SH1709S

THE NATURE AND ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION

Communication
• Communication is any process where people use symbols, verbally and/or nonverbally,
consciously, or not consciously, intentionally or unintentionally, to generate meanings
(information, ideas, feelings, and perceptions) within and across various contexts. Cultures,
channels, and media (Hybels & Weaver II, 2009).
• Communication is a systematic process in which people interact with and through symbols to
create and interpret meanings (Wood, 2009).
• Communication is a process by which verbal and nonverbal symbols are sent, received, and given
meaning (Seiler, 1988).
• Communication is “the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or
exchange information or for expressing your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else.”
• It is “the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or
behavior.”

Elements of Communication

For communication to take place, there must be five (5) factors involved:
• Sender – the speaker or the communicator who has his/her purpose, knowledge, interests,
attitudes, skills, and credibility
• Message – ideas being transmitted by the sender to the listener
• Channel – the medium or vehicle through which the message is sent, verbal or visual. The latter
is often supplemented with pictorial and aural channels.
• Receiver – the target of the communication. S/he is the message's destination, the listener, with
his/her purposes, knowledge and interest levels, attitudes, and listening skills.
• Feedback – the reaction given by the listener to the sender of the message. It is what completes
the communication process.

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Communication Process
Communication is a process and comes in stages. It starts with the encoding and ends with the decoding.
The encoder is more popularly known as the sender of the message. S/he transmits the message (for
example, an idea) to the receiver, a more popular term for the decoder of the message. The recipient tries
to understand the message; if he does, communication occurs. He may then give his feedback. If there is a
continuous exchange of messages between the sender and the receiver, particularly in oral discourse,
communication takes the form of a cycle (Menoy, 2010). He adds that in cases where a channel (medium
or instrument used to transmit the message, for example, a telephone) of communication forms part of
the diagram.

There are varied channel categories: verbal, nonverbal, personal, non-personal, etc. It is the medium
through which communication is transmitted from one person to the receiver, categorized as oral, written,
formal, and/or informal.

Common channels include the telephone and a variety of written forms such as memos, letters, and
reports. It may also be the paper on which words are written or the Internet acting in the client-server
model that allows you to read information.

Feedback is a signal which may be verbal or nonverbal, that the recipient of the message exhibits as a
response to the message sent by the source/sender.

Models of Communication
1. Aristotle's Model of Communication (before 300 BC) – is the earliest known communication
model. It is an example of a Linear Model or a one-way communication process in which one
person – the sender, usually a speaker – gives a message or speech to a person or group of people
(the audience) for a certain effect (purpose). This model is more acceptable in public speaking
than interpersonal communication when immediate feedback from the audience or receiver is
not expected.

2. Laswell’s Model and Shannon- Weaver diagram (1948) show the progress of communication in
one direction, from the sender to the receiver. The sender remains a sender and does not become
a listener. Other scholars disagree with this idea.

3. Schramm Model 1 (1954) – is an example of the Interactive Model of Communication where

feedback from the receiver is added. The listener or the audience gives feedback and, in the
process, does not remain a passive recipient of the message. The listener becomes a sender too,
and the roles reverse. That is, the sender becomes a listener; then, the listener becomes a speaker
by giving feedback. The interactive model also shows the role of the sender and receiver of the
Field of Experience.

4. David Berlo’s Model – is a transactional model of communication which captures the dynamic
relationship between the sender and the receiver and their complex relationship. It also shows
the interplay of time and noise in the process. In the Transactional Model of Communication, the
persons involved are called communicators since both ore senders and receivers simultaneously

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Tenets of Communication
1. Lee McGaan’s Four (4) C's or tenets of effective communication
a. Commitment - all members of the organization must exhibit a commitment to the idea that
effective communication is a high priority in their jobs
b. Context - the sender and the receiver should operate in the same context or at least understand
the similarity and differences of their respective contexts to address any occurrence of
misunderstanding
c. Consistency - important processes and procedures, as well as themes, goals, and perspectives,
should be communicated properly and repeatedly performed to be understood, remembered,
and acted upon judiciously
d. Concern - Effective communicator preempts likely misunderstanding by ensuring that the sender
is responsible for setting clear, meaningful, and appropriate communications. They are concerned
not only with the content of the message but with what those messages convey about themselves
as senders and their relationship with the receiver. They also consider that the receivers should
not be blamed solely when communication fails.

2. According to Rich Maggiani, effective communication must adhere to these ten tenets. Effective
communication is:
• honest
• clear
• accurate
• comprehensive
• accessible
• concise
• correct
• timely
• well designed
• builds goodwill

3. Five Axioms of Communication (Gamble and Gamble)

• You cannot communicate.
• Every interaction has a content dimension and a relationship dimension.
• Every interaction is defined by how it is punctuated.
• Messages consist of verbal symbols and nonverbal cues.
• Interactions are either symmetrical or complementary.

References:
Intercultural Communication. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercultural_communication last
February 20, 2015
Menoy, Jesus Z. 2010. Oral Communication and Public Speaking. Mandaluyong City, Manila. Books Atbp. Publishing
Corp. Effective Communication. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships/effective-
communication.htm last February 20, 2015

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