Communication Process Overview

Communication Process

• Communication is a process of sharing meaning, facilitated by interaction through symbols for interpreting meanings.

Components of Communication

• Context: The setting of communication, including physical, social, historical, psychological, and cultural aspects.

  • Physical Context: The location, temperature, lighting, and noise level.
  • Social Context: The relationships between participants.
  • Historical Context: Previous interactions that influence current understanding.
  • Psychological Context: The moods and feelings of participants.
  • Cultural Context: Beliefs, values, and norms shared by a large group of people.

• Participants: The senders and receivers of communication.

  • Sender: Forms messages and transmits through channels.
  • Receiver: Processes messages and reacts to them.

• Messages: The encoded or decoded information exchanged.

• Channels: The means of transportation for messages, including verbal, nonverbal, and written communication.

• Presence or Absence of Noise: Interference that hinders effective communication.

  • External Noise: Stimuli in the environment distracting from the message.
  • Internal Noise: Thoughts and feelings interfering with message reception.
  • Semantic Noise: Differences in understanding or interpretation of symbols or language used.

• Feedback: Responses to the message, indicating reception, understanding, and potential for improvement.

Types of Communication

• Verbal Communication: Communication through words, spoken, written, or signed.
• Nonverbal Communication: Communication through body language, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, posture, sound of voice, pitch, tone, and volume.

Levels of Communication

• Intrapersonal Communication: Communication within oneself, including cognitive processes, self-talk, and decision-making.
• Interpersonal Communication: Communication between two people, including interviews, conversations, and small group discussions.
• Public Communication: Communication from a single sender to an audience.

Functions of Communication

• Meeting needs.
• Enhancing or maintaining self-identity.
• Fulfilling social obligations.
• Developing relationships.
• Exchanging information.
• Influencing others.

Principles of Communication

• Communication is purposive: Communication serves a specific goal.
• Communication is continuous: Communication is ongoing and dynamic.
• Communication messages vary in conscious encoding: Messages can be intentionally or unintentionally encoded with different levels of awareness.
• Communication is relational: Communication affects and shapes relationships.
• Communication has ethical implications: Communication choices have ethical consequences.
• Communication is learned: Communication skills are developed through experience and practice.

Communication Ethics

• Ethical communicators:
  • Speak with sincerity.
  • Avoid spreading falsehoods that can cause harm.
  • Do not intentionally distort the truth.