Communication
Communication
Communication
Table of contents
1. What is Communication?
4. Forms of Communication
5. Non-Verbal Communication
6. Communication Models
1. What is Communication?
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another.
Others defined communication as the process of expressing feelings, conversing, speaking,
corresponding, listening, and exchanging. In communication, what is conveyed may be words, actions,
facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, and even silence that contribute in some way to an
understanding of the message. Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a
recipient. This may sound simple but communication is actually a very complex subject.
Communication is an integral part of the society. The world could hardly exist without communication.
Even among the other forms of animals, communication is still a vital component to their survival. In every
venture of human struggle communication plays a significant role.
Communication is a vital element in varied disciplines because of its richness in scope and extent of
application. Communication is the act of giving, receiving, and sharing information -- in other words,
talking or writing, and listening or reading. Good communicators listen carefully, speak or write clearly,
and respect different opinions.
The
process of communication refers to the transmission or passage of information
or message from the
sender through a selected channel to the receiver
overcoming barriers that affect its pace. It is a cyclic
one as it begins with
the sender and ends with the sender in the form of feedback. Also, it must be a
continuous and dynamic interaction, both affecting and being affected by many
variables.
Communication
process consists of certain steps where each step constitutes the essential of
an effective
communication. The following is a brief analysis of the important
steps of the process of communication.
1.Sender
The very
foundation of communication process is laid by the person who transmits or
sends the message.
He is the sender of the message which may be a thought,
idea, a picture, symbol, report or an order and
postures and gestures, even a
momentary smile. The sender is therefore the initiator of the message that
needs to be transmitted. After having generated the idea, information etc. the
sender encodes it in such a
manner that can be well-understood by the receiver.
2.
Message
It is
referred to as the information conveyed by words as in speech and write-ups,
signs, pictures or
symbols depending upon the situation and the nature and
importance of information desired to be sent.
Message is the heart of
communication. It is the content the sender wants to convey to the receiver. It
can
be verbal both written and spoken; or non-verbal i.e. pictorial or
symbolic, etc.
Three
Factors that should be taken into account considering the message:
1.Code-
has to do with the way in which symbols are structured
2.
Content- the selection of material to express the purpose
3.
Treatment- the way in which the message is presented, frequency and emphasis
Dimensions of Message:
1.Elements-
the concepts that are comprised in the message
2.
Structure- the organization of the message
3.
Production- the length and employment of the message
3. Encoding
4. Channel
5. Receiver
It is the person or group who
the message is meant for. He may be a listener, a reader or a viewer. Any
negligence on the part of the receiver may make the communication ineffective.
The receiver needs to
comprehend the message sent in the best possible manner
such that the true intent of the
communication is attained. The extent to which
the receiver decodes the message depends on his/her
knowledge of the subject
matter of the message, experience, trust and relationship with the sender.
The receiver is as
significant a factor in communication process as the sender is. It is the other
end of the
process. The receiver should be in fit condition to receive the
message, that is, he/she should have
channel of communication active and should
not be preoccupied with other thoughts that might cause
him/her to pay
insufficient attention to the message.
6. Decoding
It refers to interpreting or
converting the sent message into intelligible language. It simply means
comprehending the message. The receiver after receiving the message interprets
it and tries to
understand it in the best possible manner.
7. Feedback
8.
Interference/ Noise
9.Context
This
is the setting and situation in which communication takes place. Like
noise, context can have an
impact on the successful exchange of
information. It may have a physical, social, or cultural aspect to it. In
a
private conversation with a trusted friend, you would share more personal
information or details about
your weekend or vacation, for example, than in a
conversation with a work colleague or in a meeting.
4. Forms of Communication
Types of Communication
5. Non-Verbal Communication
A.
Facial
expressions. The
human face is extremely expressive, able to convey countless emotions
without
saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial
expressions are
universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness,
anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same
across cultures.
B.
Body movement and posture. Consider how your
perceptions of people are affected by the way
they sit, walk, stand, or hold
their head. The way you move and carry yourself communicates a wealth of
information to the world. This type of nonverbal communication includes your
posture, bearing, stance,
and the subtle movements you make.
C.
Gestures. Gestures are woven into the fabric
of our daily lives. You may wave, point, beckon, or use
your hands when arguing
or speaking animatedly, often expressing yourself with gestures without
thinking. However, the meaning of some gestures can be very different across
cultures. While the OK sign
made with the hand, for example, conveys a positive
message in English-speaking countries, it is consider
offensive in countries
such as Germany, Russia, and Brazil. So, it’s important to be careful of how
you use
gestures to avoid misinterpretation.
D.
Eye
contact. Since
the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially
important type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can
communicate many
things, including interest, affection, hostility, or
attraction. Eye contact is also important in maintaining the
flow of
conversation and for gauging the other person’s interest and response.
E.
Touch. We communicate a great deal
through touch. Think about the very different messages given
by a weak
handshake, a warm bear hug, a patronizing pat on the head, or a controlling
grip on the arm,
for example.
F.
Proxemics
or Space. Have
you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because the other
person was
standing too close and invading your space? We all have a need for physical
space, although
that need differs depending on the culture, the situation, and
the closeness of the relationship. You can
use physical space to communicate
many different nonverbal messages, including signals of intimacy and
affection,
aggression or dominance.
G.
Voice. It’s not just what you say,
it’s how you
say it. When you speak, other people “read” your voice
in addition to listening
to your words. Things they pay attention to include your timing and pace, how
loud you speak, your tone and inflection, and sound that convey understanding,
such as “ahh” and “uh-
huh.” Think about how your tone of voice can indicate
sarcasm, anger, affection, or confidence.
6. Communication Models
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-O-fV5qT-0