Coms1010

Lecture 1-
Introduction to communication
 Outcomes
After having completed this unit, you should be able to do the
following:-
• 1. Define communication;
• 2. Describe and explain the process of communication;
• 3. Distinguish the elements of communication;
• 4. Identify the various functions of communication;
• 5. Isolate the various levels at which communication occurs;
• 6. Apply knowledge gained to analyse your interaction with others in
different types of situations
• 7. Apply knowledge gained to analyse communication situations
that you may witness in your academic, professional and social lives.
 Define communication
• Communication is the flow of thoughts from
one person to another.
• Communication = sharing of meanings
• We usually communicate in:
1. Linguistic form( Structured Language)
2. Symbolic form(Pictures)
 MODELS OF COMMUNICATION
• Linear or Bull's Eye Model
• Circular Flow or Ping-pong Model
• Harold Lasswell's Model
 Linear or Bull's Eye Model
• It describes communication as a one-way flow
between two actors (a sender and a receiver).
• E.g: T.V ,RADIO
Circular Flow or Ping-pong Model
• It describes a situation where there are series
of interactions between senders and receivers.
• The idea of feedback and retroaction is here
incorporated, as opposed to the Bull's Eye
model.
• The initial sender of a message becomes a
receiver as soon as his/her counterpart
responds.
 Harold Lasswell's Model

• Harold Lasswell's Model= 5 w’s

• "Who says What to Whom through What
channel, with What effects?“
Information theory
 Source / Encoding / Transmission
• The source is the initiator of the process: he or she
wants to transmit thoughts, ideas and feelings to his
or her counterpart who thus becomes the receiver.
• Encoding refers to the activities that a source goes
through to translate thoughts, ideas and feelings
into a form that may be perceived by the senses.
• Transmission refers to the action of using physical
channels to get the message across to the receiver.
• Encoding is done in the writers' brains as they
try to select the most appropriate vocabulary,
sentences and format to impart their
knowledge to you.
Receiver / Decoding / Destination
• The receiver is the target of the message.
• Decoding is the reverse of encoding and refers
to the activities that translate or interpret
physical messages into a form that has
eventual meaning for a receiver.
• The destination is the ultimate entity that
receives and stores the message sent.
 Message, Channel and Code
• The message is the actual physical product
that the source encodes.
• The channel refers to the physical way the
message travels to the receiver.
• The code refers to the systems of signs
(available language or symbolic forms and
associated rules governing their use) that are
used to transmit the message.
 Noise
• Noise is an item that interferes with the
delivery of the message and that can impede
the communication process.
• 1. Mechanical noise
• 2. Semantic noise
• 3.Environmental noise
• 4. Internal noise
 Mechanical noise
• Mechanical noise usually occurs when a
physical device is used either to encode or
decode the message or both.
• In this case, there is a problem with the
physical medium itself. For instance, in a
telephone conversation, the apparatus or the
physical lines of communication may be faulty.
 Semantic noise
• Misunderstandings thus arise because of
multiple meanings assigned to the same
words and phrases.
 Environmental noise
• Sources of noise may be completely external
to the communication process. For example,
in a public place like a restaurant, the other
people surrounding you and your counterpart
may be so noisy that you cannot even hear
each other.
 Internal noise
• Internal noise occurs inside the mind of the
receiver.