ENG 2013 Chapter 1: Human Communication

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Task 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

1. Shona was seated in a crowded room that was very warm and stuffy. This was making it difficult for her to listen to the speaker’s message. Shona is suffering from physical noise.

2. John is trying to listen to a speech but his headache interferes. He is experiencing

physiological noise.

3. The ability to re-create another person’s perspective or to experience the world from another’s point of view is called empathy.

4. The type of communication most often characterised by an unequal distribution of speaking

time is public communication.

5. Any form of interference to communication is called noise.

Task 2: Analyse the given excerpts below. Identify the communication context that occurs in each excerpt.

1. A sales representative is persuading 120 students in the auditorium to buy the new digital dictionary. He talks about the benefits of using the digital dictionary and the special features of the product.

Communication context: Public Communication

2. You are approaching a new girl / boy in your class whom you would like to get to know better. As you approach her / him, you imagine what you would say to her / him.

Communication context: Intrapersonal Communication

3.

Communication context: _____________________________

ENG 2013 Chapter 1: Human Communication

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4. Three colleagues are discussing their holiday trips. May: The last time we had a vacation, my husband and I went scuba diving. Sam: I haven’t been diving in ages. How was it? May: Fantastic. We stayed in one of the quiet resorts in Mabul Island, Sabah. It was one of the best vacations that we had so far. June: Well, I went to Tioman Island for scuba diving. The resorts I stayed in were so near the sea, I practically dived few times a day. I was there for five days. Sam: It sounds wonderful. I feel like going to scuba dive right away. Communication context: Interpersonal Communication Task 3: Indicate whether the statements below are True (T) or False (F).

1. A receiver’s act of assigning meaning to a symbol is called encoding. (F) This is decoding.

2. Communication competence is a trait that individuals either possess or lack. (F). Communication competence can be learnt.

3. Feedback is the discernible response of a receiver to a sender’s message. (T) 4. Symbols can either be verbal or nonverbal. (T) 5. The channel you use to communicate does not make a big difference in the effect of the

message. (F). 6. Communication is related to physical health. (T) 7. Noise can be internal and external. (T)

8. Your perceptions shape your speaking and listening. (T)

9. The process of understanding and sharing meaning within the self is called interpersonal

communication. (F). It is called intrapersonal communication.

10. Communication changes in different contexts. (T) Task 4: Circle the correct answer. 1. “Communication is a process” means that…

a. communication has a clear beginning and ending points. b. communication resembles still pictures more than motion pictures. c. communication is ongoing and continuous. d. communication consists of discrete and separate acts.

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3. Journaling (keeping a private journal in which you write down your feelings and thoughts with the intention that only you will read it) is an example of…

a dyadic communication b intrapersonal communication c mass communication d interpersonal communication

4. Which of these is dyadic communication?

a. two sisters arguing b. a speaker talking to a group of students (public communication) c. a student reflecting on his plans for the weekend (intrapersonal communication) d. all of the above

5. An example of self-monitoring is…

a putting oneself in others’ situation. b watching others reacting to your joke c viewing a problem from different perspective d watching others’ presenting to find ways to improve

6. Your friend asks to borrow your car. Recently, you have had car problems and have been

bombarded by other friends for requests to use your car. You’re not feeling well and just want to go home. You respond angrily to your friend’s request, although on other occasions this particular friend has borrowed your car with no problems. Your reaction this time best illustrates which principles?

a. Communication will not solve all problems. b. No single person or event causes a reaction. c. Communication does not always require understanding. d. More communication is not always better.

7. Which type of noise is represented by having a stuffy nose, allergy congestion and a sore throat?

a Physical b Internal c Physiological d Psychological

8. Which statement is correct regarding communicative competence?

a It is relational. b You either have it or you don’t. c For any situation, there is one ideal way to communicate. d Competence requires meeting one goal at the expense of another.