INTRODUCTION TO

COMMUNICATION
&
THEORIES OF
COMMUNICATION
Presented to: Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Qasim
Presented by: Mehrab Sadiq (1106)
Fareeha Nadeem (1113)
AN
INTRODUCTION
TO
COMMUNICATIO
N
 CONTENTS:
 What is communication
 Basic elements of communication
 Characteristics of communication
 Types of communication
WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
 The English word ‘communication’ is derived from the Latin word communis, which means
“to make common”.
 The term communication refers to the sharing of ideas in common. In other words, it is the
transmission and interaction of facts, ideas, opinions, feelings or attitudes.
 According to Keith Davis:

‘It is the process of passing information and understanding from one person to another. It is
essentially a bridge of meaning between people. By using this bridge of meaning, a person can
safely cross the river of misunderstanding that separates all the people’.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF
COMMUNICATIONS
 There are 6 basic elements of communication:

1)Sender
2)Encoder
3)Channel/medium
4) Decoder
5)Receiver
6) Feedback
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
COMMUNICATION
 Most important nature or characteristics of communication are listed below:
 1. Communication involves at least two persons:

Communication involves at least two persons-the sender and the receiver. The sender sends the
message and is known as the communicator. The receiver receives the message and is known as
communicate.
 2. Communication is a two way process:

Communication is essentially a two way process. It does not merely means sending and receiving
messages. It is not complete unless and until the message has been understood by the receiver in the
same sense.
 3. Purpose of communication:

The basic purpose of communication is to create an understanding. The receiver should understand
the message sent and should response accordingly.
 4. Form of communication:

Communication may take several forms e.g. order, instruction, report, queries etc. It may be verbal
or written. It may be formal or informal.
 5. Communication is much more than words:

Communication is not merely sending or receiving facts, expressed in words. It also involves ideas
and emotions. A lot of communication is done through signs, symbols and gestures.
 6. Communication is conversational:

Communication sets up a link between facts, ideas, and thus helps the communicator and
communicates to progress logically
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION:
1. Verbal communication( Oral or Written)
2. Non Verbal communication

VERBAL COMMUNICATION :
 Verbal communication is the use of sounds and words to express yourself .
 Verbal communication refers to the production of spoken or Written language to send an
intentional message to a listener( receiver).
 We use verbal communication for most purposes.
 Verbal communication may be oral or written.

a)ORAL COMMUNICATION:
 Oral communication requires the presence and simultaneous attention of
both the persons.
 Oral communication occurs in situations like conversations, telephone
talk, interviews, presentations, group discussions, and meetings.
 b)WRITTEN COMMUNICATION:
 Written communication is used for many purposes.
 Many types of documents are required for official work. Letters, assignments, notices, reports are
constantly prepared and exchanged in and between organizations.
 NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
 Non verbal communication is the transfer of information through the use of body language
including eye contact , facial expressions and more.
Example ,Smiling when you meet someone conveys friendliness.
Non verbal communication may includes ;
 Facial expressions
 Hand Gestures
 Eye contact
 Body movement ( head movement)
 Personal appearance
THEORIES OF
COMMUNICATIO
N
THEORIES OF
COMMUNICATION:
1. Mathematical theory/Shannon Weaver Model of Communication

2. Free press theory

3. Social responsibility theory

BACKGROUND OF SHANNON WEAVER
MODEL OF COMMUNICATION:

 The Shannon Weaver model was first proposed in the 1948 article

“A Mathematical Theory of Communication” in the Bell System

Technical Journal by Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver
 SHANNON WEAVER MODEL
OF COMMUNICATION
 The Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication is a mathematical theory of
communication that argues that human communication can be broken down into 6 key
concepts:
 Sender
 Encoder
 Channel
 Noise
 Decoder
 Receiver
SENDER:
 the person who generates the information and initiates the communication process.
 E.g. teacher delivering a lecture

Encoder:
Encoding is the way sender turns their idea into intelligible words and sentences.
 CHANNEL:
 Channel is the medium of transmission of message.

For example:
 sound waves

Noise:
Any distortion to effective communication is noise.

Internal noise:
 The sender may have mumbled or have an accent that caused the message to be distorted.
External noise:
There might be a wind or traffic that made the message hard to hear.
 DECODER:
 Turning of words a listener hear into legible message in their minds.

Receiver:
 The receiver is the second person in the conversation, who the sender is talking
to.
 For example:
 Students listening lecture of teacher
 FREE PRESS THEORY:
 Originated from libertarian theory

 Libertarian theory is a view that focuses on liberty.

 It says that it is usually better to give people more free choice

and government should have less control over people.

FEATURES OF FREE PRESS
THEORY:
 Freedom of printing press

 Liberation of official control

 An individual should be completely free to express him/herself

 No one should be forced to suppress their feelings and emotions

 Everyone is free to give information to press

 Everyone can publish whatever he/she want

 LIMITATIONS TO FREE PRESS
THEORY:
 People are free to express themselves as long as expression does not harm anyone

 Press is free to extent to which it does not go against nation

 Press is free from unreasonable censorship but is answerable to law

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
THEORY:
 Originated from “commission of freedom of press” in United States

 The press is taken to be for the people and society

 The tasks of the press is to make a code of conduct and follow it

 The media is taken as a place for the voiceless to have a voice 

  Develop public opinions where each and every person has the right to

speak, express and publish

EDUCATIONAL
IMPLICATIONS:
 Education tries to develop moral ideas and values

 Provide more and correct information

 Make people know their rights

 Free press and social responsibility theory help in all these contexts by

providing awareness and correct information