Introduction to Communication

Communication

the process of using symbols to exchange meaning.

Sender

the individual who constructs the message.

Receiver

the individual to whom the message is sent and who interprets the message.

Message

Information traveling between the sender and the receiver.

Channel

The medium through which the message is sent.

Environment

The setting in which communication occurs; the environment is also the physical, psychological, or virtual atmosphere within which the message is sent and/or received.

Feedback

A response; a message back to a sender after the original message is received.

Interference

anything that prevents or distracts from a message being sent and/or received.

Synchronous Communication

communication that happens in real-time when a person sends a message and receives feedback immediately.

Asynchronous Communication

communication that does not happen in real-time and the sender cannot expect to receive immediate feedback.

Symbol

something used to represent something else.

Verbal Messages

messages that are conveyed using words, either spoken or written.

Non-verbal Messages

messages that do not use words but are conveyed using body language or signs etc.

Written Messages

messages written in the form of letters, emails, text messages etc.

Visual Messages

messages conveyed as signs or symbols.

Positive Feedback

When the receiver receives the message completely and understands the intended meaning.

Negative Feedback

When the receiver does not receive the message or is not able to understand it.

Ambiguous Feedback

 When the feedback is neither positive nor negative. The receiver has not expressed their understanding or interpretation of the message.

Physical Interference

This is any physical interference in the communication environment. For example, some background traffic or office area noise, people talking around you, or even an airplane flying overhead.

Psychological Interference

This is any emotional or mental interference that does not allow you to completely focus on the message, making it difficult for you to interpret the message as intended.

Semantic Interference

Any issues with the language or words used may cause semantic interference. For example, the receiver may not understand the meaning of certain words or symbols, failing to understand the meaning of the message.

Physiological Interference

Physiological interference is any kind of physical discomfort or unease that may hinder you to fully understand a message.

1st Model of Communication: Linear

communication is a linear, one-way process. There are a sender and a receiver, and the sender sends a message to the receiver with intentionality within an environment setting.

2nd Model of Communication: Interaction

considers the receiver’s feedback and shows it as a two-way process. When the receiver sends feedback, the receiver becomes the sender, and the original sender is now the receiver.

3rd Model of Communication: Transactional

the sender and the receivers don’t just swap roles, but they both simultaneously play both roles.

Intrapersonal Communication

Communicating with the self.

Interpersonal Communication

Involves two people.

Group Communication

when three to 15 people (forming small groups) engage and exchange information and messages.

Public Communication

is when a person, or a message source (sender) addresses a group of people (receivers) using a variety of message types and channels.

Mass Communication

broadcasting your message out to the masses. A written message posted on a public or social media forum and a TV commercial or a political leader giving a speech on television or radio are examples of mass communication.

One-Way Conversation

a conversation where one person tends to dominate the conversation and does most of the talking.

Two-Way Conversation

 a conversation where both participants contribute equally.

Cooperative Conversation

a two-way conversation where the interests and goals of the participants are shared or similar.

Competitive Conversation

a mostly one-way conversation where the interests and goals of the participants may clash, and they may fight to be heard over the other.

DIscourse

Where one sender relays information to multiple receivers.

Dialogue

A two-way, cooperative conversation.

Debate

a two-way, competitive conversation where each may try their best to be heard over another.

Diatribe

a one-way and competitive conversation where one person does most of the conversing which may be emotionally loaded.

Initiation Stage

the first stage of conversation in which all parties involved in the interaction become ready to communicate with each other.

Preview Stage

the second stage of conversation in which the subject of the conversation and relationship between the communicators is introduced.

Talking Points Stage

the third stage of conversation in which the central or main goals of the conversation are established.

Feedback Stage

the fourth stage of conversation in which a mutual understanding of all conversational points is achieved.

Closing Stage

the fifth stage of conversation in which the communicators disengage and finish the interaction.

Analytical Communication Style

This person is logical and relies on hard facts and data.

Intuitive Communication Style

This person goes by their gut instinct and may not need numbers or hard data to make a point during a conversation.

Functional Communication Style

This person is detail-oriented and plans and executes well.

Personal Communication Style

This person is emotional and sensitive, careful about other people’s feelings when engaging them in a conversation.

Primary Receivers

main recipients of the message.

Secondary Receiver

someone who is likely to read the message and may or may not be required to respond.

Hidden Receiver

someone who may come across the message, but you do not know the chances of this happening.

Demographic Traits

demographic traits refer to the characteristics that make someone an individual, but that he or she has in common with others.

Stereotyping

generalizing about a group of people and assuming that because a few people in the group have a characteristic, all of them do.

Totalizing

taking one characteristic of a group or person and making that the “totality” or sum total of what the person or group is.

Verbal Communication

a channel of communication that uses spoken words between a source (i.e., speaker) and a receiver (i.e., listener)

Connotation

the subjective definition of a word

Denotation

the dictionary definition of a word

Formal Language

 language used in a professional context and for academic work. More structured and prioritizes higher-order vocabulary, clarity, and complex sentence structures.

Informal Language

language used in common conversations and friendly emails, most often between friends or close colleagues. Often less structured and includes the use of slang, colloquialisms, and idioms.

Biased Language

language that shows a preference toward or against a particular group of people.

Sexist Language

language that shows a preference toward one gender.

Racist Language

language that identifies one racial group over another unnecessarily.

Language Awareness

the ability to be sensitive to the form and function of language

Inclusive Language

language that does not make assumptions about others

Written Communication

A message that utilizes the written word.

Plain Language

Writing in a similar way to how you speak.

Clarity

being precise and specific.

Concise

Being short, succinct, and to the point.

Collaborative

Respecting the perspectives of all potential audience members.

Positive Language

Language that ensures a message remains constructive and optimistic.

You-view

Prioritizing the needs, wants, and desires of the audience.

Article

A relatively long piece of written communication mostly based on research, available online or printed in a newspaper or magazine.

Blog Post

A relatively long piece of written communication mostly based on personal thoughts and opinions, published online.

Report

 A document, derived from research and analysis, that presents large volumes of text and visual information, such as business intelligence; important for the operations of organizations.