Communication

These notes are merely points that you need to read more upon. The reading list is provided after the Unit.

UNIT 2

UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION

Communication 

* A process of exchange of ideas , information through thoughts, messages or language and visuals, writing or behaviour.   

* It can be intentional or unintentional.  

* Ways in which we communicate is changing and multiplying.

* Minimum Requirements for communication: sender, receiver and message.

* Receiver may not be present or be aware of the sender’s intent to communicate.

* Communication can happen over vast distances.

* Requires some commonality between the receiver and sender to happen. Commonality can be of language, context and culture. 

* When receiver understands the message 100 percent, the communication is said to be complete.

* Thinking Point – Can communication be 100 percent complete? Explain with examples.

Communicating with others involves three primary steps:[

* Thought: First, information exists in the mind of the sender. This can be a concept, idea, information, or feelings.

* Encoding: Next, a message is sent to a receiver in words or other symbols.

* Decoding: Lastly, the receiver translates the words or symbols into a concept or information that he or she can understand.

Western models of communication

* The first one was enunciated in Aristotle’s Rhetoric

* Communication requires a speaker , speech and a listener

* The aim of rhetoric is to search for all possible means of persuasion

Other Western models of communication

Harold D. Lasswell’s model

* Harold D. Lasswell said a convenient way to describe communication is to answer these questions:

* Who (communicator)- says what (msg)- in which channel ( medium)- to whom (receiver) with what effect (effect)

* His model saw communication performing 3 fns:

* Surveillance of environment

* Correlation of components of society

*...