PC-Wk1.pdf

Purposive Communication-Week 1 Definition of Communication: o The word "communication" originates from the Latin word "communis," meaning "commons." o To be common means "to come together" or "to commune." o Communication is the process of exch...

Purposive Communication-Week 1 Definition of Communication: o The word "communication" originates from the Latin word "communis," meaning "commons." o To be common means "to come together" or "to commune." o Communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, feelings, and emotions from one person to another using symbols with the aim of understanding. Importance of Studying Communication: Communication is both inevitable and irreversible, highlighting its significance in human interaction. Nature of Communication: o Communication is a process. o It occurs between two or more entities. o It can be expressed through written or spoken words, actions, or both simultaneously. Process of Communication: 1. Encoding: The sender, with communicative intentions, assigns codes (a systematic arrangement of symbols) to create meaning. 2. Transmission: The sender transmits the encoded message, composed of thought symbols understandable by the participants, to the receiver. 3. Receiving: The message, carried by sound and light waves, reaches the receiver. 4. Decoding: The receiver interprets and assigns meaning to the codes sent by the source. 5. Responding: The sender anticipates a response from the receiver in the form of feedback. Types of Communication: o Verbal Communication: Involves using words to relay a message. ▪ Appropriateness: Language should suit the environment or occasion (formal or informal). ▪ Brevity: Simple, precise, and powerful words enhance credibility. ▪ Clarity: Words, feelings, or ideas can be interpreted differently; clarity is crucial. ▪ Ethics: Word choices should respect gender, roles, ethnicity, preferences, and status. ▪ Vividness: Creative and descriptive language adds impact to communication. o Nonverbal Communication: Includes gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, posture, touch, tone, volume, intonation, rate, clothing, hairstyle, height, weight, skin colour, and smell. ▪ Positive Body Language: Maintaining eye contact, leaning slightly forward, nodding, a firm handshake, a calm exterior, and appearing interested. ▪ Negative Body Language: Avoiding eye contact, tapping a foot or finger, continually clearing the throat, yawning or stretching, and standing too close to others. Purposive Communication-Week 1 ▪ Functions of Nonverbal Communication: Reinforces or modifies verbal messages, conveys emotions, defines relationships, provides feedback, and regulates communication flow. Elements of Communication: 0. Sender: Initiates communication, the transmitter. 1. Message: Ideas and feelings the sender wants to share. 2. Encoding: Converting the message into words, actions, or other forms understood by the receiver. 3. Channel: The medium used to convey the message. ▪ Types of Channels: Face-to-face, written, mobile communications, electronic communications, and broadcast media. 4. Receiver: The recipient of the message, who decodes it. 5. Decoding: Interpreting the encoded message. 6. Feedback: Reactions, responses, or information from the receiver. 7. Context: The environment or background of the communication. 8. Barriers: Factors affecting communication flow, including: ▪ Physical Noise: External distractions. ▪ Acoustic noise (e.g., crowd noise). ▪ Visual noise (e.g., physical disturbances). ▪ Psychological Noise: Internal distractions (e.g., thoughts and feelings). ▪ Semantic Noise: Negative feelings toward the speaker or subject. ▪ Linguistic Problems: Grammar errors, poor sentence construction, incorrect pronunciation, and poor word choice. ▪ Paralinguistic Problems: Inappropriate pitch, poor voice quality, or speaking too slow or too fast. ▪ Inconsistency: Mismatched verbal and nonverbal cues. ▪ Use of Jargon: Specialized vocabulary unfamiliar to the receiver. ▪ Information Overload: Excessive information hindering message delivery. ▪ Cultural Differences: Varied interpretations of nonverbal symbols.