Speech Packet # 15 Understanding Communication Notes
15
Communication- is the process of sharing information by using symbols to send and receive messages.
Interpersonal communication- communication between two or more people.
SENDING AND RECEIVING MESSAGES
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Message- ideas and feelings that make up the content of communication
Sender- person who sends the message
Receiver- person who receives the message
Feedback- a return message
Verbal symbols- words
Nonverbal symbols- gestures, facial expressions, sounds such as laughter, clapping, etc.
Channels- means for sending a message
USING COMMUNICATION—MEETING SOCIAL NEEDS
a. Communication helps people feel good about themselves
b. Communicate care for others
c. Communication helps people build and maintain relationships
MAKING DECISIONS
a. Communication allows one to:
1. get information
2. exchange ideas
3. exchange feelings
4. decide what actions to take
b. Communication often involves influencing decisions others make
COMMUNICATION IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS
a. Informal settings- casual, unstructured situations. Examples:
1. Talking with family and friends
2. Introducing people
3. Giving instructions
4. Talking on the phone
5. Giving and receiving information in class
6. Asking for directions
c. Formal settings- situations that require preparation ahead of time
1. Interviews- forms of communication in which people ask and answer questions
2. Group discussions- face to face meeting among a small number of people who convey
information, express their views, and reach conclusions about particular issues
3. Public speaking- one person addresses an audience
4. Audience- listeners or spectators attending a presentation to inform, persuade, or entertain
5. Debate- formal communication situation in which speakers take opposing sides on an issue and
try to prove or disprove a statement about an issue
6. Parliamentary procedure- a set of rules used to conduct orderly meetings
7. Interpretive Situations
A. Oral reading- literature is read aloud and interpreted for an audience
B. Drama- performing art in which the characters in a play are interpreted and presented by
actors on a stage
8. Electronic communication- Radio, TV, and video are the most common means of mass
Communication
DEVELOPING THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS
The process consists of interrelated steps:
a. Find ideas by:
1. Examining your own experience
2. Look at lives of people around you
3. Watching TV or movies
4. Reading newspapers or magazines
b. Adapting to your audience- involves learning something about the people you address
1. Individual characteristics- person’s personality, interests, and aspirations
2. Cultural characteristics- age, religion, and national and ethnic background knowledge
3. Sociological characteristics- their affiliations, educational background, their occupation
c. Encoding and decoding information
1. Encoding- the process of turning ideas and feelings into verbal and nonverbal symbols
2. Decoding- finding the meaning of verbal and nonverbal symbols
d. Interpreting feedback- analyzing people’s responses that express what they think, feel, and observe
about our messages
e. Dealing with interference
1. Interference- anything that gets in the way of clear communication
A. Three types of interference
1. Physical noise- any sound that prevents a person from being heard
2. Psychological noise- thoughts and feelings that distract people from listening to
what is said
3. Semantic noise- interference caused by words that trigger strong negative feelings
against the speaker or the content of the speech
COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVELY
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVENESS
1. Care about your communication success
2. Know what you are talking about
3. Be organized
4. Use language well
5. Use effective nonverbal signals
6. Listen carefully
Packet # 15 UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION Questions
After reading Understanding Communication Notes answer the following questions on your own paper.
1. Define communication.
2. Define interpersonal communication.
3. Define message.
4. What is feedback?
5. Define verbal symbols.
6. Define non-verbal symbols.
7. What are channels?
8. List and describe 3 ways using communication meets social needs.
9. Describe the 4 ways communication aids in making decisions.
10.Describe an informal setting in communication and give 5 examples.
11.Define “formal setting” in communication.
12.Define interview.
13.Define group discussion.
14.Define public speaking.
15.Define debate.
16.Define parliamentary procedure.
17.Define oral reading.
18.Define drama.
19.Define electronic communication.
20.List 4 ways we find ideas.
21.How do you adapt to your audience?
22.List and describe three types of characteristics involved in learning about an
audience.
23.Define encoding.
24.Define decoding.
25.What is done when interpreting feedback?
26.What is communication interference?
27.List and describe 3 types of interference.
28.List and describe 6 guidelines for effective communication.