Understanding Communication

• Communication involves sending or receiving information, implying both an action by one person and something given to another.
• It also involves sharing that implies a mutual action between two or more people
• Black and Bryant (1922) define communication as individuals sharing meaning
• An individual transmits stimuli to modify another individual's behavior
• It includes all processes by which people influence one another
• Communication transmits information, ideas, attitudes, or emotions primarily through symbols
• Communication is a social interaction through messages
• Communication is a process by which a source sends a message to a receiver, via a channel, to produce a response

Key aspects of communication identified by Kincaid and Schramm:

• It does not have to be human
• Participants do not have to be present simultaneously
• It can occur over vast distances
• It does not have to involve words
• It does not require two or more participants
• Thinking can also be a form of communication .

Attributes of Communication as a Process:

• Dynamic: It is ongoing and ever-changing with no clear beginnings or ends
• Symbolic Interaction: Language is a form of a symbol
• Systematic: It consists of interacting elements influencing each other and the system as a whole
• Meaning is Personally Constructed: Meaning resides in the individuals involved

Berlo's Model of Communication's Elements (1961):

• Source: The initiator of the communication with a purpose
• Message: The form in which the source's purpose is expressed
• Channel: The means of encoding and decoding messages
• Receiver: The target of the communication
• Effect: The outcome or response from the receiver

Message Factors:

• Message Code: Symbols structured meaningfully (e.g., language)
• Message Content: Material selected by the source (e.g., a research report)
• Message Treatment: Decisions on arranging code and content (e.g., journalistic choices)

Channel Aspects:

• Modes of encoding and decoding (e.g., speaking)
• Message and vehicle carriers (e.g., air for sound waves)
• Key influential factors availability, money, source preferences, reach, impact, adaptability for source and content

Effects

• Effect encompasses the outcome or receiver response
• Overt Effect: Obvious or visible responses, such as non-verbal cues or signing of a contract.
• Covert Effect: Non-observable but influential responses, like motivation or persuasion

Feedback

• Feedback occurs both when an individual communicates with themselves (internal) and as a response between source and receiver
• Feedback may be verbal or non-verbal

Levels of Communication

• Intrapersonal: Communication with oneself.
• Interpersonal: Face-to-face communication between individuals or groups.
• Mass: Dissemination of symbolic content to large audiences using technology
• Small Group: Goal-directed interaction among a few individuals
• Public: Delivering a message to a specific audience through various methods in the public sphere.
• Organizational: Communication among individuals working towards common goals within an organization

Environment of Communication Factors:

• Distortion and Misinformation: Leading to Misunderstanding
• Lack of Information
• Effective Communication Review
• Berlo's effect theory states the difference between a receiver's state before and after exposure to communication, best expressed in behavioral terms

Communicator's Purposes:

• Gaining attention
• Fostering Understanding
• Securing Acceptance
• Eliciting Action
• Jamias explains effective communication through formula based on message content and source, channel, and receiver characteristics

Noise

• Noise is any interference altering the message during communication
• Examples include static, distractions, and cultural differences.

Classifying Communication Barriers:

• Technical Problems: Accuracy of message transmission.
• Semantic Problems: Precision of conveyed meaning.
• Effectiveness Problems: Impact on received message.

Barriers Classified by Scientists:

• Physical, Psychological-Cultural, & Social

Types of Noise:

• Channel: Affects the medium (e.g., static)
• Environmental: Present in the environment (e.g., uncomfortable seating)
• Semantic: Occurs when the received meaning differs from the intended meaning
• Socio-Psychological: Includes emotional blocks, stereotyping, and absent-mindedness.

Other communication barriers include: :

• Ethnocentrism: Viewing one's own culture as superior.

Communication Competence factors

• Rothwell notes knowing what effective communication entails doesn't automatically make one competent

Quality of a Competent Communicator

• Understands communication effectiveness
• Has a sense of appropriateness.

Components of Communication Competence (Littlejohn & Jabusch):

• Understanding
• Communication Skills
• Intrapersonal Sensitivity
• Ethical Responsibility

Elements of Communication Competence (Shockley-Zabalak):

• Knowledge: Knowing what to do and when.
• Skills: Demonstrating knowledge in situations.
• Sensitivity: Being aware of communication consequences.
• Values: Desiring to improve communication

Local and Global Communication Culture:

• Culture is the complex of knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and habits acquired by a society member (Taylor, 1871).
• Dictionary definitions -beliefs, social forms and materials of a social & racial group
• Multiculturalism values diverse cultures within society
• Multicultural society features people of different nationalities, languages, religions, and ethnicities
• the recognition and special acknowledgement

Cross Cultural Communication:

• Occurs between people differing in styles, age and origin
• Attempts to mediate differences via language and gestures
• Globalization increases contact, and has a large implications

Models of Communication Types:

• Berlo's SMCRE Model: Source, Message,Channel, Receiver and Effect + Feedback
• Laswell's Model looks at who says what? in which channel, to whom/ for what effect
• Shannon and Weaver's "Mathematical" Model features the element of noise disruptions
• Newcomb's Model introduces the role of communication in social relationships
• Osgood and Schramm's Model focuses on the actors

Further Models

• Dance's Helical Model is a portrayal of the communication process in motion and its dynamism
• Kincaid's Convergence Model shows information sharing for mutual understanding.

Principles and Ethics of Communication:

• Know your audience and tailor to them
• Know your purpose beforehand in order to achieve your goal
• Know your topic and its details
• Anticipate objections
• Follow through on what you say

Practical Ways to Improve Communication:

• Communicate a little at a time
• Present information in several ways
• Get feedback
• Use multiple communication techniques.

7 C's of Communication

• Clear in purpose and content
• Correctness via factual information, language, and grammar
• Completeness with all necessary information.
• Concreteness with specific logic and facts.
• Conciseness that is short and simple
• Courtesy that is polite and respectful
• Coherence via Style consistency for a logical flow

Ethical Communication:

• Communicating clearly, concisely, truthfully, and responsibly, in order to enhance human worth, dignity by fostering truthfulness and respect

Basic Principles, include:

• Truthfulness
• Active Listening
• Non-Judgmental Speaking
• Speaking from Experience
• Consideration of Channel
• Striving to Understand
• Avoiding Negative Tone
• Respect for Privacy/Confidentiality
• Accountability