Meaning and

Definitions of
Communication
WEEKS 1 AND 2
COVERAGE
Big Picture in Focus
At the end of the unit, you are expected to:
 describe the characteristics, evolution, process, and
elements of communication.
Metalanguage
• Communication is a basic requirement for the success of any
individual. Every profession requires communication as a basic
key to a professional’s success.
• Communication is also essential for a good and productive
society.
• Communication involves the encoding, sending, and decoding of a
message to the desired audience.
Cont’d.
• Communication is a process by which we assign and convey
meaning with the desire to have a common and shared
understanding of the message.
• Communication helps you build connections with other people
from different places with different beliefs, customs, and cultures.
Cont’d.
• Communication allows you to have a better understanding of the
people and world around you.
• Communication enables you to inform, persuade, and motivate the
people around you.
Characteristics of Communication
Communication is a process of exchanging ideas, information,
emotions, and other forms of messages from one person to another.
It is deemed necessary in one’s success in life.
 1 Communication is the blood-line of Society.

In the absence of communication, there will be no society. All forms

of society have communication. Even the kingdom of animals has
its own forms of communication, which are very necessary for their
survival. Communication is a vital requirement in all of our
undertakings (Tendero, Antonio, Mora, Tanuecoz, Babia, & Cruz,
2009).
 2 Communication is basic to Success.

Proper communication is making a business a success. Your ability

to say what you feel, express your ideas, persuade others to believe
in you, and convince them to react or respond to you are all factors
to a successful career (Tendero, Antonio, Mora, Tanuecoz, Babia, &
Cruz, 2009).
 Communication allows you to create networks
3 and build stronger relationships.

Your ability to communicate allows you to make friends, extend

your network or circle of people around you, and build relationships
with people from different places.
 4 Communication is everywhere.

Communication is constant, which means it is everywhere.

Wherever you go, whatever you, whoever you are with,
communication will always be present. The moment you wake up
and think of what breakfast to eat, or a simple thought of planning
your day, is a form of communication within the self. At the very
least, smiling at someone is already a form of sending a message;
thus, a form of communication.
 5 Communication is a two-way process.

One of the very nature of communication is its requirement of a

sender and a receiver. Communication may not necessarily require
two individuals since one can communicate within the self
(intrapersonal communication). It only needs a sender and a
receiver, along with its other elements, for the communication to
process.
 6 Communication is Complex.

Communication is not easy, with its many components and

considerations. In communicating, you have to consider your target
audience’s interests, culture, beliefs, practices, etc. There are also
other things that you have to consider things such as grammar,
medium, and other means of communicating your message, which
make the entire communication process not as easy as it sounds.
 7 Communication is irreversible.

You need to be extra careful with your communication skills since

this is only done once. It cannot be repeated and cannot be taken
back. Once the communication process has occurred, it has to be
noted that your words and their meaning may have varied
interpretations from your target audience.
 Communication Process

This is a guide toward realizing effective communication. Through

the communication process, the sharing of a common meaning
between the sender and the receiver takes place. Individuals that
follow the communication process will have the opportunity to
become more productive in every aspect of their profession.
Effective communication leads to understanding.
Figure 1.The Osgood-Schramm model of communication
(Sources: Kisspng, 2018; Web Editor 4, 2017)
 The Elements of Communication

The communication process will not be possible without

the portrayal of the individual roles of each of the elements
of communication.
Cont’d.
 Sender. This is the individual or group that initiates the
conversation.
 Receiver. This is to whom the message is directed.
 Channel. This is the medium or means which the sender uses in
sending the desired message.
 Encoding. This is the process by which the message is translated
into symbols representing ideas or concepts.
Cont’d.
 Decoding. This is the part where the receiver interprets and
analyzes the meaning of the symbols sent by the sender.
 Feedback. Aside from being a reply or response, feedback is also
a great way of evaluating the effectiveness of the communication
process.
 Message. This is the heart and soul of the communication process.
The message corresponds to the symbols and ideas that are
transferred from the sender to the receiver.
The End.