.
Control or Regulation
- Used to control or regulate the behavior and activities of others.
- Examples: doctors giving prescriptions, teachers telling students to be quiet, traffic enforcers using hand signals, employers instructing employees.
Social Interaction
- Facilitates forming and maintaining social bonds, relationships, and associations.
- Examples: casual conversations, making friends, small talk, group discussions, spending time together.
Motivation
- Used to motivate or persuade oneself or others by expressing needs, desires, or goals.
- Examples: expressing ambitions, stating preferences, making requests, petitions, encouragement in business or teams.
Emotional Expression
- Allows individuals to express emotions both verbally and non-verbally.
- Examples: expressing love, anger, joy, or hope via language, facial expressions, gestures, and body movements.
Information Dissemination
- Used for giving and receiving information and ensuring clarity and accuracy.
- Examples: sharing facts, announcements, and reciprocating information.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Functions of Communication — The purposes language serves in human interaction.
- Control/Regulation — Using communication to direct or influence others' actions.
- Social Interaction — Using communication to establish or maintain relationships.
- Motivation — Using language to motivate, persuade, or encourage oneself or others.
- Emotional Expression — Conveying emotions through verbal or non-verbal communication.
- Information Dissemination — Sharing and acquiring information through communication.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and distinguish the five functions of communication.
- Reflect on daily interactions and identify which function is being used.
- Complete any assigned activities related to matching scenarios with communication functions.