Lesson 1A: Types of Communication/Communication and its Diversity

Communication

The exchange or imparting of information, ideas, thoughts, feelings, and emotions through speech, signals, writing, or behavior.

Communication Process

A process in which a sender encodes a message, sends it through a channel to a receiver, the receiver decodes it, and the resulting information becomes feedback.

Sender

The person who encodes and sends a message.

Encoding

The process of converting thoughts, ideas, or information into a message.

Message

The information, idea, thought, feeling, or emotion being communicated.

Channel

The medium through which a message is transmitted from sender to receiver.

Receiver

The person who receives and decodes a message.

Decoding

The process by which the receiver interprets the message.

Feedback

The response or information that results after the receiver processes the message.

Noise

Anything that interferes with or disrupts the communication process.

Communication as Collaborative and Interactive

Communication involves both speaker and listener performing reciprocal roles in sharing information.

Listening

An important part of communication that helps a person understand what an audience wants to hear.

Purposes of Communication

Informing, expressing, influencing, and entertaining.

Digital Literacy

The ability to use and produce information through digital technologies.

Media Literacy

The ability to understand and use information presented through media.

Intrapersonal Communication

Communication that occurs within oneself and involves personal thoughts, feelings, and how one looks at oneself.

Intrapersonal Communication Channel

The brain functions as the channel that enables development of feedback in intrapersonal communication.

Interpersonal Communication

Communication that mostly occurs between two people, although it may include more than two.

Interpersonal Communication Messages

Messages between people can consist of both verbal and non-verbal symbols.

Interpersonal Communication Channels

Sight and sound are common channels that allow participants to respond to each other.

Small Group Communication

Communication that occurs when a few people meet and take turns conveying their ideas.

Small Group Communication Structure

Small-group discussion has a pattern and is more structured than interpersonal communication.

Small Group Communication Advantage

Small groups provide more opportunities for responses and problem solving.

Small Group Communication Limitation

Small groups have greater chances of misunderstanding because several senders and receivers take turns communicating.

Public Communication

Communication in which a speaker sends a highly structured message through a speech to an audience.

Public Communication Audience

Public communication involves an audience larger than interpersonal communication.

Public Communication Feedback

Verbal feedback is generally limited to opportunities for listeners to ask questions, while nonverbal feedback may occur during the speech.

Public Communication Visual Aids

Public communication may use slides, flip charts, and other visual aids.

Public Communication Setting

Public communication is usually conducted in a formal setting.

Pause, Think, and Do

A proactive technique in which a person pauses before reacting, thinks about the best response, and then acts responsibly.

Proactive Person

A person who pauses and thinks before reacting and takes responsibility for their response.

Reactive Person

A person driven mainly by feelings, circumstances, conditions, or the environment, often resulting in blaming others for impulsive reactions.