THE PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

The process of communication between human beings has been studied, analyzed and dissected
seemingly since the beginning of time. Our complexity is seen through our use of verbal and nonverbal
communication on a daily basis, as well as our ability to interact with fellow human beings on multiple
levels, mentally and emotionally. We begin communicating the moment we come out of the womb
through an infant squall and do not stop communicating until death. There are several basic, essential
components of human communication that must be understood before further, in-depth analysis can
occur.

A basic definition of communication is: "the process of creating and sharing meaning through the use of
symbols." The idea of communication being seen as a process is of most importance

As such there are three steps involved in the communication process. It is the origin of a thought or an
idea by a sender which is properly planned and then passed on to the receiver in a manner in which it can
be properly understood.
I. The Functions and Purposes of Communication among People

A. Human Communication – “is the process through which individuals in relationships, groups,
organizations, and societies create and use information to relate with others.
B. Communication influences the way we think about and react to situations and people.
1. “The consequences of these actions have significant implications for the kinds of relationships we
form, whom we become as people, and the way we contribute as members of families, groups,
communities, organizations and the societies in which we live.”
C. Communication affects all aspects of our lives: Personally, Socially, and Occupationally.
1. Personal Communication involves a reflection of oneself, and how we (as individuals) have learned to
communicate throughout our development.
a. Intrapersonal Communication – see pdf file

b. According to Ruben & Stewart (2006) “as individuals, communication is our link to the world, our
means of making impressions, expressing, ourselves, influencing others, and giving
ourselves.”
2. Social Communication involves communication between two or more individuals. “Communication is
the means of pursuing joint activities, relating to each other, and sharing ideas.”
a. Interpersonal Communication – Takes place any time a message is transmitted between two people.
(This type of communication is not limited to formal speaking situations.)
b. It includes casual acquaintances, intimate relationships, family members, coworkers, etc.
c. “Often (this type of communication) originate(s) in face-to-face interactions with others.”
3. Occupational communication consists of specific communication skills that employers are looking for;
specifically:
a. Integrity and honesty – choosing ethical courses of action
b. Listening – Attending to and interpreting verbal messages from others.
c. Reading – Locating, understanding, and interpreting written information in documents such as
manuals, graphs, and schedules.
d. Oral Communication – Communicating ideas and information through verbal presentations.
e. Written Communication – Communicating ideas and information through documents such as letters,
manuals, reports, and graphs.
f. Responsibility and Self-management – Exerting high levels of effort, striving to achieve goals,
monitoring progress, and exhibiting self-control.
g. Problem Solving – Recognizing problems and devising and implementing plans to solve them.
h. Knowing how to learn – Acquiring and applying new knowledge and skills.
i. Self-esteem – Maintaining a positive view of one’s self and job.
j. Sociability – Working and interacting well with others.
k. Diversity – Functioning effectively in a multicultural and diverse work environment.
l. Decision Making – Prioritizing goals, generating, alternatives and considering risks, choosing the best
alternatives.
m. Creative Thinking – Generating new ideas.

II. The Elements of Communication (e.g., source, encoding/decoding, channel, feedback)

A. Communication involves Responding to and Creating Messages and Transforming Them
into Information That Can Be Used
See pdf file communication chapter

B. Effective Communication consists of the following key elements:

1. A Sender – who transmits a message.
2. A Receiver – who intercepts a message and then decodes it.
3. Encoding – which is the act of converting an idea into a message; performed by the sender.
4. Decoding – the act of translating the message into an idea; performed by the receiver.
5. A Message – any symbol or collection of symbols that has meaning or utility.
6. A Channel – The medium used to transmit the message.
a. There are various types of communication channels/mediums; they can be verbal or non-verbal, and
include telephones, computers, television, etc.
7. Noise – any distortion that interferes with the transmission of a signal from the source to the
destination.
8. and Feedback – a reaction that the receiver gives to a message offered by the sender.
Digram from pdf
III. The Roles and Characteristics of Senders, Receivers, and Messages
A. The Role of a Sender is to send an encoded message to be decoded by a receiver; the message is
sent via a channel.
See pdf for channel
B. The Role of a Receiver is to obtain the encoded message and to translate or decode it.
a. While decoding, the receiver must account for any noise or distortion that may have interfered during
the transmission of the Senders message.
b. “Coded communication works at its best when the (Sender and Receiver) share exactly the same code.”
(Origgi & Sperber) The Receiver and Sender must have a mutual understanding of the symbols being
conveyed through the encoded message; if this understanding is not present the message may not be
clearly interpreted.
2. Once the Receiver has decoded the message it is up to him/her to provide feedback (a reaction) to the
sender.
C. The Roles and Characteristics of a Message
1. As stated before, a message consists of symbols with meanings; these culturally agreed upon symbols
create a symbolic language.
a. Symbols – are characters, letters, numbers, words, objects, people, or actions that stand for or represent
something besides themselves.
b. A Language – is a set of characters, or elements, and rules for their use in relation to one another.
2. Messages may involve verbal codes – such as spoken or written language – or nonverbal codes,
involving appearance, gestures, touch or other means.a. Examples of messages: speech, letter, wink,
poem, advertisement, or painting.

IV. The Adjustment of Message Elements to Achieve Specific Goals

A. When an individual decides to pursue a particular plan, career, personal relationship, or personal
challenge, that goal serves to direct his/her attention toward certain information sources and away from
others.
1. The goal increases the likelihood that the individual will expose him/herself to communication sources
and situations pertaining (to their interests).
2. The goal may well increase the individual’s contact with other people interested in a similar activity,
and this will have an additional influence on information reception.

V. The Use of Denotation and Connotation in the Communication Message

A. Denotation – The basic and generally understood meaning of a word found in the dictionary.
1. It is likely within a society that there is an agreed upon understanding of symbols within that society.
When someone does not understand the general meaning, denotation can have an impact on the message;
be it a positive or negative impact.
B. Connotation – The meanings and feelings associated with a word by an individual, based on personal
experience.
1. Through self-reference we learn to attach meanings to the symbols to meanings that reflect our own
experiences.
This influence dictates how we interpret messages; what may be happy or sad for one person can have the
opposite effect on someone else.

VI. The Recognition of Characteristics and Influences of Internal/External Variables on Messages

A. Characteristics of the information or message have a major impact on the selection, interpretation, and
retention (of said message). Specifically the:
1. Origin – Where or how the message was created plays an important role in effective communication.
a. Some messages are produced in “our physical environment.”
b. Some messages are produced internally via intrapersonal communication.
c. And other messages are produced using interpersonal communication. “From activities with other
persons…”
2. Mode – Modes are signals/influences that can enhance or distract the receiver from the original
message. “Both purposeful and nonpurposeful cues are vital as potential sources of the information that
shapes behavior.”
There are five types of Modes:
a. Visual – cues pertaining to sight; such as a wave, smile, or clothing.
b. Tactile – cues pertaining to touch; such as touch, bumping, or temperature.
c. Auditory – cues pertaining to hearing; such as speaking, honking a horn, or whistling.
d. Gustatory – cues pertaining to taste; such as food sources and your taste.
e. Olfactory – cues pertaining to sense of smell; such as body odor, perfume/cologne, or pheromones.
3. Physical Character – The messages size, color, brightness, and intensity are also important in
information processing.
4. Organization – The way that our “ordering of ideas or opinions affects reception.”
5. Novelty – Information that is new, unfamiliar, or unusual stands out,“grabbing our “attention”.

VII. The Recognition of Contextual Importance of Cultural, Social, Economic, and Historical Factors
a Cultural – Culture is the complex combination of common symbols, knowledge, folklore, customs,
language, information processing patterns, rituals,habits, and other behavioral patterns that link and give a
common identity to a particular group of people at a particular point in time.
1. The effects of culture on communication can lead to misunderstandings of symbols that may have
alternative meanings from culture-to-culture.
B. Social – People form social groups with like-minded people. Some notions that may be agreed upon in
one social environment may not have the same meaning in alternative social settings.
1. “Through social and public communication the shared realities of language and meanings are created,
perpetuated, reaffirmed, or altered.”
C. Economic – A persons, societies, or cultures economic status can have a profound effect on how a
message is received and interpreted. This is particularly prevalent in this technologically advanced stage
in human evolution.
1. How can someone in today’s society communicate via e-mail if they have no computer? Or if they have
no cell phone? Or if they have no television?
D. Historical – The historical influences on a person, culture, or society have the potential to greatly alter
message reception. Reflect on connotation and realize that each person, culture and society will apply
specific “learned” connotation to their meanings.
1. Consider land disputes, family disputes, racism, alliances, cultural biases, etc. These historical
influences will be “brought to the table” when communicating about these topics and with these people

In Closing
Human Communication “is the process through which individuals in relationships, groups, organizations,
and societies create and use information to relate with others. We have learned in this lecture that there
are three types of communication; personal, social and occupational - each having their own specific
characteristics and necessities. Through these forms of communication we create
messages that contain communication elements. H.D. Lasswell (1948) suggests the “convenient way to
describe an act (the elements) of communication is to answer the following question:
Who
(The sender)
Says What
(The message)
In Which Channel
(Via a channel)
To Whom
(The receiver)
With what Effect?
(Will there be Feedback? Noise?)
(This simple thought exercise will provide an easy way for students to memorize the process of
communication.)
As pointed out during the lecture, after sending an encoded message there may be internal or external
influences upon said message. Be mindful of vocabulary such as denotation, connotation, origin, mode,
physical character, organizational, novelty, and the effects that they can have on the message. It is also
important to consider the cultural, social, economic, and historical factors surrounding sent messages, all
of which can
misconstrue or alter the meaning of intended messages.

conclusion
Human communication is indeed a complex process filled with countless elements, all of which play an
important role. The complexity increases when other forms of communication, such as cross-cultural
communication, occur. Language barriers, mannerisms, cultural traditions, etc. all affect how
communication takes place. Bear in mind that human beings are intricate creatures, both psychologically
and emotionally. Our communication with fellow humans is influenced by many factors, the majority of
which will either hinder or assist in the process.