Introduction to Communication
What is communication?
The process of sharing information by using
symbols to send and receive messages to create
understanding.
Communication is dynamic
Verbal/ nonverbal
message
Sender/Receiver
Receiver/sender
Feedback
Verbal/
nonverbal
The Elements of Communication
• The sender- the person delivers the message
• The receiver- the person who gets the
message
• Verbal –words
• Nonverbal- gestures , tone of voice and facial
expression
• Channel- The sound waves, light waves, and
senses of touch by which messages are sent
• Feedback= the verbal and nonverbal
responses to messages
Field of Experience
• Attitudes, lessons, perceptions, and values
that an individual or group brings to a
situation or a problem.
• Understanding is created where our fields of
experience overlap.
Steps in the communication process
• Find ideas to talk about
• Adjust your message for your audience
• Decide the best way to present to your
audience/listener
• Interpret feedback
• Deal with verbal and nonverbal interference
Types of Noise
• Interference- Anything that gets in the way of
understanding.
• Physical noise- sound that prevents a person
from being heard.
• Psychological noise- thoughts and feelings that
distract a person from listening.
• Semantic noise- words trigger negative
feelings against the speaker or the content
Response feedback loop
Communication Settings
Informal Settings- casual ,
unstructured situations.
Usually not planned ahead.
Formal Settings- situations
that you can prepare for
ahead of time.
Talking with family and friends Job and college interviews
Introducing people
Group discussions
Giving instructions
Debates and parliamentary
procedure
Talking on the telephone
Interpretive situations
Giving and receiving
information in class
Public Speaking
Asking directions
Electronic communications
such as radio and television
texting
settings for communication
Formal Settings
• Job and college interview
• Group discussion
• Public Speaking
• Debates
• Interpretive situations
• Electronic communication
– Radio
– Television
– Youtube
Informal settings
• Talking with family and
friends
• Introducing people
• Giving directions
• Talking on the phone
• Giving and receiving
information in class
• Asking for directions
• Encoding- the process of turning ideas and feeling
into verbal and nonverbal symbols. (The sender does
this)
• Decoding finding the meaning of verbal and
nonverbal symbols. (The receiver does this)