What is Communication
Communication is defined as the ability to convey or share ideas and feelings effectively. Several experts agree that communication skills include: Conveying messages without misinterpretation or misleading others. Effectively communicating with a range of people from all walks of life.
Communication Processes, Principles, and Ethics
Components of Communication Process
- Source
- Message
- Channel
- Receiver
- Feedback
- Environment
- Context
- Interference
Kinds of Interference
- Psychological barrier
- Physical barrier
- Linguistic and cultural barrier
- Mechanical barrier
Ethical Considerations in Communication
Ethical communicators:
- respect the audience
- consider the result of communication.
- value truth.
- use information correctly.
- do not falsify information.
Principles of Effective Communication
- Clarity
- Concreteness
- Courtesy
- Correctness
- Considerations
- Creativity
- Conciseness
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Captivating
Elements of Communication
Sender (Encoder)
The sender also known as the encoder decides on the message to be sent and the best/most effective way that it can be sent. It is the sender’s job to conceptualize.
Medium (Message)
The medium is the immediate form which a message takes. For example, a message may be communicated in the form of a letter, an email or face to face in the form of a speech
Channel
The channel is responsible for the delivery of the chosen message form. For example: post office, internet, television and radio.
Receiver (Decoder/Listener)
The receiver or the decoder is responsible to extracting/decoding meaning from the message. The receiver is also responsible for providing feedback to the sender. It is their job to interpret.
Feedback (Response)
This is important as it determines whether or not the decoder grasped the intended meaning and whether the communication was successful.
Context
The context of any communication act is the environment surrounding it. It is also known as setting of the communication.
Noise (Interference)
This is the factor that inhibits the conveyance of a message. Noise is anything that interferes with communication