What is Communication?

Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another.
Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a recipient. This may sound simple, but
communication is actually a very complex subject.

The transmission of the message from sender to recipient can be affected by a huge range of things. These include our
emotions, the cultural situation, the medium used to communicate, and even our location. The complexity is why good
communication skills are considered so desirable by employers around the world: accurate, effective and unambiguous
communication is actually extremely hard.

As this definition makes clear, communication is more than simply the transmission of information. The term requires an
element of success in transmitting or imparting a message, whether information, ideas, or emotions.
There are a wide range of ways in which we communicate and more than one may be occurring at any given time.

Types of Communication According to mode.

 Spoken or Verbal Communication, which includes face-to-face, telephone, radio or television and other media.
verbal communication is oral communication with words that you or others speak out loud. communication by
word of mouth. synonyms: language, oral communication, speech, speech communication, spoken language,
voice communication.

 Non-Verbal Communication, covering body language, gestures, how we dress or act, where we stand, and even
our scent. There are many subtle ways that we communicate (perhaps even unintentionally) with others. For
example, the tone of voice can give clues to mood or emotional state, whilst hand signals or gestures can add to
a spoken message.
 Written Communication: which includes letters, e-mails, social media, books, magazines, the Internet and other
media. Until recent times, a relatively small number of writers and publishers were very powerful when it came
to communicating the written word. Today, we can all write and publish our ideas online, which has led to an
explosion of information and communication possibilities.

 Visualizations: graphs and charts, maps, logos and other visualizations can all communicate messages.
Communication may be classified according to context

 Intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself or self-to-self communication. Examples are

thinking to oneself "I'll do better next time" after having made a mistake or having an imaginary conversation
with one's boss because one intends to leave work early.

 Interpersonal communication is an exchange of information between two or more people. It is also an area of
research that seeks to understand how humans use verbal and nonverbal cues to accomplish a number of
personal and relational goals.
 Extended Communication Involves the use of electronic media Includes tele, audio, or phone conferencing;
Video-conferencing; Skype calls; Other technological means.

 Organizational communication is defined as the sending and receiving of messages among interrelated
individuals within a particular environment or setting to achieve individual and common goals. Organizational
communication is highly contextual and culturally dependent. Individuals in organizations transmit messages
through face-to face, written, and mediated channels. Some of the main purposes of organizational
communication are to update employees on new policies, crisis communication, ensure safety throughout the
 organization, manage change management, digital transformation, mergers and acquisitions as well as give and
receive feedback from employees.

 Intercultural communication is the verbal and nonverbal interaction between people from different cultural
backgrounds. Basically, 'inter-' is a prefix that means 'between' and cultural means… well, from a culture, so
intercultural communication is the communication between cultures. Sometimes, this is used to describe a
single person trying to interact in a foreign environment but more often, it is a two-way street, where people
from both cultures are trying to improve their communication.

Types of Communication According to Purpose and Style

 Formal Communication, certain rules, conventions and principles are followed while communicating
message. Formal communication occurs in formal and official style. Usually professional settings, corporate
meetings, conferences undergo in formal pattern. In formal communication, use of slang and foul language
is avoided and correct pronunciation is required. Authority lines are needed to be followed in formal
communication.
 Informal communication is done using channels that are in contrast with formal communication channels.
It’s just a casual talk. It is established for societal affiliations of members in an organization and face-to-face
discussions. It happens among friends and family. In informal communication use of slang words, foul
language is not restricted. Usually. informal communication is done orally and using gestures. Unlike formal
communication, doesn’t follow authority lines. In an organization, it helps in finding out staff grievances as
people express more when talking informally. Informal communication helps in building relationships.