INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION
The term communication comes from a Latin word ‘communicare’ which means to make common
or share. Therefore, communication is a process by which meaning is exchanged between
individuals or an individual and a group through a common system of symbols, signs and behavior.
Communication can also be defined as the process of transferring information, ideas, and thoughts
from one person to another with the goal of creating shared understanding
It is the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behavior to express or exchange
information, thoughts, or feelings with another person
It’s also the process of transmitting information or messages between individuals using verbal or
non-verbal means.
Communication is a two-way process in which participants not only exchange ideas, feelings
and information but also create and share meaning for reaching mutual understanding. It is the
exchange of ideas, thoughts, messages, or the like, by speech, signals or writing. It is to express
oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly understood. It is a process of conveying
information from the sender to the receiver with the use of the media in which the
communicated information is understood.
Communication is the expression or exchange of information by speech, writing, gestures,
conduct or electronic medium. It is a process of passing information, ideas, facts, or opinions
between two or more parties. It is the process by which an idea is brought to another’s
perception. The information that is so expressed or exchanged is also referred to as
communication. It is a complex and dynamic process that allows organisms to exchange
information by several methods. Communication is the process of creating and exchanging of
meaning and understanding between two or more people through the expression and
interpretation of the messages.
Communication is the process of transmitting information and messages from one point to
another for the purpose of eliciting action actions that will accomplish a specific goal.
Communication is done with the intention of influencing an audience
It is a process that involves the effective transmission of facts, ideas, thoughts, feelings, and
values. Communication allows people to exchange their thoughts and ideas through speech,
signals, writing, or behaviour
Communication is not passive and does not just happen; we actively and consciously engage
in communication in order to develop the information and understanding required for effective
group functioning. It is dynamic because it involves a variety of forces and activities interacting
over a period of time. The word ‘process’ suggests that communication exists as a flow through
a sequence or series of steps.
Communication begins with the sender sending out message cues, which are perceived by the
receiver who assigns meaning to them and responds to them as per the need.
1
,Communication cannot be complete unless the message sent by the sender is properly decoded
at the receiver’s end and comprehended. Moreover, communication can be considered effective
only when the receiver’s response is matching with the meaning the sender wanted to convey.
The communication process involves various elements, which are discussed below.
ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
Sender- This is the person who initiates the communication by thinking of an idea to
communicate to the audience. The sender is also referred to as the source, the communicator or
the encoder. The responsibility for the success of any communication lies with the sender.
Encoding – before an idea or message can be sent to the receiver, the sender needs to encode
it in an appropriate code. Encoding is the act of making an idea accessible to others of putting
an idea into a code so that it can be perceptible to the receiver. It can be a verbal code (spoken)
or a non- verbal (written) code.
Code—a code is a set of symbols which when combined and used according to the rules agreed
upon by the users, conveys meaning. The most commonly used code is language.
Message—the message is the meaning, content or subject-matter that is, the encoded idea or
content the sender wishes to convey. As a student you will be expected to send messages to
your tutors in the form of assignments and examinations.
Medium/Channel—This is the means by which the encoded message is delivered to the
intended audience or respondents. Every message must be conveyed to the receiver in a
concrete form, and the medium is therefore, like a vehicle which transports the message to the
audience. The medium can either be spoken or written.
Audience/Respondents— the audience or receiver is the person to whom the sender directs
the message and who has to understand the message.
Decoding- it is the process of an audience receiving, interpreting and understanding an
encoded message. If the audience is unable to interpret and understand the message, there will
be no shared meaning and therefore no communication will take place.
Feedback—this is the audience’s response to the message given. Feedback is essential for
effective communication because it provides a two-way flow of message. If the feedback
reveals that the message has not been understood, the sender can adjust it accordingly.
Noise—This is anything that interrupts the communication process. Nosie can occur at any
stage in the communication process, but it is more pronounced at the encoding and decoding
stages of communication. It is important for the communicator and the audience to be aware
of the various noises and deal with them when they occur, s that they don’t affect the intended
communication purpose.
Model of communication – a model is an abstract representation of reality. The communication
models explain how the communication process takes place, using the elements of
communication discussed above.
2
, TOOLS OF COMMUNICATION
There are various tools that helps in the process of communication. These tools have been
developed by human beings from the dawn of civilization or before. They help us in
communicating sometimes universally sometimes within a group. There are many tools that
help in the process of communication including the following among others.
i) Language: The main function of language, whether spoken or written, is to communicate.
Language is therefore, one of the most important, most clear and most comfortable tool of
communication that is universally accessible to all human beings, albeit in various forms. Thus
there are different languages in this world.
ii) Script: This is a group of symbols used to express the language in the written format. Thus,
script is the written form of language. Script is a mark of human civilization, and it has become
one of the most important tools of communication in our modern world. One limitation with
script, however, is that it has to be deliberately acquired through learning, a process which may
consume a lot of time. Script is thus regarded as the tool of the educated population.
iii) Drawing/Painting/Sculpture/Visual art: Human beings have always used art to
communicate strong emotions, philosophy, cultural heritage, personal and collective ambitions,
etc. Art is a universal language well accepted and appreciated by both leaned and not learned,
and appeals to all sections of the community. Artistic creations are more stylish in nature, and a
small piece of art can convey thousands of sentences by its form, size, colour combination,
shades etc.
iv) Body: Our body is one of the most important tools of communication. Whether we are
using language or not it is always present in the process of communication.
Without body cues our communication may be confusing. Our words must be supported by
proper actions reflected by the body. They may be in the form of gestures, postures, eye contact,
spacing etc. Every action or non-action is part of body language.
v) Silence: In particular situations silence can also act as an important tool for communication.
There are many instances where either we don’t use language/words or we are not in a position
to use those. In such situations silence has the power to convey the message effectively. The
silence inside a temple indicates purity and nearer to godliness. The silence inside an
examination hall suggests discipline and law abiding.
vi) Dress/Costume: Dress has been an integral part of every culture, tradition, custom and
practice. Dress defines our personality and individuality. Dress also reflects culture and
behavior. An individual’s behavior can always be guessed by the kind dress one is wearing.
School uniform, masks, traditional attires etc. convey various messages related to our cultures.
vii) Surrounding/Environment: Environment is very essential in communication because it
helps define the context of communication experience. The environment communicates
powerfully and convincingly.
3
The term communication comes from a Latin word ‘communicare’ which means to make common
or share. Therefore, communication is a process by which meaning is exchanged between
individuals or an individual and a group through a common system of symbols, signs and behavior.
Communication can also be defined as the process of transferring information, ideas, and thoughts
from one person to another with the goal of creating shared understanding
It is the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behavior to express or exchange
information, thoughts, or feelings with another person
It’s also the process of transmitting information or messages between individuals using verbal or
non-verbal means.
Communication is a two-way process in which participants not only exchange ideas, feelings
and information but also create and share meaning for reaching mutual understanding. It is the
exchange of ideas, thoughts, messages, or the like, by speech, signals or writing. It is to express
oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly understood. It is a process of conveying
information from the sender to the receiver with the use of the media in which the
communicated information is understood.
Communication is the expression or exchange of information by speech, writing, gestures,
conduct or electronic medium. It is a process of passing information, ideas, facts, or opinions
between two or more parties. It is the process by which an idea is brought to another’s
perception. The information that is so expressed or exchanged is also referred to as
communication. It is a complex and dynamic process that allows organisms to exchange
information by several methods. Communication is the process of creating and exchanging of
meaning and understanding between two or more people through the expression and
interpretation of the messages.
Communication is the process of transmitting information and messages from one point to
another for the purpose of eliciting action actions that will accomplish a specific goal.
Communication is done with the intention of influencing an audience
It is a process that involves the effective transmission of facts, ideas, thoughts, feelings, and
values. Communication allows people to exchange their thoughts and ideas through speech,
signals, writing, or behaviour
Communication is not passive and does not just happen; we actively and consciously engage
in communication in order to develop the information and understanding required for effective
group functioning. It is dynamic because it involves a variety of forces and activities interacting
over a period of time. The word ‘process’ suggests that communication exists as a flow through
a sequence or series of steps.
Communication begins with the sender sending out message cues, which are perceived by the
receiver who assigns meaning to them and responds to them as per the need.
1
,Communication cannot be complete unless the message sent by the sender is properly decoded
at the receiver’s end and comprehended. Moreover, communication can be considered effective
only when the receiver’s response is matching with the meaning the sender wanted to convey.
The communication process involves various elements, which are discussed below.
ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
Sender- This is the person who initiates the communication by thinking of an idea to
communicate to the audience. The sender is also referred to as the source, the communicator or
the encoder. The responsibility for the success of any communication lies with the sender.
Encoding – before an idea or message can be sent to the receiver, the sender needs to encode
it in an appropriate code. Encoding is the act of making an idea accessible to others of putting
an idea into a code so that it can be perceptible to the receiver. It can be a verbal code (spoken)
or a non- verbal (written) code.
Code—a code is a set of symbols which when combined and used according to the rules agreed
upon by the users, conveys meaning. The most commonly used code is language.
Message—the message is the meaning, content or subject-matter that is, the encoded idea or
content the sender wishes to convey. As a student you will be expected to send messages to
your tutors in the form of assignments and examinations.
Medium/Channel—This is the means by which the encoded message is delivered to the
intended audience or respondents. Every message must be conveyed to the receiver in a
concrete form, and the medium is therefore, like a vehicle which transports the message to the
audience. The medium can either be spoken or written.
Audience/Respondents— the audience or receiver is the person to whom the sender directs
the message and who has to understand the message.
Decoding- it is the process of an audience receiving, interpreting and understanding an
encoded message. If the audience is unable to interpret and understand the message, there will
be no shared meaning and therefore no communication will take place.
Feedback—this is the audience’s response to the message given. Feedback is essential for
effective communication because it provides a two-way flow of message. If the feedback
reveals that the message has not been understood, the sender can adjust it accordingly.
Noise—This is anything that interrupts the communication process. Nosie can occur at any
stage in the communication process, but it is more pronounced at the encoding and decoding
stages of communication. It is important for the communicator and the audience to be aware
of the various noises and deal with them when they occur, s that they don’t affect the intended
communication purpose.
Model of communication – a model is an abstract representation of reality. The communication
models explain how the communication process takes place, using the elements of
communication discussed above.
2
, TOOLS OF COMMUNICATION
There are various tools that helps in the process of communication. These tools have been
developed by human beings from the dawn of civilization or before. They help us in
communicating sometimes universally sometimes within a group. There are many tools that
help in the process of communication including the following among others.
i) Language: The main function of language, whether spoken or written, is to communicate.
Language is therefore, one of the most important, most clear and most comfortable tool of
communication that is universally accessible to all human beings, albeit in various forms. Thus
there are different languages in this world.
ii) Script: This is a group of symbols used to express the language in the written format. Thus,
script is the written form of language. Script is a mark of human civilization, and it has become
one of the most important tools of communication in our modern world. One limitation with
script, however, is that it has to be deliberately acquired through learning, a process which may
consume a lot of time. Script is thus regarded as the tool of the educated population.
iii) Drawing/Painting/Sculpture/Visual art: Human beings have always used art to
communicate strong emotions, philosophy, cultural heritage, personal and collective ambitions,
etc. Art is a universal language well accepted and appreciated by both leaned and not learned,
and appeals to all sections of the community. Artistic creations are more stylish in nature, and a
small piece of art can convey thousands of sentences by its form, size, colour combination,
shades etc.
iv) Body: Our body is one of the most important tools of communication. Whether we are
using language or not it is always present in the process of communication.
Without body cues our communication may be confusing. Our words must be supported by
proper actions reflected by the body. They may be in the form of gestures, postures, eye contact,
spacing etc. Every action or non-action is part of body language.
v) Silence: In particular situations silence can also act as an important tool for communication.
There are many instances where either we don’t use language/words or we are not in a position
to use those. In such situations silence has the power to convey the message effectively. The
silence inside a temple indicates purity and nearer to godliness. The silence inside an
examination hall suggests discipline and law abiding.
vi) Dress/Costume: Dress has been an integral part of every culture, tradition, custom and
practice. Dress defines our personality and individuality. Dress also reflects culture and
behavior. An individual’s behavior can always be guessed by the kind dress one is wearing.
School uniform, masks, traditional attires etc. convey various messages related to our cultures.
vii) Surrounding/Environment: Environment is very essential in communication because it
helps define the context of communication experience. The environment communicates
powerfully and convincingly.
3
