understanding how w e c ommunicate

Understanding How We Communicate.

Ms.Chevanese CampbellUnit 1

“Communication is the process by which information is exchanged and understood by two or more people, usually with the intent to motivate or influence behaviour.” (Daft, 567)

What is communication?

It is a continuous process that occurs in various contexts and uses cultural symbols. It is a process that purposefully uses spoken, nonverbal and visual symbols. Communication involves and affects nearly every disciplinary field, including business.

What is communication?

Basic Communication Principles

Communication starts at birth. Even if we do not talk then non-verbal communication occurs. Non-verbal communication includes body movements such as gestures, facial expressions and vocal sounds that do not use words.

Communication is Continuous.

The exchange of messages is on-going and dynamic. Our internal communication and our exchanges with others are always changing and growing.

Communication is a Process.

The Communication Process.

Communication can be thought of as a process or flow. Communication problems occur when there are deviations or blockages in that flow.

The Communication Process

Before communication can take place, a purpose, expressed as a message to be conveyed, is needed. It passes between a source (the sender) and a receiver.

Communication Process

The message is encoded (converted to symbolic form) and is passed by way of some medium (channel) to the receiver, who retranslates (decodes) the message initiated by the sender. The result is transference of meaning from one person to another.

Communication Process

The activity of communicating is best represented by a transactional communication model.

Transactional Model

A transactional model reveals that we usually send and receive messages simultaneously, so that the images of sender and receiver should not be separated as if a person were doing only one or the other, but rather superimposed and redefined as ‘communicators.’

Transactional Model cont.

Diagram of the Transactional Model