English & Communication Skills

Effective Communication, Grammar, and Comprehension Notes
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Study Note

This page covers Unit I, II, and III of Communication Skills. It includes definitions, grammar rules (Subject-Verb, Modifiers), barriers (including MTI), and reading comprehension analysis.

Part A
(2 Marks Each)
1 Define communication.

The word ‘communication’ has its origin from the Latin word ‘communicare’ which means to impart, to share, or to participate. It is a process of sharing information, knowledge, and thoughts.

Robert Anderson defines it as: "The interchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writings or signs."
2 List some of the verbal and non-verbal communication.
Verbal Communication
  • Oral: Face-to-face, Teleconferencing, Audio-conferencing, Telephone.
  • Written: Fax, E-mail, Letter, Memo, Notice, Circular, Report, Minutes.
Non-verbal Communication

Includes: Kinesics (facial expressions, gestures), Proxemics (space language), Chromatics (color), Chronemics (time), Oculesics (eye contact), Paralanguage, Olfactics (smell), and Haptics (touch).

3 Classify the major barriers of communication.

The major barriers are classified into five categories:

  • Intra-personal barriers: Wrong Assumptions, Varied perceptions, Emotional Outburst.
  • Inter-personal Barriers: Limited Vocabulary, Bad expressions, Inaccurate translations.
  • Organizational barriers: Hierarchy, Rigid rules, Wrong choice of medium.
  • Physical barriers: State of health, Noise.
  • Cultural barriers: Includes MTI (Mother Tongue Influence) and cross-cultural differences.
4 Relate fused sentence with an example.

A fused sentence (also known as a run-on sentence) occurs when a sentence consists of two independent clauses that are incorrectly linked without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

He ran away she followed him to his place.
He ran away; she followed him to his place. (Corrected)
5 Contrast Skimming and Scanning.
Skimming

A rapid reading technique to get a rough idea or understand the central idea/main points (e.g., preparation during exam time).

Scanning

The ability to locate specific information or facts as quickly as possible (e.g., looking for a word in a dictionary or a number in a directory).

6 Identify the correct verb in the given sentence.

Based on Subject-Verb Agreement rules:

  • a. She [reach/reaches] her office by 9 a.m. daily.
    Answer: reaches
    (Singular subject "She" takes singular verb).
  • b. Twenty years [is/are] the minimum age to fill this form.
    Answer: is
    (Nouns denoting amounts/measurements require a singular verb).
7 Extract words with silent letters from the list.

From the list (Fawn/Unit/Calm/But/Subtle/Listen/Mostly):

Word Silent Letter
Subtle Silent 'b'
Listen Silent 't'
Calm Silent 'l'
8 Define intonation.

Intonation describes how the voice rises and falls in speech. It is often described as the "music of speech." It focuses more on how you say something rather than what is being said, conveying attitude and emotion.

9 Sketch any four techniques for neutralization of mother tongue influence.
  1. Correcting your Pronunciation consciously.
  2. Practicing English speaking regularly.
  3. Listening to English songs.
  4. Watching English movies to understand native accent and flow.
Part B
(5 Marks Each)
10 Describe the Process of communication (with Diagram).

Communication is a dynamic interactive process that consists of five distinctive steps.

Ideation (Sender)
Encoding
Transmission
Decoding
Receiver
  1. Ideation: The formation of the idea to be communicated. The scope is determined by the sender’s knowledge.
  2. Encoding: The process of changing the information into some form of logical and coded message (language/medium).
  3. Transmission: The flow of the message over the chosen channel.
  4. Decoding: The process of converting a message into thoughts to understand the meaning.
  5. Response: The action or reaction of the receiver (Feedback), which completes the loop.
11 Illustrate the types of modifiers.

There are three main types of modifier errors that can confuse the meaning of a sentence:

1. Misplaced Modifiers

A word, phrase, or clause improperly separated from the word it modifies.

The child ate a cold dish of cereal.
The child ate a dish of cold cereal.
2. Dangling Modifiers

A phrase or clause not clearly related to the word it modifies, usually at the start of a sentence.

When nine years old, my mother enrolled in medical school.
(Implies the mother was nine).
3. Squinting Modifiers

A word or phrase that can modify either the word before it or the word after it, creating ambiguity.

Cycling up hills quickly strengthens your quadriceps.
(Is the cycling quick, or the strengthening?)
12 Elaborate the guidelines for pronunciation (Vowels/Consonants).

Key guidelines for English pronunciation:

  • Rule #1 (Short words): Short words typically have short vowels (e.g., "cat", "tin").
  • Rule #2 (Two vowels): When two vowels are side-by-side, they generally make the long sound of the first vowel (e.g., "meat", "plain").
  • Rule #5 (Silent E): If a word ends in 'e', it is silent and causes the vowel before it to become long (e.g., "bite", "rope").
  • Rule #6 (Soft C): Pronounce 'C' like 'S' when followed by I, E, or Y (e.g., "city", "cycle").
  • Rule #8 (Silent G and K): 'G' and 'K' are always silent before 'N' at the beginning of a word (e.g., "knee", "gnaw").
Part C
(Detailed Answers)
13a Explain any three kinds of communication barriers.

Barriers obstruct the free flow of communication (noise). Three major categories are:

1. Intra-personal Barriers

These stem from an individual's own attitudes or habits.

  • Wrong Assumptions: Assuming the receiver knows more than they do (e.g., a doctor using 'SOS' assuming a patient knows Latin).
  • Varied Perceptions: Bias based on position. Like the "six blind men and the elephant," people perceive reality differently.
  • Emotional Outburst: Excessive emotion (anger, fear) blocks rational communication.

2. Inter-personal Barriers

Occur during the transaction of words between people.

  • Limited Vocabulary: Lack of words leads to ineffective communication.
  • Bad Expressions: Vagueness or irrelevance creates barriers.
  • Different Language: Lack of a common medium prevents idea conveyance.

3. Organizational Barriers

Arise from structure and regulations.

  • Hierarchy: Large gaps between top management and workers make communication difficult.
  • Rigid Rules: Strict rules can delay messages and kill creativity.
  • Wrong Choice of Medium: Using written notes when a face-to-face talk is needed.
13b Paraphrase Bibliography with examples.

Definition: A bibliography is a serially numbered list of published or unpublished work consulted during research, typically placed at the end of a document.

Examples of Formats

1. Book Reference:
Format: Author, Title, Place: Publisher, Year.

Karlin, Len, Careers in Sports, New York: Guild Publishers, 1997.

2. Journal Reference:
Format: Author, "Article", Journal, Vol:Pages, (Date).

Weingarten, "Recording Electrical Resistance", Corrosion, 16:99-104, (June 1960).

3. Internet Reference:
Format: Author, "Page Title", URL, Date Visited.

Dewitt, Terry, “Lightning injuries four at music festival”, http://whyfiles.org/137lightning/, Jan 23, 2002.
14a Reading Comprehension: Robotics (MCQ)

Based on the passage regarding Industrial Robots, AI, and Collaborative Robots (Cobots):

1. What is the main purpose of industrial robots?
A) To replace human managers
B) To perform repetitive or hazardous tasks efficiently
C) To reduce electricity consumption
2. In which industries are robots most commonly used?
A) Agriculture and Fishing
B) Automobile, electronics, and packaging
C) Education and Law
3. What technologies help robots perform complex operations?
A) Batteries and gears
B) Sensors, cameras, and computer systems
C) Manual remote controls
4. What is one advantage of robotic arms in manufacturing?
A) They are cheaper than humans
B) They can perform multiple precise tasks
C) They never need maintenance
5. How does artificial intelligence improve robotics?
A) It allows robots to learn, adapt, and make decisions
B) It makes them look human
C) It increases their weight
6. What are "collaborative robots" or "cobots"?
A) Robots that fight each other
B) Robots that work safely alongside humans
C) Robots used only in space
7. How do cobots ensure human safety?
A) By wearing bright colors
B) By making loud noises
C) By using safety sensors to detect human presence
8. What is one concern mentioned about the use of robotics?
A) Robots taking over the world
B) Job displacement for human workers
C) Robots becoming too expensive
9. According to the passage, what new opportunities does automation create?
A) More manual labor jobs
B) Jobs for machine designers and programmers
C) No new opportunities
16a Discuss the internal channels involved in Communication.

Internal communication occurs within an organization among managers, supervisors, and workers. It is classified into two types: Formal and Informal.

I. Formal Communication

Ensures information circulates orderly according to management rules.

  1. Downward Communication (Superior to Subordinate):
    • Function: Provides direction and control.
    • Examples: Orders, instructions, circulars, announcements.
  2. Upward Communication (Subordinate to Superior):
    • Function: Provides feedback, promotes better relationships.
    • Examples: Suggestions, grievance reports, surveys.
  3. Horizontal/Lateral Communication (Same Level):
    • Function: Promotes teamwork between departments.
    • Examples: Discussions between managers, routine messages.
  4. Diagonal Communication (Cross-level):
    • Function: Promotes equality; cuts across hierarchy.
    • Example: Production manager talking to Sales officer.
II. Informal Communication (Grapevine)

Supplements official channels, often occurring during breaks ("rumour mill").

  • Single Strand: A tells B, B tells C (Linear).
  • Gossip Strand: One person tells everyone (Wheel).
  • Cluster Strand: A tells selected few, they tell others.
  • Probability Strand: Random transmission.