Introduction to Communication

What is communication?

The process of sharing information by using symbols to send and receive messages to create understanding.

Communication is dynamicVerbal/ nonverbal

message

Receiver/sender

FeedbackVerbal/

nonverbal

Sender/Receiver

The Elements of Communication• The sender- the person delivers the message• The receiver- the person who gets the

message• Verbal –words• Nonverbal- gestures , tone of voice and facial

expression• Channel- The sound waves, light waves, and

senses of touch by which messages are sent• Feedback= the verbal and nonverbal

responses to messages

Field of Experience

• Attitudes, lessons, perceptions, and values that an individual or group brings to a situation or a problem.

• Understanding is created where our fields of experience overlap.

Steps in the communication process

• Find ideas to talk about• Adjust your message for your audience• Decide the best way to present to your

audience/listener• Interpret feedback• Deal with verbal and nonverbal interference

Types of Noise

• Interference- Anything that gets in the way of understanding.

• Physical noise- sound that prevents a person from being heard.

• Psychological noise- thoughts and feelings that distract a person from listening.

• Semantic noise- words trigger negative feelings against the speaker or the content

Response feedback loop

Communication SettingsInformal Settings- casual , unstructured situations. Usually not planned ahead.

Formal Settings- situations that you can prepare for ahead of time.

Talking with family and friends Job and college interviews

Introducing people Group discussions

Giving instructions Debates and parliamentary procedure

Talking on the telephone Interpretive situations

Giving and receiving information in class

Public Speaking

Asking directions Electronic communications such as radio and television

texting

settings for communication

Formal Settings• Job and college interview• Group discussion• Public Speaking• Debates• Interpretive situations

• Electronic communication– Radio– Television– Youtube

Informal settings• Talking with family and

friends• Introducing people• Giving directions• Talking on the phone• Giving and receiving

information in class• Asking for directions

• Encoding- the process of turning ideas and feeling into verbal and nonverbal symbols. (The sender does this)

• Decoding finding the meaning of verbal and nonverbal symbols. (The receiver does this)