Communication Fundamentals

Communication: The Foundation of Human Interaction

• Communication is essential for human function.
• Oral communication is a primary form which uses language.
• Language is used for multiple reasons and purposes.
• Understanding communication, especially oral communication, improves communication competence.

The Process of Communication: A Breakdown

• Sender: The source of the message, transmitting both verbal and non-verbal signals.
  • Codification: The process of converting thoughts into words, using language.
• Message: The intended ideas or thoughts conveyed from sender to receiver.
  • Interpretation depends on the receiver.
  • Shared cultural background and experiences (schema) between sender and receiver influence interpretation.
• Channel: The medium through which the message travels, connecting the sender and receiver.
  • Noise: Any interference that interferes with the clarity of the message, hindering communication quality.
• Receiver: The recipient of the message, responsible for decoding it.
  • Decoding: The process of converting received signals into thoughts or meaning.
• Feedback: The receiver's response to the sender's message, essential for understanding and mutual comprehension.
  • Feedback clarifies meaning and ensures the receiver's understanding aligns with the sender's intent.

What is Communication?

• Communication is essential to human life and is a primary way of functioning.
• Oral communication is a major factor in communicating.
• Language is used for various reasons and ways.

Process of Communication

• Sender: The transmitter that converts thoughts into words through codification using language.
• Message: Ideas or thoughts that are transmitted through a channel. The interpretation relies on the receiver's schema, which is a combination of culture and experience.
• Channel: The medium for encoding and decoding messages, connecting the sender and receiver.
• Noise: Anything that impairs the message quality and weakens communication.
• Receiver: The decoder of the message. They convert signals into their own thoughts through decoding, deciphering, or interpretation.
• Feedback: The receiver's response to the sender’s message. Crucial for understanding between the parties.

Communication Models

• Aristotle’s Model: Emphasized the setting where the listener is situated, dictating the message. Settings included legal, deliberative, and ceremonial.
• Shannon and Weaver (1948): Introduced the concept of "noise." Known as the Telephone Model, it highlights the interference caused by noise, leading to a difference between the message sent and the message received due to external factors.
• Schramm’s Model: Focuses on communication breakdown. Proposed that communication occurs only if there's an overlap between the sender and receiver's field of experience.
• White’s Model: Depicts communication as circular and continuous, without a clear beginning or end. Contributed the concept of feedback, allowing for understanding of the listener's response through active monitoring.

Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication

• Verbal communication utilizes words.
• Nonverbal communication involves hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language.
• Effective communicators use non-verbal expressions to enhance their message delivery.