Introduction to

communication
Nutrition and Mass Media
Dr. Sarah Aggad
 ?What is Communication
Communication :is sending and receiving
information between two or more people.
The person sending the message is referred
to as the sender, while the person receiving
the information is called the receiver.

All types of communication must have

 A message that is being transferred from
sender to receiver.
 The sender and receiver must have some
signs, words or signals in common with
each other so the sent message can be
understood.
 Characteristics of Effective communications
Effective communication requires
The message is understood clearly as intended by the speaker.
It is ethical and truthful.
Listening carefully.
Understanding the person’s story.
Be positive People avoid
talking with others who
Communication contributes to health drain them.
promotion as well as disease
prevention efforts.

• Differences in cultural, gender, age, education, background, and other factors

can be sources of misunderstanding.
 Interpersonal communication model

• The elements included in the

communication model are :
• Sender (the messenger)
• Receiver (the recipient)
• The message itself
• Both verbal and nonverbal
• Feedback and barriers.
 Interpersonal communication model
• Sender: senders of the message originate the thought
or emotion, encode.
Encoding: The sender begins with the encoding
process where in he uses certain words or non-
verbal methods such as symbols, signs, body
gestures, etc. to translate the information into a
message. The sender’s knowledge, skills,
perception, background, competencies, etc. has
a great impact on the success of the message.

Encoding is the means through which you, as the sender,(

transform your ideas and feelings into symbols and organize
.)them into a message into words and speak first
 Interpersonal communication model
• Receiver: will decode the message.

Decoding: Here, the receiver interprets the

sender’s message and tries to understand it in
the best possible manner.
An effective communication occurs only if the
receiver understands the message in exactly the
same way as it was intended by the sender.

Filtering the message through their

Decode past experience ,feelings, ideas and
values.
 Interpersonal
Communication
Model
• For the communication to be effective,
the recipient must glean your intended
meaning from the communication.
• For example: an airplane pilot must
understand the hand signals of the
runway crew to follow directions to the
terminal. If the pilot cannot understand
the signals, the communication fails.
Therefore, accurate decoding of
information is critical to the overall
process.
 Interpersonal communication model
• Message: the message is the information that is communicated to another. The receiver
interprets two messages, the actual verbal message and the nonverbal message
inferred from the sender and the environment.
Nonverbal inferences arise from the perceived emotional tone of the sender’s voice, facial
expression, dress, tone of voice.
• Channel: you might have noticed that the message is transmitted through a channel,
which is the sensory route that is being used.
• In the case of this face-to-face example, the two channels that are used are sound (verbal
symbols) and light (nonverbal symbols).
The choice of medium depends on the interpersonal relationships between the sender
and the receiver and also on the urgency of the message being sent. Oral, virtual, written,
sound, gesture, etc. are some of the commonly used communication mediums.
 Interpersonal communication model
• Feedback: since errors might happen during the communication process and
misunderstanding by the recipient might occur, feedback is helpful.

• The term feedback refers to both verbal and

nonverbal responses to messages, it insures that
the message is understood, and that the
communication is successful.

• In face-to-face communication, the sender is talking while looking at the other

person. The other person’s verbal and nonverbal reactions to the sender’s
message, whether agreement, surprise, or boredom are examples of feedback
Communication
Process

Note

The Noise shows the

barriers in communications.
There are chances when the
message sent by the sender
is not received by the
.recipient
Barriers to effective communication
• Physical Barriers: this has to do with poor or outdated equipment used during
communications, background noise, poor lighting, temperatures that are too hot or
too cold.
• Attitudes: emotions like anger or sadness or being extremely nervous, having a
personal agenda or “needing to be right no matter what” can make
communications less than effective. This is also known as “Emotional Noise”.
• Language: even people speaking the same language can have difficulty
understanding each other if they are from different generations or from different
regions of the same country. Slang, and professional jargon can even hurt
communicators with the best intentions.
• Physiological Barriers: ill health, poor eyesight or hearing difficulties, pain.
Barriers to effective communication
• Lack of Common Experience: it’s a great idea to use examples or stories to
explain a point that is being discussed. However, if the speaker and the audience
cannot relate to these examples because they do not have the same knowledge or
have not shared the same experiences then this tool will be ineffective.
• Ambiguity Overuse: leaving things half-said, using too many generalizations,
can all lead to communications that are not clear and that can lend themselves to
misinterpretations.
• Information Overload: it takes time to process a lot of information and too
many details can overwhelm and distract the audience from the important topics.
• Assumptions and Jumping to Conclusions: This can make someone reach
a decision about something before listening to all the facts.
Types of Communication

• Communication can be
categorized into two basic types:

(1) verbal communication, in

which you listen to a person to
understand their meaning;
(2) nonverbal communication, in
which you observe a person and
infer meaning.
 Verbal communication
• When messages or information is exchanged or
communicated through words is called verbal
communication.
• Verbal communication may be two types: written
and oral communication.
• Verbal communication takes place through face-to-
face conversations, group discussions, counseling,
interview, radio, television, calls, letters, email etc.
• definition of verbal communication is as follow;
“Verbal communication is the expression of
information through language which is composed of
words and grammar.”
• So, verbal communication is the process of
exchanged of information or message between two
or more persons through written or oral words.
 Nonverbal communication
Definitions of non-verbal communication:
• some important definitions of non-verbal communication are as follows:
“Non-verbal communication is communication that takes place through non-verbal
cues: through such form of non-verbal communication as gesture, eye contact, facial
expression, clothing and space”
• Also, Nonverbal communication means all communication that occurs without
words (body movements, space, time, touch, voice patterns, color, layout, design
of surroundings.)”
• non-verbal communication is the exchanged of information or message between
two or more persons through gestures, facial expressions eye contact, touching
etc. and without using any spoken or written word.
 Nonverbal communication

• When messages or information is exchanged or communicated without using any spoken or

written word is known as nonverbal communication. Non-verbal communication (NVC) is usually
understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages.

• Non-verbal communication is very important in the face-to-face communication encounters,

expressed either consciously or unconsciously in the presence of others.

• Much of non-verbal communication is unintentional, people are not even aware that they are
sending messages. Non-verbal communication takes place through gestures, facial expressions,
eye contact, touching etc.
Characteristics of non-verbal communication

Non-verbal communication is any information that is communicated without using

words. The important characteristics of non-verbal communication are as follows:
1- No use of words: Non-verbal communication is a communication without words
or language like oral or written communication. It uses gestures, facial expressions,
eye contact, touching etc. for communicating with others.
2- Culturally determined: Non-verbal communication is learnt in childhood,
passed on to you by your parents and others with whom you associate. Through this
process of growing up in a particular society, you adopt the mannerisms of your
cultural group.
3- Vague and imprecise: Non-verbal communication is quite vague and imprecise.
Since in this communication there is no use of words or language which expresses
clear meaning to the receiver.
Characteristics of non-verbal communication

4- May conflict with verbal message: Non-verbal communication is so deeply

rooted, so unconscious, that you can express a verbal message and then directly
contradict it with a nonverbal message.
5- Shows feelings and attitudes: Facial expressions, gestures, body movements,
the way you use your eyes – all communicate your feelings and emotions to others.
6- Informality: Nonverbal communication does not follow any rules, formality or
structure like other communication. Most of the cases people unconsciously
engaged in non-verbal communication by moving the various parts of the body.
! Thank you