CHAPTER 1: COMMUNICATION PROCESS

Learning Objectives:
1. explain the concept of communication
2. describe different types of communication
3. delineate the process and elements of communication
4. identify various barriers which exist in the process of communication

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever noticed how we express ourselves or interact with each other? Have you ever
wondered what communication is and what role it plays in our lives? Communication
generally means the exchange of messages with others but it can also be with one’s own self
where the self is the sender and receiver of messages.

Why study communication at all? We need to study communication because it is a complex

process which consists of many elements and is also beset with a number of barriers. There is
a need to take these elements into consideration and try to remove the barriers so that
communication becomes complete and attains its desired goal, which in our case, is to
facilitate effective teaching and learning.

CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION
The word communication has it origin in the Latin word 'communis' that means 'to make
common'. Communication facilitates sharing of common experiences with others. It involves
sharing of an idea, thought, feeling or information with others, which includes thinking,
dreaming, speaking, arguing and so on. Thus the scope of communication is very wide.
Communication is part skill, part art and part science. It is a skill as it involves certain
fundamental techniques, it is an art as it involves creative challenges, and it is science
because certain verifiable principles are involved in making communication more effective.
All this makes communication a complex process.

Communication is not a static act but a dynamic process, which is continuous in nature and
vital for teaching and learning. It involves the usage of a channel. This channel could be
signs, symbols or verbal/written language. For communication to be complete and effective it
has to achieve the desired objectives as intended by the communicator. For example, in a
classroom situation, the teacher has to make special efforts to convey the message to the
learners. S/he has to clearly define the objectives of the lesson and the message has to be
conveyed with the help of appropriate oral and written signs, symbols and body language.
Only when the meaning has been understood by the learners and in the same idiom as
intended by the teacher, we can say that the communication has been successful. Thus,
communication can be defined as a process of sharing or exchange of ideas, information,
knowledge, attitudes or feelings among two or more persons through certain signs and
symbols leading to a desired response as intended by the communicator. Even our behavior
can communicate messages. For instance, warmth towards someone or indifference can be
 conveyed even without speech or written messages just through gestures, facial expressions
and body language.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
1. Intrapersonal Communication

The word 'intra' denotes 'within'. When we communicate within ourselves, it is intrapersonal
communication. This can take the form of thinking, analyzing, dreaming or introspecting.
Day dreaming, self-talk and memories are all facets of intrapersonal communication.

Intrapersonal communication is a kind of internal dialogue that takes place within an

individual while contemplating, conceptualizing and formulating our thoughts or ideas before
we actually express them. Due to individual differences, the levels of intrapersonal
communication may vary from one person to another. Writers, thinkers and philosophers
generally devote more time to intrapersonal communication.

2. Interpersonal Communication

When two persons communicate with each other, the communication is interpersonal. Our
everyday exchanges, formal or informal, which may take place anywhere come under this
type of communication. There is certain amount of proximity between the sender and the
receiver who may be able to see each other closely, watch the facial expressions, postures,
gestures, body language etc. or may make them out from the tone and expressions when they
communicate without seeing each other, for instance over telephone. In interpersonal
communication, the roles of the sender and receiver become interchangeable. There are many
sensory channels used and feedback is immediate. It allows you to clarify your views,
persuade or motivate another person more effectively than any other mode of
communication.

Interpersonal communication has been analyzed from two perspectives: contextual and
developmental. The contextual view does not take into account the relationship between
those who interact whereas the developmental one defines it as communication that occurs
between persons who have known each other for some time. It argues that our interaction
with a salesperson is different from our interaction with friends and family members.

3. Group Communication

As the name suggests, when people communicate in group situations, this is known as group
communication. This is an extension of interpersonal communication where more than two
individuals are involved in the process of communication. The groups can be both formal as
well as informal depending on the type and objectives of communication but generally they
have common interests and goals. The group dynamics can be different as well as complex.
For example, the composition, nature, role and objectives of a group that assembles to
exercise every morning in a park would be different from the one that gathers to participate
in a national seminar of social/educational/political nature or the one which assembles to
discuss the problems of shareholders. Sometimes the group can turn into a mob. For
example, a peaceful demonstration of students may turn unruly due to break down of the
communication process with the management of the school.

The communication process in a group depends on its size, nature, objectives and dynamics.
For example, communication in a small group with members at the same place will be close
to interpersonal communication as the receiver can see the sender of the message closely and
follow his/her facial expressions, body language etc. S/he can pose questions and get the
doubts clarified and thus obtain feedback. However, when the size of the group increases,
there is less scope for understanding and deciphering the movements, body language and
other such things about the speaker. The sender may not follow the response of the individual
receiver and thus the feedback is reduced.

Group communication is useful in taking collective decision on a problem, an issue or a

matter of common interest. Depending on the quality of group members and leaders,
effective decisions can be made incorporating divergent point of views. However, this is not
free from limitations. All members of a group may not be able to freely participate in
deliberations, as some may be dominant speakers while others too shy or reluctant to express
themselves thus affecting a free flow of communication. All these factors have greater
implications in group communication. Classroom communication also falls under group
communication in which these factors play an important role.

4. Mass Communication

This type of communication is different from all the three types discussed so far. In mass
communication, the communicator is separated from the audience in terms of time and place.
Communication takes place simultaneously with the help of an electronic device, in which an
institution is involved. These electronic devices are known as mass media such as print,
radio, television, the Internet, etc. The audience is 'mass' i.e. it has a heterogeneous profile,
are unknown to each other and located in widespread locations. Feedback in mass
communication is considered to be weak and delayed as compared to group and interpersonal
communication. Today with developments in the field of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), communication through electronic media may be interactive and feedback
may not be delayed. Even now print medium for instance, newspapers, journals, news
broadcast, etc., engaged in mass communication do not generate as much feedback as the
other types of communication.

Due to advancements in the field of ICT and widening accessibility to it, interpersonal and
group communication today do not necessitate the physical presence of the communicators.
We spend long durations while communicating through telephone, sending and checking e-
mails, conferencing, etc.
ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION:

Source: The source of communication is the sender who has a message to impart. The sender
has to decide how to communicate a message, which channel is to be selected for the
message and what type of strategies should be planned so that the message makes the desired
response. The sender provides verbal or non-verbal cues that can be received, interpreted and
responded to by the receiver.

Message: Message is a set of signs and symbols which are given by the source to create
meanings for the receiver. Simply put, message is the content which is shared between the
participants in the communication process. To make the message effective, the sender has to
understand the nature and profile of the receiver of the message, his/her needs and
expectations and possible response to the message. This is important in both face-to-face as
well as mediated situations.

Channel: Channel is the medium used to communicate a message from the sender to
receiver. The channel could be spoken word, printed word, electronic media, or even non-
verbal cues such as signs, gestures, body language, facial expressions, etc. In modern
communication parlance, the word 'channel' mostly refers to mass communication media
such as newspapers, radio, television, telephone, computers, internet etc. The selection of an
appropriate channel is crucial for the success of communication.

Receiver: Communication cannot take place without a receiver for whom the message is
meant. We receive a message, interpret it and derive meaning from it. You have already
studied that for successful communication, the receiver should receive the message in the
same way it was meant by the sender. In interpersonal communication, the receiver shares a
close relationship with the sender which gradually gets diluted in group and mass
communication.

Noise: Noise is distortion in a message which affects the flow of communication. Noise
could be due to internal as well as external sources. Noise creates barriers in communication
and it could be of many types. There are various types of noises which have implication in
the process of communication and how these can be overcome for facilitating effective
communication are discussed in the next section.

Feedback: The response given by the receiver to the message of the sender is known as
feedback. Communication being a two-way process, without the element of feedback any
discussion on the process of communication is incomplete. Interpersonal communication
allows greater scope for feedback as both sender and receiver can decipher the facial
expressions, body movements and cross question each other to remove their doubts/queries.
In fact, their roles are intertwined and cannot be distinguished. The element of feedback gets
gradually diluted when the number of participants in communication activity increases.
BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION

Physical barriers: If the source is not visible to the receiver and s/he is not comfortable in
the environment, it may create barriers in communication. Geographical distance may also
create barriers, as people may like to communicate with one another but due to physical
distances may not be able to do so. For example, people may be interested to communicate
with an expert in a particular area who is not available in other areas/ regions as there is
physical barrier.

Psychological barriers: Due to individual differences, attitudes, interest and motivation

levels, we perceive things and situations differently. Apart from this, the varied levels of
anxiety, inherent prejudices and previous experiences also create barriers in communication.
Studies have revealed that due to the process of selective perception, selective recall and
selective retention, we perceive, retain as well as recall a message selectively thus creating
barriers in communication.

Socio-cultural barriers: In communication process, socio-cultural barriers also operate. To

illustrate, in the Indian context, some women may not like to discuss their health related
problem with a male health worker. Similarly, some issues may be perceived as personal and
not fit for discussion outside the realm of family, thus creating barriers. Some societies are
less vocal which may affect their level of communication with those from other cultures who
are more vocal or aggressive in behavior.

Linguistic barriers: During the process of communication, faulty expressions, poor

translation, verbosity, ambiguous words and inappropriate vocabulary create barriers.
Moreover, words and symbols used to communicate facts and information may mean
different things to different persons. This is due to the fact that meanings are in the minds of
people who perceive and interpret meanings in different ways according to their individual
frame of mind.

Technical barriers: While using technology, technical barriers also make the process of
communication complex. When audio quality is poor or video signals are weak, the message
may not clearly reach the target group. Erratic power supply also creates barriers in
communication.

Barriers due to information load: At times too much information is imparted which we
may not able to comprehend and assimilate, thus creating a barrier in communication. To
illustrate, in a meeting when a speaker provides information at a fast pace for considerable
period of time many of the issues and concepts may get lost at the end. While using media,
this type of barrier can greatly affect the level of comprehension and utilization of the
message. Hence, great care needs to be taken while deciding the amount of information in a
communication transaction.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
 Communication is an integral part of our lives and is intertwined with all the activities
undertaken by us. Human beings communicate right from the moment they are born
till death and it will not be an exaggeration to say that communication is indicative of
life itself. Thus communication can be equated with other basic needs of life such as
food, clothes and shelter as any person, group or community cannot survive without
communication.
 We may communicate with ourselves, through face-to-face with another person or
speak with people in group situations.
 Communication performs many functions, such as informing and generating
awareness, educating, persuading, motivating, entertaining, etc.
 Communication has been broadly categorized into the following four types: a)
Intrapersonal communication, b) Interpersonal communication, c) Group
communication, d) Mass communication.
 Barrier or Noise is a term used to express any interference in communication between
source and receiver. A successful communication is the one in which the message is
conveyed undiminished with least distortion. However, it is not always possible as a
number of barriers make the process of communication complex. Some of these
barriers could be physical, psychological, cultural, linguistic (semantic), technical or
due to information overload.

END CHAPTER QUESTIONS

1. Explain the importance of intrapersonal communication in our life.
2. List out some differences between interpersonal and group communication.
3. Which barrier in communication is exemplified in the following situations and explain
why:
a. Too many concepts in a lesson
b. Rural women may not like to discuss their problems with males
c. Individual differences
d. Poor seating arrangements
4. Chose another situation where noise/barrier is affecting communication. Analyze the
causes leading to noise/barriers and the steps that can be taken to remove them.

Source:

http://dmcodyssey.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MODELS-AND-PROCESSES-OF-
COMMUNICATION.pdf. Retrieved on September 21, 2020