Communication

Dr. Pinky Sagolsem

Asst. Prof. Dept. of English
DBCK
1.1 Introduction to Communication
 Communication is the process of exchanging, ideas, thoughts, and feelings
between individuals or groups
 It is fundamental aspect of human interaction and plays a vital role in various
aspects of life, including personal relationships, social interactions, work
environments and cultural exchanges
 At is core, communication involves the transmission and reception of messages
through a common system of symbols, such as spoken or written language,
gestures, facial expressions, body languages, and even technological mediums
like phones and computers
 The goal of communication is to convey meaning and understanding from one
person to another
 Communication can take various forms, including verbal and nonverbal
communication.
 Verbal communication involves the use of spoken or written words to convey
information, express thoughts, and engage in conversation.
 Nonverbal communication, on the other hand, encompasses aspects like body
language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and other subtle cues that
accompany verbal communication and add meaning to the message being
conveyed
1.1.3 Definitions of Communication
Communicare or communisto impart, to participate, to share

--
 “COMMUNICATION is the process of sharing information, ideas, and feelings
between people through verbal and nonverbal means. It involves the transmission
and reception of messages, and the understanding and interpretation of those
messages.”

 “COMMUNICATION is the process by which information is exchanged between

individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviour. It involves
the sender encoding a message and transmitting it through a chosen channel to
the receiver, who then decodes and interprets the message.”

 “COMMUNICATION is a social process of interacting and sharing meanings through

the use of symbols. It involves the transmission of messages, which can be verbal
or nonverbal, and the reception and interpretation of those messages by the
intended recipients.”
 Some Definitions of Communication
 Newman and Summer, 1977
“ Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions, or
emotions by two or more persons”

 William Scott, 1977

“ Communication is a process which involves the transmission and
accurate replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose
of eliciting actions which will accomplish organizational goals”

 Terry and Franklin,1984

“ Communication is a continuing and thinking process dealing with
the transmission and interchange with understanding of ideas,
facts, and course of action”
 Importance of Communication
 Plays a vital role in human life
 It not only helps to facilitate the process of sharing
information and knowledge, but also helps people to
develop relationships with others
 It is the foundation of all human relationship.
 It helps us to understand emotion and thoughts of others
 As a result, we will develop affection or hatred towards
the people and positive or negative relationships will be
created
 Everyday we communicate with lots of people including our
families, our friends, our colleagues or even strangers
 We should learn how to communicate effectively to make
life better.
 The Process of Communication
Communication is a process in which message is encoded
by the initiator of the communication using linguistic
symbols and then it is transmitted to the receiver through
a channel. the communication process is an integration of
several interrelated and interdependence components.
1.1.1 Elements of Communication
Communication involves at least two persons – The addresser and
The addressee

1. Sender:
The sender is the initiator of the communication process
The sender or source is the first element of communication through whom the
communication is initiated to convey something to another individual or group, or
even an organization.
Their role is to formulate and deliver the messge
Communication happens only when the sender feels the need for it
They encode the message
The sender transmits the message for some purpose
2. Encoding:

The second element of communication is encoding, which involves the

sender selecting the appropriate words, symbols, or non verbal techniques
to convert their thoughts or ideas into a message that can be understood by
the receiver.

Encoding requires careful consideration of the intended audience, as

different people may interpret messages differently based on their cultural
backgrounds, experiences and knowledge.

 The ideas, mental images, thoughts, the facts they want to express are
given a form when they encode it into symbols, pictures, words or gestures

The appropriate medium of transmission is also chosen while encoding

3. Message:

 Third element
 The message is the most significant part of the communication process
 It is the message that creates the need for communication
 It refers to the information, ideas or thoughts that the sender wants to
communicate to the receiver.
 The message is an idea, feeling, or thought that is encoded in verbal/and
non verbal forms of communication.
 Without the a message, there can be no communication.
 It can take various forms, including verbal communication, written
documents, visual representations, or even gestures and body language
4. Medium:

 Fourth Element

 It is the route/ medium/channel through the message is transmitted

from the sender to the receiver

 It can be through face-toface communication, telephone calls, or

through written letters, e-mails, television, social media etc.

 The choice of medium depends on factors such as the nature of message,

the urgency of communication, and the preferences of both the sender
and receiver.
5. Receiver:

 Fifth Element
 The receiver is to whom the message is targeted
 The receiver may be a listener, a reader, or a viewer
 They are the intended audience of the message, that is, the person or group
to whom the message is directed
 They receive and interpret the message and play a crucial role in the
communication process
 The receiver’s task is to notice and interpret the message in order to derive
meaning from it.
 They bring their own perspectives, experiences, attitudes to decoding
process, which can influence how they interpret the message.
6. Decoding:

 Sixth Element
 The message transmitted by the sender is useless until it is
translated by the receiver.
 Decoding involves the receiver interpreting the message sent by
the sender
 It is the counterpart of encoding, and requires the receiver to
understand the words, symbols, or non-verbal cues used by the
sender
 Decoding is a complex process influenced by various factors,
including the receiver’s language skills, cultural background, and
familiarity with the subject matter
 This is the process by which the receiver interprets and assigns
meaning to the message based on their own knowledge,
experiences, and context.
 Communication is successful only when the message is decoded to
get the same meaning as what the sender had in their mind at the
time of encoding the message
7. Feedback:
 Final Element
 It is the response or the reaction of the receiver to the
message they have received
 The receiver is the sender when he gives feedback
 It completes the communication loop by providing information to
the sender about how the message was understood and received.
 It can be verbal or non-verbal, and it allows for clarification,
confirmation, and adjustment of the message if necessary
 It is essential for effective communication and helps to ensure
that the intended message is accurately understood by the
receiver as intended
 The feedback is only means that enables the sender to know
whether the receiver could understand the message and whether
the communication has resulted in the desired outcome.
1.1.2 Functions of
Communication
1. Information sharing:
 Communication allows individuals to share factual information, knowledge,
and data
 It facilitates the exchange of ideas and helps in disseminating important
information within social, professional, and educational contexts

2. Expression of emotions:
 Communication enables individuals to express their feelings, emotions, and
attitudes
 Through verbal and nonverbal cues, people can convey joy, sadness, anger,
love and various other emotions, allowing for emotional connection and
understanding
3. Building relationships:
 Communication plays a vital role in establishing and maintaining
relationships
 Effective communication fosters trust, empathy, and intimacy between
individuals, helping them understand and connect with one another on a
deeper level

4. Influence and persuasion:

 Communication is often used to influence others’ beliefs, attitudes, and
behaviours.
 Persuasive communication techniques are employed in various fields, such
as marketing, advertising, politics, and public speaking, to sway opinions
and gain support for particular ideas or causes
5. Problem-solving and decision-making:
 Communication is essential for addressing conflicts, solving problems, and
making collective decisions.
Through open and effective communication, individuals and groups can
collaborate, exchange viewpoints, negotiate, and find resolutions to complex
issues

6. Social and cultural integration:

Communication enables individuals to participate in social and cultural
contexts by understanding and adhering to established norms, values, and
customs.
It allows for the transmission of cultural traditions. Beliefs, and practices
across generations.
NB

Effective communication requires not only the ability to

convey messages clearly but also active listening and
understanding

It involves being attentive, empathetic, and responsive to

the needs and perspectives of others

Additionally, cultural and contextual factors influence how

communication is perceived and understood, making it
important to consider cultural diversity and adapt
communication styles accordingly
1.1.4 Attributes of Communication
When the message that the receiver decodes is the same as the message
encoded by the sender, effective communication happens between the sender and
the receiver.

An effective communication is a communication between two or more persons

wherein the intended message is successfully delivered, received and understood.

In other words, the communication is said to be effective when all the parties
(sender and receiver) in the communication, assign similar meanings to the
message and listen carefully to what all have been said and make the sender feel
heard and understood . Effective communication is less about talking more about
listening.
1. Clarity:
 Effective communication should be clear and easily understood by the
recipient.
 It involves using simple and concise language, avoiding ambiguity or
unnecessary complexity.
2. Conciseness:
 Being concise means conveying the message using the fewest possible
words without sacrificing clarity
 It helps keep the communication focused and prevents information
overload
3. Active Listening:
 Active listening involves fully engaging with the speaker and demonstrating
genuine interest.
 It includes paying attention, asking relevant questions, and providing
feedback to ensure comprehension
4. Nonverbal Awareness:
 Effective communication involves being mindful of nonverbal cues such as
facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice
 It requires recognizing and responding to these signals appropriately to
enhance understanding

5. Empathy:
 Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others
 Effective communication involves demonstrating empathy by acknowledging
and considering the emotions and perspectives of the individuals involved

6. Respect:
 Communication should be conducted in a respectful manner, valuing the
opinions and ideas of others
 It involves active listening, avoiding interruptions and treating other’
viewpoints with courtesy
7. Adaptability:
 Effective communication requires adaptability to different situations and
audiences
 It involves adjusting communication styles, language, and approach based on
the needs and preferences of the individuals involved
8. Feedback:
 Providing and receiving feedback is essential for effective communication
 Constructive feedback helps in clarifying misunderstandings, addressing
concerns, and improving future communication interactions
9. Openness:
 Effective communication encourages an open and transparent exchange of
ideas, information, and feedback
 It fosters an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their
thoughts and concerns
10. Follow-up:
 Effective communication involves following up on conversations or actions to
ensure understanding and implementation
 It helps in clarifying any remaining questions or issues and maintaining
accountability
Thank You….