Nature and Elements of Communication

Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of ethical communication?

To promote fairness and justice in communication

Which factor, when lost, can make a message susceptible to misinterpretation?

Nonverbal signals

According to the National Communication Association (NCA), what should individuals do before evaluating and responding to others' messages?

Promote communication climates of caring

What is a key principle of ethical communication regarding individual needs and characteristics?

Mutual understanding and protection of unique needs Signup and view all the answers

Which scholar emphasizes committing to the courageous expression of personal convictions in communication?

Wood (2014) Signup and view all the answers

Why is responsibility for communication consequences considered an ethical principle?

To ensure accountability and fairness in communication Signup and view all the answers

Which element of communication involves paralanguage such as pitch, tone, and volume?

Sender Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the process of translating a message into understandable terms by the receiver?

Decoding Signup and view all the answers

In communication, context refers to what aspect?

The circumstances surrounding the message Signup and view all the answers

Which element of communication is responsible for the transmission of messages between the sender and receiver?

Channel Signup and view all the answers

What can cause distortion or disruption of a message in communication?

Channel noise Signup and view all the answers

Which element of communication is responsible for providing a response or reaction to the message received?

Feedback Signup and view all the answers

In which communication style are messages more indirect and implicit?

Latin American Signup and view all the answers

Which type of culture relies more on nonverbal signs like facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, and body language?

Arab Signup and view all the answers

Which group emphasizes the primary role of communication as building relationships rather than exchanging information?

Saudi Arabia, China, Mexico Signup and view all the answers

Which culture tends to exhibit a polychronic approach in completing activities simultaneously?

China Signup and view all the answers

In a high-context communication culture, what is the main role of communication seen as?

Building relationships Signup and view all the answers

Which group of cultures tends to rely more on verbal communication and facts/evidence to make decisions?

United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Switzerland Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is Communication?

Communication is the process of transmitting information and common understanding from one person to another
It involves sending, receiving, and understanding messages

Elements of Communication

Sender: the encoder or source of the message, with their own distinct characteristics
Message: ideas and feelings encoded, can be verbal (words) or nonverbal (paralanguage, body language, etc.)
Receiver: the decoder or recipient of the message, with their own attributes
Channel: the vehicle used in message conveyance, such as gestures, voice, tone, and other nonverbal signals

Ethical Communication

Ethics pertain to a set of principles or rules for correct conduct as to what is right or wrong
Basic principles of ethical communication:
- Strive to understand and respect others' communications
- Promote communication climates of caring and mutual understanding
- Condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity
- Accept responsibility for the consequences of your own communication
- Commit to courageous expression of personal convictions in pursuit of fairness and justice

Cultural Differences in Communication

Arab, African, Asian, and Latin American cultures tend to:
- Be low context, polite, and indirect in relating to others
- Use more nonverbal communication and rely on intuition and feelings to make decisions
- Be collectivist and view power as a fact of life
Western cultures (e.g. UK, US, Germany, Switzerland) tend to:
- Be direct and clear in their communication
- Rely more on verbal communication and facts to make decisions
- Be individualist and view power as something that should be used only when legitimate

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Description

Explore the concept of communication as the process of transmitting information and understanding messages between individuals. Learn about the exchange of information through verbal and nonverbal behaviors with examples from communication studies.