2.3.3.3. Public Communication
Gamble and Gamble (2002, p.9) say, «Through public
communication you inform and persuade the members of an audience to hold
certain attitudes, values, or beliefs; so that they will think, believe, or act
in a particular way. On the other hand you can also function as a member of an
audience in which case another person will do the same for you.»
Similarly, Payne (2001) talks about person-to-group
communication and called it «a public speaking». He says that, in
this type of communication, one person, the speaker, addresses the audience not
as different and multiple individuals but as one receiver.
2.3.3.4. Oral Communication
Payne (2001) says that oral communication is a very important
part of everyday life. It is important because as one makes communication
decisions, he is building his personal and professional future. He says that
the value of effective oral communication is immediately evident considering
what it can mean to someone. Therefore, he provides three domains in which the
oral communication is helpful.
First, he states the personal importance. The oral
communication takes someone from silence or isolation which is the worst
punishment in some societies. He adds that communication is the foundations for
friendship, love and our personal happiness.
Second, he discusses the professional importance saying that
effective oral communication is usually the basis of our job to be done better.
Therefore, communication can help us realise our career and financial goal, as
the better the job, the more likely it is to be financially rewarded.
Third, talking about the social importance, Payne says that
effective oral communication is part of our drive toward improving our society.
In fact, according to Payne, oral communication is so important that the
Constitution's First Amendment in the USA guaranteed freedom of speech.
2.3.3.5. Written Communication
Contrary to the oral communication, which is done using oral
and aural means, the written communication is done using different forms of
written texts. Therefore, still trying to compare the characteristics of oral
communication and written communication, Reid (1985) says that in speaking, you
may use intonation, facial expression and body movement in addition to your
words to help you express your ideas, hence help you communicate. However, when
you are expressing your ideas in written form, these elements of communication
are not available to you. Therefore, in this case the punctuation can be
resorted to in order to cover that gap.
Unfortunately, many English as Second Language students are
not equipped with sufficient language skills to use in written communication.
Therefore, Reid (op cit.) states three problems encountered by ESL student
writers. Firstly, they have grammatical errors that interfere with
communication. Secondly, they have difficult to find ways to communicate- fully
and successfully- their ideas. Thirdly, they have problems related to their
cultural backgrounds in that different cultures have different ways of
presenting written materials.
The most important form of written materials which is used in
communication is the letter. Talking on this, Reid gives the example of some
uses of a letter in written communication. He says, «In less formal
situations, a personal letter or not is used. Some uses of the personal letter
are: as invitations, to say thanks, to express congratulations (for an award, a
graduation, a baby, etc.), to show sympathy (for a death, illness, or
accident).» (op cit., p.13) It is to be mentioned that some of these
situations in which a personal letter can be used, are also found in oral
communication.
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