The communication cycle traces the flow of information from the source the sender , the medium used to transmit the information to the receiver who has to decode the message to get meaning of what the sender want [21]. In the communication cycle the sender is very important as the source of the information. The sender has to encode whatever information that has to be transmitted to the receiver. Encoding refers to the process of expressing information in symbols or expressions that are going to be understood by the receiver.
Usually encoding can be in the form of written statements or the spoken words. The golden rule of encoding is that the sender has to produce information to be transmitted in an unambiguous way to guard against unwanted responses from the receiver and to enable the receiver to understand what the sender originally wants from the receiver.
After the encoding process comes the desired product the message. A message is the actual physical product which has to be conveyed to the receiver. There are two parts to a message these are the content and context [22]. The content of a message are the actual words or symbols of the message which are commonly referred as the language. It is the content of the message that has the potential to generate misunderstandings as words can be interpreted differently by different people.
Thus care has to be taken by the sender to encode a message with words and symbols that will not be misconstrued by the receiver. The context of the message is also a critical element of a message. Context covers the paralanguage which are the nonverbal gestures which reinforce the content of a message [23].
The context of a message signals whether urgency or immediate responses are required. Failure by the receiver to understand the context of a message creates problems of misunderstanding. Communication is Complex. Temba Munsaka Author. Add to cart.
Table of Contents Introduction Definitions of Key Terms The communication cycle Types of Communication Nonverbal communication Facial expressions Eye contact Posture and body orientation Gestures Vocals The problems or barriers to communication Noise and in the communication channel Misunderstanding due to technical jargon Omission or information overload Non- verbal signals confusing the recipient Perceptual selection Failure to seek or offer feedback Failure to plan for communication Conclusion Reference Introduction Communication is essentially a discipline concerned with the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another.
Definitions of Key Terms Communication: Any process in which people share information, ideas and feelings [3] Channel : The root travelled by a message, the means it uses to reach the sender-receivers. M, [21] Ibid [22] Rogers, E. In fact communications are almost always complex, two-way processes , with people sending and receiving messages to and from each other simultaneously. In other words, communication is an interactive process. While one person is talking the other is listening - but while listening they are also sending feedback in the form of smiles, head nods etc.
Message not only means the speech used or information conveyed, but also the non-verbal messages exchanged such as facial expressions , tone of voice , gestures and body language. Non-verbal behaviour can convey additional information about the spoken message. In particular, it can reveal more about emotional attitudes which may underlie the content of speech. Noise has a special meaning in communication theory. It refers to anything that distorts the message, so that what is received is different from what is intended by the speaker.
The use of complicated jargon , inappropriate body language , inattention , disinterest, and cultural differences can be considered 'noise' in the context of interpersonal communication.
In other words, any distortions or inconsistencies that occur during an attempt to communicate can be seen as noise. Feedback consists of messages the receiver returns, which allows the sender to know how accurately the message has been received, as well as the receiver's reaction.
The receiver may also respond to the unintentional message as well as the intentional message. Types of feedback range from direct verbal statements, for example "Say that again, I don't understand", to subtle facial expressions or changes in posture that might indicate to the sender that the receiver feels uncomfortable with the message.
Feedback allows the sender to regulate, adapt or repeat the message in order to improve communication. All communication is influenced by the context in which it takes place. However, apart from looking at the situational context of where the interaction takes place, for example in a room, office, or perhaps outdoors, the social context also needs to be considered, for example the roles, responsibilities and relative status of the participants.
Discussing emotional entanglements, whether at work or home is difficult and something rarely to look forward to. The untangling process is sure to be messy.
This messiness occurs in all of our lives to varying degrees and requires great effort, skill, and some luck to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Messiness is normal and unavoidable, although most of us believe that if we knew just the right way to say something we could avoid messiness altogether.
Sometimes that is true but the fact is we cannot predict exactly how our words will affect the other person. Interpersonal communication is ninety-nine percent reaction, so only the first speaker can organize his or her opening statement. From then on it is reaction upon reaction, and thinking and speaking on our feet is difficult. This is critical in becoming an effective communicator—being aware of how complex the process is. This recognition alone can make a huge difference in achieving understanding, which is the goal of interpersonal communication.
To expect communication to be difficult is not pessimistic. Good communication requires using many skills, one of which is the ability to ask good questions out of genuine curiosity to achieve understanding. Pay attention to yourself in conversation. How often do you ask questions?
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