1101-Lecture-1

Communication-Definition, History,
Characteristics & Components

The definition of Communication

Communication is the process of generating meaning by sending and receiving
verbal and nonverbal symbols and signs that are influenced by multiple contexts.

The History of Communication

Talking Era
1. 180,000 BCE to 3500 BCE, (150,000 years)
2. Talking was the only medium of communication, aside from gestures, that humans had.

Manuscript Era
1. 3500 BCE to 1450 AD (Almost 5000 years)
2. Corresponded with the shift towards Agrarian life
3. Villages developed class system as successful farmer turned businessmen took up
position of power
4. Armies were formed to protect stockpiled wealth
5. The rise of a privileged class and armies required documents and book-keeping which
proliferated manuscripts
6. Clergymen, Philosophers and the nobility took up writing which made the system more
complex
7. Literacy was rare during this era. Widespread literacy was only a thing since the 1800’s
Print Era
1. 1450 AD-1850 AD
2. The printing press invented
3. Mass production of text

Audiovisual Era
1. 1850-1990 (140 years)
2. The Radio, Telegraph, Telephone, Television

Internet Era
1. 1990-present
2. Spread of communication on a new platform called the Internet

Characteristics of Communication
1. Communication is the exchange of meaningful symbols
2. We communicate to satisfy our human desire
3. It is a 2-way, social and dynamic process
4. It can be transactional
5. It requires a medium
6. We are all consumers of communication
7. It is a process of persuasion
8. It is the basis of our interpersonal relationships

Components of Communication
i. Sender/Source: The person who intends to convey the message with the intention of
passing information and ideas to others is known as sender or communicator.
 ii. Ideas/Message: This is the subject matter of the communication. This may be an opinion,
attitude, feelings, views, orders, or suggestions. May be an opinion, attitude, feelings, views,
orders, or suggestions.
iii. Encoding: Since the subject matter of communication is theoretical and intangible, its
further passing requires use of certain symbols such as words, actions or pictures etc.
Conversion of subject matter into these symbols is the process of encoding.
iv. Communication Channel/Media/Medium: The person who is interested in communicating
must choose the channel for sending the required information, ideas etc. This information is
transmitted to the receiver through certain channels which may be either formal or
informal.
v. Receiver: Receiver is the person who receives the message or for whom the message is
meant for. It is the receiver who tries to understand the message in the best possible
manner in achieving the desired objectives.
vi. Decoding: The person who receives the message or symbol from the communicator tries to
convert the same in such a way so that he may extract its meaning to his complete
understanding.
vii. Feedback: Feedback is the process of ensuring that the receiver has received the message
and understood in the same sense as sender meant it.

Essential Elements of Communication:

Components i, ii, IV, V, VI will remain the same and the following components/elements will be added:

1. Environment: The Environment refers to the physical and psychological atmosphere in which
the communication process takes place.
2. Context: The scene, setting and expectations between the communicators is referred to as the
context.
3. Interference/Noise: Interference also called Noise are barriers, both physical and psychological,
that hinder our ability to receive and decode the message.
 1101-Lecture-2
Types of Communication, Communication
Competence, Needs Met by Communication

Types of Communication
By classifying communication by number of participants, channels used, context we find 5 main types of
communication. They are as follows:

1. Intrapersonal Communication: This type of communication is classified as communication

with one’s own self. Examples include talking yourself or self-reflecting.
2. Interpersonal/Dyadic communication: Dyadic communication refers to communication
within 2 people. Example: chatting with a friend.
3. Group communication: Group communication refers to communication within a group of 3-
20 people. There are two types of group communication:
i. Small group communication: Communication between communicants of a
group consisting of 3-9 members is considered small group communication.
ii. Large group communication: Communication between communicants within a
group of 10-20 people is considered large group communication.
4. Public Communication: Public communication is defined as communication between
20-50 people in the same geographical location. Example: A speech at any political
event.
5. Mass Communication: Mass communication is communication with more than 50 people
separated by geographical location using mass media. Example: Talk shows.

Communication Competence
Communication Competence is defined as the ability to achieve one’s goal in a manner that maintains or
enhances the relationship between the communicators. Here are some things you ought to know about
effective communication:

 Effective/Competent communicators know that there are no ideal conversations

 They use a wide variety of behaviours and options to communicate effectively. We can call this
arsenal his Social IQ. Social IQ is acquired though ‘trial and error’ in communication interactions
  A few skills that all effective communicators have are: i) empathy, ii) situational awareness and a
iii) keen eye for social, environmental and contextual cues.

Communication meets needs

Sharing information is not the only need or demand that communication fulfils. It fulfills a plethora of
other needs as well. Such as:

a. Physical needs: Communication keeps our brain, eyes, throat and other visual and auditory
faculties functioning properly.
b. Instrumental needs: Communication helps us fulfill our day-to-day activities as well as achieve
long-term and short-term goals.
c. Relational needs: We maintain social and interpersonal relations by engaging in
communication.
d. Identity needs: we create an image of ourselves to ourselves and to other s through
communicating.
 1101-Lecture-3
Symbolic Bases of Communication: Verbal and Non-
verbal Communication

Verbal Communication: Verbal communication is the use of sounds and words to express oneself,
especially in contrast to using gestures or mannerisms (non-verbal communication). Language is a large
part of verbal communication. Some characteristics of language are:

1. Language Is Symbolic
2. Language Is Learned
3. Language is a social system
4. Language Is Powerful

The triangle of meaning in Language: Thought, Symbol and Referent.

Non-verbal Communication: Nonverbal communication is a process of generating meaning using

behavior other than words. Some examples of Non-verbal communication are:

1. Paralanguage: the non-lexical component of communication by speech, for example intonation,

pitch and speed of speaking, hesitation noises, gesture, and facial expression.
2. Kinesics: The study of body movements and gestures regarded as a form of non-verbal
communication.
3. Iconic: Iconic is the study of icons. Sometimes they are only quasi-symbols because they also
portray a meaning directly.
4. Proxemics: The study of the use of touch and space in communication.
 Intimate space: 0-1.5 feet
 Personal space: 1.5 feet to 4 feet
 Social space:4 feet to 12 feet
 Public space:12 feet+
5. Chronemics: The study of the use and structure of time in Communication.
 1101-Lecture-4
The Motivational Bases of Communication
Motivation: The processes that account for an individual’s intensity, direction and persistence of
effort toward attaining a goal is called motivation. There are three components of motivation. These
are:

1. Intensity: how hard a person tries

2. Direction: moving towards beneficial goal
3. Persistence: how long a person tries

Model of Motivation

1. Needs: physical or psychological requirements that must be met to ensure survival and well
being. There are 3 approaches to determine one’s needs.

Diagram: Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

2. Behaviour: Action based on the need
3. Reward: Reward in this context refers to that which satisfies our needs. There are two types of
rewards:
I. Intrinsic reward: natural rewards associated with performing the task for its own sake.
Like: Interesting work, learning new skills, Independent work situations.
II. Extrinsic reward: tangible and visible to others given contingent on performance. Like:
Good benefits, Health insurance, Job security, Vacation time