Ch 1: Introduction to Human Communication

human communication

a transactional process in which people generate meaning through the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages in specific contexts, influenced by individual and societal forces embedded in culture.

messages

the building blocks of communication

encoding

converting ideas into messages

decoding

receiving a message and interpreting its meaning

symbol

something that represents something else and conveys meaning

content meaning

the concrete meaning of the message and the meanings suggested by or associated with message, as well as the emotions triggered by it.

relationship meaning

what a message conveys about the relationship between parties

setting

the physical surroundings of a communication event

participants

the people interacting during communication

channel

the means through which a message is transmitted

noise

any stimulus that can interfere with or degrade the quality of a message

feedback

the response to a message

synergetic model

a transactional model that emphasizes how individual and societal forces, contexts, and culture interact to affect the communication process

field of experience

the education and experiences that a communicator possesses

culture

learned patterns of perceptions, values, and behaviors shared by a group of people

communication ethics

the standards of right and wrong that one applies to messages that are sent and received

absolute

the belief that there is a single correct moral standard that hold for everyone, everywhere, every time

relative

the belief that moral behavior varies among individuals, groups, and cultures and across situations.

communication competence

the ability to adapt one’s communication to achieve one’s goals

appropriateness

following the rules, norms, and expectations for specific situations or relationships

effectiveness

achieving one’s goals successfully