Communication

The Art of Interacting with others

What is Communication?


The transfer of Information, Understanding and Emotion from one person to another The interdependent process of Sending, Receiving and Understanding and responding to messages

Communication


Is an on-going, dynamic process onActively involves the Sender and the Receiver simultaneously May be
Verbal: Oral/written word Non-verbal: Gestures, drama, materials Non-

Effective Communication


Stems from our understanding of ourselves and others Involves Our ability to listen Our verbal communication skills Our non-verbal communication skills non Our understanding of our relationship with others Our ability to analyse an audience, or to understand context Our knowledge of the way to research, prepare and deliver a public speech.

The Communication Process: Elements



Sender Person with whom the message to be communicated originates Encodes or gives expression to the message Message Thought, idea or information the Sender wishes to pass on to another The Message has meaning. It is this that has to be sent

Medium The medium is the method that the Sender chooses for encoding the message. This may be written or oral. These are both verbal. The Sender may also encode his message through drama and other non-verbal means. The Medium is often confused with the Channel. One way to distinguish them is that the Medium must be determined before the Channel is chosen, and often, Medium determines Channel e.g. Medium: Email; Channel: Internet Channel The Message is sent via a Channel which is the means of transporting the message from the Sender to the Receiver, e.g. post office, internet, etc.

The Communication Process: Elements



Receiver Person receiving or Decoding the message Noise Anything that distorts a message by interfering with the communication process  Radio playing in the background  Another person trying to enter the conversation

Feedback The Receiver transmits verbal and non-verbal nonfeedback to indicate his/her reception and understanding of the message

Describing the Process: A Model of Communication

Barriers and Facilitators

Muddled messages - Effective communication starts with a clear message. Contrast these two messages: "Please be here about 7:00 tomorrow morning. "Please be here at 7:00 tomorrow morning. The one word difference makes the first message muddled and the second message clear.

Wrong channel - "Good morning." An oral channel for this message is highly appropriate. Writing "GOOD MORNING!" on a chalkboard is less effective than a warm oral greeting

Facilitator


Eg. Eg. of facilitator Selecting a language which is familiar to the receiver .

Barrier


Eg. Eg. Of Barrier to Communication is Sender and Receiver speak different languages

Forms of Communication


Cathy would like to describe her graduation ceremony to her aunt who lives in Australia. Think of two ways in which she could do this After the graduation, Cathy wants to describe to her brother how some of the girls walked up to collect their certificate. What do you think she would do?

Forms of Communication


Verbal
Requires words May be speech or writing  Conversation Face-to-face Face-to Telephone  Letter  Email  Text message  Fax  Messenger/chat

Forms of Communication


NonNon-Verbal
Relies on elements other than speech or writing Is just as important as verbal communication  Body language (gestures, facial expression)  Use of objects  Graphics ( diagrams)

FORM and CONTEXT



The specific FORM of communication is, or should be, intimately related to the CONTEXT in which it is used One element of our COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE is our ability to get our message across accurately

Contexts of Communication


In order to evaluate the appropriateness or effectiveness of a communication act, we must first understand its context. Communication does not occur in a vacuum. It occurs within a CONTEXT The circumstances of a communicative act are referred to as the CONTEXT of communication

Contexts of Communication


Who is present, or who is being addressed. The general attitude of your audience.

Contexts of Communication
Context may be  FORMAL
Certain societal norms are evident and there are perceived patterns of behaviour


NONNON-FORMAL/INFORMAL
Individuals or groups are not constrained by specified ways in which communication would normally take place

Contexts of Communication


Intrapersonal- Thinking, solving

problems, imagining

Interpersonal interviews,
conversations, intimate communication

Small group leadership meeting,

brainbrain-storming, prayer meeting

Contexts of Communication


Organizational business,
government, official purposes, educational

Academic essay, research paper,

doctoral thesis

Public speeches, debates  Intercultural communicating



across social sub-group, in tourism sub-