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Lesson 1 Definition and Importance of Communication

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Lesson 1 Definition and Importance of Communication

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sjudith0829
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Unit 1: Communication Processes, Principles and Ethics

Lesson 1: Definition and Importance of Communication

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module, you should be able to:


1. define communication; and
2. explain importance of communication in various situations.

Presentation of Contents

Communication is defined by Opina et al (2016) as a ‘transaction in which the participants


are mutually engaged in the process of creating the same meaning’. This definition
answers the ‘what (a transaction), why (create the same meaning) and how (mutual
engagement)’ of communication. People communicate in order to share information for
the deduction of similar denotation.

Almost all of the time, we communicate either by speaking, writing, typing or delivering
a sign, symbol, gesture or expression in order to connect with other people, giving,
transferring or sharing with them information in order to create a meaning. This makes us
social beings who find it punishment to be confined in a cell starving from being able to
engage with other people. Simply stated, communication is the process by which human’s
thoughts, ideas, beliefs, aspirations and hopes are being shared or given to another who
receives and reacts.

Aside from the known reasons of communication – to inform, to persuade and to entertain,
Harold Dwight Laswell identified three main reasons why do people communicate: 1.
surveillance of the environment, 2. correlation of components of society, and 3. cultural
transmission between generation. These functions are premised on a social view. Through
communication we can do observation of the past, present or future events in the setting
or atmosphere we belong to. These observations can be interpreted in order for us to decide
on possible actions to be undertaken. Information on weather updates, trends or status for
instance would definitely affect how we perceive and how we react. According to Laswell,
surveillance is a function among political leaders to alert the society of dangers or
opportunities. Moving on, the famous adage says that ‘No man is an island’. This stresses
our basic need to connect with other people through differing modes – speaking, writing,
messaging, showing gesture or even keeping silent. More than the fact that it pedestals us
beyond other living things, it is our very essence as is the blood that keeps culture moving
from one generation to another. Through relays of practices, written histories or recorded
documentaries, the components of a particular culture are preserved, maintained and
practiced by generations. Transmission is said as a function carried out by institutions like
the family, church, school, and community in order to hand down values, norms, customs,
and traditions to the next generations.

Communication is very vital and is considered as a rudimentary activity among humans,


not only in the academic or professional areas but most significantly on our ability to
interlink with other people. It is a system that involves an interconnected and symbiotic
group of elements working together as a whole to achieve a desired outcome or goal.

1
Unit 1: Communication Processes, Principles and Ethics

In every communication exchange, there are two prime interlocutors, the sender and the
receiver. The sender is the initiator of the communication as they desire to share or convey
an idea or concept to the target receivers. The sender has the role of selecting words,
symbols, or gestures to concretize the message to be sent. This message may come in
different forms: verbal, nonverbal, written language or symbols. Hence, the source is
challenged to accurately and clearly encode the message in a way understood by the
receiver so that successful communication is achieved. The message is sent through a
medium or channel which may be a face-to-face conversation, a phone call, an e- mail or
tweet, or written document. The receiver finally decodes the received message into
important information. Lastly, feedback is the response of the receiver delivered back to
the sender. It helps the encoder determine whether the message has been received and
understood. A smooth flow along all these elements and the absence of noise or
disturbances would result to quality communication.

Importance of Communication

Communication is integrated in all parts of our lives.

A. Academics
➢ Communication skills are tied to academic success.
➢ Students who are good at writing and speaking perform better not only in the English
classroom but also in the content areas and all other areas of learning.

B. Professional
➢ Desired communication skills vary from one career to another. Being able to
communicate leads to a harmonious relationship within the organization.

C. Personal
➢ The skills to talk with fluency and write with efficiency lead to a person’s achievement
of his aspirations

D. Civic
➢ One cannot live alone, so being able to blend with the community is a satisfying
endeavor. This can only be done when a person can communicate his/her ideas with
different people coming from different backgrounds in the community.

Reference:
Miller, K. (2004) Communication Theories: Perspectives, Processes and Contexts, 2nd ed.
NY McGraw Hill

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