Communication process and its elements

• Comunicación is a complex process which involves several inter-linked elements, so a message can be transmitted and understood.

Elements of Communication

• Sender:

  • The sender is the source of the message.
  • It is the person, group, or entity which starts the communication process, and is intending to transmit an idea, information, or feeling.
  • The sender encodes the message, choosing the words, symbols, or appropriate gestures in order to express what they want to communicate.
  • The effectiveness of the sender depends on their ability to encode the message in a clear and comprehensive way for the receiver.

• Receiver:

  • The receiver is the recipient of the message.
  • It is the person, group, or entity who the message is directed to and who receives it.
  • The receiver decodes the message, interpreting the words, symbols, or gestures which the sender uses to understand the meaning.
  • The interpretation of the receiver can be influenced by prior knowledge, experiences, culture, and emotional state

• Message:

  • The message is the information which is transmitted by the sender to the receiver
  • It can be an idea, a feeling, a piece of data, an instruction, or any type of content that is desired to be communicated.
  • The message can be verbal (spoken or written words) or non-verbal (gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, images etc.)
  • The clarity, precision, and relevance of the message re crucial to ensure effective communication.

• Channel:

  • The channel is the medium through which the message is transmitted by the sender to the receiver.
  • It can be a sensorial channel (air for voice, light for writing) or a technological channel (telephone, email, television, etc).
  • Choosing the correct channel depends on the type of message, the distance between the sender and the receiver, the availability of resources, and the urgency of the communication.

• Code:

  • The code is the system of signs and rules which is used to encode and decode the message.
  • It can be a language, a set of symbols, a Morse code, a programing language, etc.
  • Both the sender and receiver should share the same code so that the communication is effective.
  • Lacking a common code can generate misunderstandings and make communication more difficult.

• Context:

  • The context is the group of circumstances which surround the act of communication and which influence its meaning
  • It can be the physical environment, the historic moment, the relationship between the sender and the receiver, the cultural norms, etc.
  • The context provides additional information which helps the receive to interpret the message correctly.
  • Ignoring the context can lead to erroneous interpretations of the message.

• Noise:

  • Noise is any interference that makes the transmission of reception of the message difficult.
  • It can be physical (sound, light, static), psychological (prejudices, distractions), or semantic (ambiguity of the words).
  • The nose reduces the clarity of the message and can impede the receiver from correctly understanding it.
  • Minimizing the noise is fundamental to achieve effective communication.

• Feedback:

  • Feedback is the response that the receiver gives to the sender after receiving the message.
  • It indicates if the message was correctly understood and allows the sender to adjust their communication accordingly.
  • Feedback can be verbal (comments, questions) or non-verbal (gestures, facial expressions).
  • Feedback is essential to ensure bi-directional communication and to improve the effectiveness of the communicative process.

Other Models and Perspectives

• Shannon and Weaver Model:

  • This model, developed by Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver, focuses on the transmission of information through a channel, considering noise as a key factor that impacts the message's precision.
  • Originally designed for telephone communication, the model includes a source of information, a transmitter, a channel, a receiver, and a destination, with the noise present in the channel.

• Jakobson Model:

  • Roman Jakobson proposed a model which highlights six essential factors of verbal communication: the sender, the receiver, the message, the context, the code, and the contact (channel).
  • To each of these factors there corresponds with a function of language: emotive, conative, poetic, referential, metalinguistic, and phatic respectively.

• Non-Verbal Communication:

  • As well as the basic elements, it is important to consider non-verbal communication which includes aspects such as kinesics (body movements), proxemics, (use of personal space), paralinguistic (tone of voice, rhythm) and personal appearance.
  • These elements can compliment or contradict the verbal message and play a crucial part in social interaction.

Importance of Classification

• Comprehension of the classification of the elements of communication is fundamental to:
  • Analyze and improve communicative processes
  • Identify possible barriers to communication
  • Design more effective communication strategies
  • Facilitate mutual understanding and collaboration
  • Resolve conflicts and build positive relationships

Communication is a complex process with several inter-related elements. The key elements are: the sender encodes the message, the receiver decodes it and the message itself. The interpretation of the receiver can be influenced by their knowledge.