Communication“Listen & Look”

By Hasmik Sahakyan

What is Communication?Communication expert Joseph DeVito says, “Communication refers to the act, by one or more persons, of sending and receiving messages that are distorted by noise, occur within a context, have some effect, and provide some opportunity for feedback.” The best way to begin is to first examine the process of communication. For example, when professors look out over their classes, they receive varying messages from their students.

Students send the message that they are stimulated by the course material, while others indicate they are bored or confused.

It is impossible not to communicate because everyone is sending a message

Sender

Sender is the source of the message.

The sender has some information or content material they want someone else to know.

It is generally acknowledged that the sender of the message has the primary responsibility for the success or failure of the communication act.

The sender controls many more of the variables of the communicative act than does the receiver of the message.

Encoding

Encoding is the process by which the source takes an idea or thought and selects verbal and nonverbal symbols from his or her environment to send which he/she feels accurately represents the idea or thought.

Factors that play a part in the encoding process include:

-Social system, culture, past experiences, gender influences, formal and informal education, expectations, and language.

Message

Message is the content of the communication.

This is what the sender wants his/her audience to know.

Message is made up of such things as:

-Composition, sentence structure, spelling, and grammar.

Channel

Channel is the medium through which the message must pass.

The channels of communication are our senses:

-Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.

For example, when you have fallen in love and you want that person to know how you feel. You could discuss it with that person, you could write a letter, or you can send flowers.

The selection of appropriate channels or senses is very important to the success of communication.

Receiver

Receiver is the target audience of the message.

While receivers do not start all communication process, they do have accountability for their communication behaviors with respect to listening and providing accurate feedback.

Decoding

Decoding is the ability to translate the message code into symbols that the receiver can understand.

The object is for the receiver to interpret the message as the sender encoded it.

This can never be done exactly because the sender and receiver do not share identical backgrounds from which the symbols have been selected.

Feedback

Feedback is information that is sent back to the source.

It can come in many forms, from the receiver falling asleep to a verbal message.

Feedback tells the sender how accurately you have decoded the message, and how you respond to it.

Noise

Noise is anything that disrupts or distorts the communication process.

This may include something physical, such as someone coughing next to you or something psychological like a negative attitude which distorts any message sent.

Noise can appear at any point in the communication process.

Verbal & Nonverbal Communication

Verbal Communication is defined as any means of communicating that uses language such as words, numbers, or symbols. Verbal communication requires an organized language system. Such a system is composed of a group of labels used to describe people, events and things in our environment.

Nonverbal Communication is an exchange of messages through body language, facial expressions, eye contact, clothing, and physical appearance.Your nonverbal communication will affect, positively or negatively, the impressions and attitudes people form about you.

Intrapersonal & Interpersonal CommunicationIntrapersonal Communication refers to the times you communicate with yourself, sometimes referred to as thinking or talking to yourself.

Interpersonal Communication occurs between people who have known each other for some time. Importantly, these people view each other as unique individuals, not as people who are simply acting out social situations.