OralComm Lesson 1 - The Process of Communication

Communication

process by which people exchange messages

Communication

process of transmitting or sharing of ideas, information, thoughts, or feelings verbally or non verbally

communis

meaning “to make common” or “to share”

Success in Communication

mutual understanding

Elements of Communication

• Participants

• Context

• Message

• Channels

• Feedback

Participants

refer to both speaker and listener

Speaker

shares ideas by transforming their thoughts and feelings into messages

Listener

receive, interpret, and respond to the message

Sender

another term for Speaker

Receiver

another term for Listener

Message

information to convey

Channel/Medium

how the message was conveyed

Context

refers to interrelated conditions of communication which affect how people understand the message

Five types of Context

• Physical Context

• Social Context

• Psychological Context

• Cultural Context

• Historical Context

Physical Context

setting, place, time, environmental condition

Social Context

relationship of the communicators

Psychological Context

communicator’s moods or feelings

Cultural Context

traditions, beliefs, values and norms

Historical Context

age, profession, social status

Two major channels

• visual (light)

• auditory (sound)

Visual Channel

enables communicators to send and receive visible information such as hand gestures, bodily movements, and facial expressions

Auditory Channel

enables listeners to receive information and interpret it through the tone, volume, and pitch of the speaker’s voice

Barrier/Noise

disruptions which prevent messages from being interpreted

Three types of noise

• External noise

• Internal noise

• Semantic noise

External/Physical noise

surroundings

e.g. drumroll, phone ringing

Internal noise

refers to the distractions within the communicator

Two types of Internal noise

• Physiological noise

• Psychological noise

Physiological/Biological noise

body system function

e.g. hunger, illness

Psychological noise

mental

e.g. problem, daydreaming

Semantic noise

unintentional misunderstanding

e.g. language

Feedback

reaction or response of the listener

Verbal Communication

through words, oral

Non-Verbal Communication

through gestures, facial expressions

Two elements of communication (processes)

• Encoding

• Decoding

Encoding

speaker generates an idea, then converts to words (verbal) or action (nonverbal)

Decoding

receiver interprets, puts meaning in the message