WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION
Objectives:
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Define the term communication .
2. State and explain the elements of communication.
3. Discuss the barriers to effective communication.
4. Suggest ways to overcome barriers to communication.
5. Relate the models of communication to various communications setting.
Meaning and definition of communication
The word communication has been derived from the Latin word communis, which means share
or to participate. Thus, communication stands for sharing or transmission of information, idea, an
option, an emotion, a fact or an attitude. It includes both, the act of communicating as well as the
message to be communicated. Communication is the process of passing information and
understanding from one person to another. It is also the “the act of any natural or artificial
means of conveying information or giving instruction.” Thus communication is the process of
passing information and understanding from one person to another with three sides to it:
-Transmission of subject-matter or message
- Involvement of two parties to complete the process of communication
- The person to whom the message is transmitted understands it in the same sense in
which the sender of the message wants him to understand it.
Attempts have been made by different authors to define communication. A few are enumerated
below:
Alder and Towne (1996)- Communication is an on -going process involving a relationship
between participants who occupy individual but overlapping fields of experience who are
involved in the simultaneously sending and receiving of messages which are subject to distortion
from various forms of noise
W. H. Newman and C.F. Summer Jr. -Communication means to share in, to give to another, or
to interchange thoughts, opinions or an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions, or emotions by two
or more persons.
,Hudson - Communication in its simplest form is conveying of information from one person to
another..
Keith Davis - Communication is the process of passing information and understanding from one
person to another.”.
George R. Terry -Communication is a continuing and thinking process dealing with the
transmission and interchange with understanding of ideas, facts and courses of action.”
Berelso and Steiner -Communication is the transmission of information, ideas, emotions, skills,
e.t.c. by the use of symbols, words, pictures, figures, graphs, e.t.c. It is the act or process of
transformation that is usually called communication.”
Peter little- Communication is a process by which information is transmitted between
individuals and or organizations that an understanding response results.
William Scott - Administrative Communication which involves the transmission and accurate
replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting actions which will
accomplish organizational goal.
Whatever the definition there are key emphasis of these definitions namely
i) That there has to be something to be communicated
ii) That communication is about accurate replication in the receivers mind.
iii) That there should be feedback from the recipient.
iv) There has to be parties involved in communication
Main aspect of communication
Communication must have a source (sender)
Communication must have content (message)
Communication must have a media
Communication must have a destination: i.e. recipient
Communication must have a feedback
Characteristics of communication
, i) Communication maintains and animates life. It creates a common pool of ideas,
strengthens the feeling of togetherness through exchange of messages and translates
thought into action.
ii) Interchange of information: The basic characteristics of human communication is
that it aims at the exchanging of information. It is a two-way process. The exchange
can be between two or more persons. It may be at the individual or the
organizational level.
iii) Continuous process: communication is a continuous process. It is not static. It is
constantly subject to change and is dynamic. The people with whom communication is held, its
content and nature, and the situation in which communication is held-all keep changing.
iv) Mutual understanding: The main purpose of communication is to bring about mutual
understanding. The receiver should receive and understand the message in the manner
that the sender intended him to.
v) Response or reaction: Communication always leads to some response or reaction. A
message becomes communication only when the receiving party understands and
acknowledges it, and also reacts and responds to it.
vi) Universal function: Communication is a universal function, which covers all levels
of authority.
vii) Social activity: Communication is a social activity, too. The components of a society
are into a relationship of sharing, be it information, feelings or emotions. The same
holds true for business communication. It involves the effort of the people to get in
touch with one another and to make themselves understood. The process by which
people attempt to share meaning and relate to one another is, thus, a social `activity.
Why has communication become so important?
Objectives:
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Define the term communication .
2. State and explain the elements of communication.
3. Discuss the barriers to effective communication.
4. Suggest ways to overcome barriers to communication.
5. Relate the models of communication to various communications setting.
Meaning and definition of communication
The word communication has been derived from the Latin word communis, which means share
or to participate. Thus, communication stands for sharing or transmission of information, idea, an
option, an emotion, a fact or an attitude. It includes both, the act of communicating as well as the
message to be communicated. Communication is the process of passing information and
understanding from one person to another. It is also the “the act of any natural or artificial
means of conveying information or giving instruction.” Thus communication is the process of
passing information and understanding from one person to another with three sides to it:
-Transmission of subject-matter or message
- Involvement of two parties to complete the process of communication
- The person to whom the message is transmitted understands it in the same sense in
which the sender of the message wants him to understand it.
Attempts have been made by different authors to define communication. A few are enumerated
below:
Alder and Towne (1996)- Communication is an on -going process involving a relationship
between participants who occupy individual but overlapping fields of experience who are
involved in the simultaneously sending and receiving of messages which are subject to distortion
from various forms of noise
W. H. Newman and C.F. Summer Jr. -Communication means to share in, to give to another, or
to interchange thoughts, opinions or an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions, or emotions by two
or more persons.
,Hudson - Communication in its simplest form is conveying of information from one person to
another..
Keith Davis - Communication is the process of passing information and understanding from one
person to another.”.
George R. Terry -Communication is a continuing and thinking process dealing with the
transmission and interchange with understanding of ideas, facts and courses of action.”
Berelso and Steiner -Communication is the transmission of information, ideas, emotions, skills,
e.t.c. by the use of symbols, words, pictures, figures, graphs, e.t.c. It is the act or process of
transformation that is usually called communication.”
Peter little- Communication is a process by which information is transmitted between
individuals and or organizations that an understanding response results.
William Scott - Administrative Communication which involves the transmission and accurate
replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting actions which will
accomplish organizational goal.
Whatever the definition there are key emphasis of these definitions namely
i) That there has to be something to be communicated
ii) That communication is about accurate replication in the receivers mind.
iii) That there should be feedback from the recipient.
iv) There has to be parties involved in communication
Main aspect of communication
Communication must have a source (sender)
Communication must have content (message)
Communication must have a media
Communication must have a destination: i.e. recipient
Communication must have a feedback
Characteristics of communication
, i) Communication maintains and animates life. It creates a common pool of ideas,
strengthens the feeling of togetherness through exchange of messages and translates
thought into action.
ii) Interchange of information: The basic characteristics of human communication is
that it aims at the exchanging of information. It is a two-way process. The exchange
can be between two or more persons. It may be at the individual or the
organizational level.
iii) Continuous process: communication is a continuous process. It is not static. It is
constantly subject to change and is dynamic. The people with whom communication is held, its
content and nature, and the situation in which communication is held-all keep changing.
iv) Mutual understanding: The main purpose of communication is to bring about mutual
understanding. The receiver should receive and understand the message in the manner
that the sender intended him to.
v) Response or reaction: Communication always leads to some response or reaction. A
message becomes communication only when the receiving party understands and
acknowledges it, and also reacts and responds to it.
vi) Universal function: Communication is a universal function, which covers all levels
of authority.
vii) Social activity: Communication is a social activity, too. The components of a society
are into a relationship of sharing, be it information, feelings or emotions. The same
holds true for business communication. It involves the effort of the people to get in
touch with one another and to make themselves understood. The process by which
people attempt to share meaning and relate to one another is, thus, a social `activity.
Why has communication become so important?
