DIMENSIONS OF

COMMUNICATION
MISCOMMUNICATION
Communication breakdown or
miscommunication can lead
to a total cessation of
interaction.
-results from lack of
awareness of the dimensions
VERBAL DIMENSION

-encompass the
use of language,
the words chosen
 NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
-facial
expressions,
gestures, and
bodily movements
 VERBAL/ NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
-usually used together to
clearly impart the
message.
 VERBAL/ NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
-misunderstanding may
occur when words contradict
actions.
 VERBAL/ NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
Examples:

 A person may say yes but his or her facial expression

says “no”

 A politician may say that he is a man of the people

but then refuses to shake hands with them.

 ORAL DIMENSION
-spoken
communication
-imparts the
message following
the principles of
delivery.
-delivering the words
 WRITTEN
DIMENSION
-transcription of
thoughts and ideas.
-putting down the
words of the
message.
FORMAL DIMENSION

-meticulous
observation of
appropriateness in
attire, language and
setting
 INFORMAL
DIMENSION
-the opposite of
formal
- is more relaxed,
open, and casual.
 INTENTIONAL
DIMENSION
-refers to the display
of communicative
signals or signalling
behaviour in which
the person is aware
of the message
 UNINTENTIONAL
DIMENSION
-refers to
communication that is
not intended by the
sender.
-It can occur through
the use of nonverbal
Considering the influence of
Culture on the Dimensions
of Communication
Considering the influence
of Culture on the
Dimensions of
Communication

-Understanding these
VERBAL/NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
Different cultures have
unique ways of using
verbal and non-verbal
cues. For example, in
some cultures, direct eye
contact is a sign of
confidence, while in
others, it may be seen as
 ORAL/WRITTEN
DIMENSION
-Misunderstadings
occur when oral and
written messages are
not in agreement.
 ORAL/WRITTEN
DIMENSION
-Filipinos are fond of
being too wordy
-Western people are
more direct in
speaking
 FORMAL/INFORMAL
DIMENSION
-It used to be that
among Filipinos, a
speech still depends
whether one views
communicative
situation as formal or
 FORMAL/INFORMAL
DIMENSION
The level of formality in
communication can vary
greatly. Some cultures
emphasize formal
language and titles, while
others are more casual
and use first names even
in professional settings.
INTENTIONAL/UNINTENTIONAL

DIMENSION
-burning up with fever
and hardly able to stand
Considering the influence of
Gender on the Dimensions
of Communication
Considering the influence
of Gender on the
Dimensions of
Communication
-Filipinos, even in this
millenium still hold certain
Gender communication focuses on
the social construct regarding the
behavioral, cultural, or psychological
traits typically associated with one
sex. It concentrates on the roles and
responsibilities, expectations, and
aptitude of men and women that are
learned, and modified as a result of
VERBAL/NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
VERBAL/NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
VERBAL/NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
VERBAL/NONVERBAL
DIMENSION
Using Various Strategies in
Order to Avoid
Communication Breakdown
 Understading
Nonverbal
Communication
DON’T
SPEAK!
 PARALANGUAGE
-is about how something is said.
-Tone or voices must match the
content of the message.
 PARALANGUAGE
-A message with strong points to
deliver must be emphasized with
strong paralanguage.
PARALANGUAGE(vocalics)
Prosody: Rhythm, intonation,
and stress patterns of speech.
Pitch: Highness or lowness of
your voice.
Volume: Loudness or softness of
speech.
Rate: Speed at which you speak.
Non-fluency features:
Hesitations, pauses, fillers, and
 FLOWERS
Flowers are also used to say
what we cannot expressed in
words. These meanings are
also influenced by culture
and gender.
 FLOWERS
The language of flowers, commonly
known as floriography, is a means of
non-verbal interpersonal
communication. It is used, preferably
for lovers, to symbolically express
feelings, wishes, requests, and
complaints without words. Also,
various wildflowers and floral
arrangements are used to send
 FLOWERS
In the Philippines, men send flowers
to women. When men give flowers, it
reflects their reference to women as
delicate and feminine. It indicates
special treatment. When a man gives
a woman flowers, it's a sure sign that
she is someone very dear to him.
 FLOWERS
Example:
The difference of plumeria otherwise
known as “kalachuchi” in Hawaii and
Philippines.
 COLORS
The use of color based on the
meaning of each color.
COLORS
 COLORS
Hospital: Blue-boys Pink-Girls
Tige Pink-Mental Heath confined
rooms
Yellow- Thailand’s king was born
 CHRONEMICS
 The use of time based on position

of power.
 Shows how time is viewed in
various countries.
 Chronemics is the study of human
 CHRONEMICS
Language of time or chronemics is
the use of time based on position
and power. In the Philippines, time
is most often used to convey how
powerful a person is. Someone in
authority may show that his/her
time is more important than that
of the visitors by making them
 CHRONEMICS
 Scheduled Filipino time versus
the time of the Western people
CHRONEMICS
 PROXEMICS
 The use of space to show
importance
 Use of space provides us with ideas

about how close or how far people

are from the center of power or
 PROXEMICS
This type of non-verbal
communication is similarly used as
chronemics by people who want to
show who they are. In some
companies, the one who holds the
highest position usually has the
biggest office and in the best location
such as on the top floor or penthouse
of the building. Distance can express
 PROXEMICS
Avoiding eye contact with others
Maintaining a poker face with no
emotion
Keeping an eye on the floor
numbers as they change
Pretending to be deeply engrossed
in a book or newspaper
Standing close in a crowded
elevator (demonstrates necessity
HAPTICS
 HAPTICS
 The use of touch to express
what cannot be said.
 There is contact between the
sender and the receiver of the
message.
 HAPTICS
 Unlike the other types, in
Haptics, there is contact
between the sender and the
receiver of the message. Touch
can comfort, encourage,
dissuade, or aggravate.
 HAPTICS
Handshake: A Universal Gesture of
Greeting and Establishing Connection
Hug: Expressing Affection and Comfort
Pat on the Back: Encouragement and
Congratulation
Holding Hands: Intimacy and
Connection
Shoulder Squeeze: Support and
Reassurance
High-Five: Celebration and Camaraderie
 LANGUAGE OF GESTURES
To be more understandable and
interesting to a listener, the
speaker must accompany his/her
speech with gestures but one
has to consider the culture of the
receiver because gestures have
different meanings in other
places.
 LANGUAGE OF GESTURES
Emphasizing-YES! (fist pounding
the table)
Regulating- “Shh” (forefinger in
front of the lips)
 LANGUAGE OF GESTURES
Illustrating- “this large”( hands set
apart)
Emblems- clenched fist upraised
FACIAL EXPRESSION
 FACIAL EXPRESSION
The face plays a very important role
in communication. It expresses
various types of emotions or feelings
such as joy, sorrow, anger,
annoyance, confusion, fear, hatred or
 FACIAL EXPRESSION
The configuration of the eyes,
eyebrows, lips, cheeks, nose and
forehead to show how the person
feels
 POSTURE AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE

The way one carries and dresses

herself.
 ACTIVITY

Give three (3) examples of situations

under the different nonverbal

communications.

Example: Paralanguage
 The tone of saying Good
 VERBAL
COMMUNICATIONS
 OPINION AND BELIEFS
 Opinion and Beliefs- color our
message or our response. The
participants, both speaker and
listener have opinions and beliefs that
belong to a culture and a gender.
 TOPIC
Topic may also be a barrier to communication

because of its vagueness, complexity,

emotional pull, or hidden agenda. The speaker

must avoid these qualities in the topic of the

message so that, instead, it will be clear,

 COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION
is another group of possible barriers
to communication.
There may be “noise” in the physical
setting and in the participants
themselves. The actual noise from
the surrounding may cause the
participants to understand one
another. At the same time, the
participants may have their own
motives for participating, motives