Introduction To Communication

Introduction

What is communication?

"We all use language to communicate, to express ourselves, to get our ideas across, and to connect with the person to whom we are speaking. When a relationship is working, the act of communicating seems to flow relatively effortlessly. When a relationship is deteriorating, the act of communicating can be as frustrating as climbing a hill of sand."

- Chip Rose, attorney and mediator

In simple words we can say that ““just to convey the message”

If we go in more detail we can say that “communication is the process of transmitting (A -------- B) and Receiving (B ------- A) Messages, information, ideas, feelings, disease etc.

Definition:

Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs".

OR

“It is a systematic process, in which people interact to share ideas, information or thought, through words or symbols, to create and interpret meaning.”

Etymology and Historical Background:

Etymology: the word ‘Communication’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Communis’, which means ‘commonness’ or ‘sharing’. Thus it means a firm feeling of commonness or sharing between the sender and receiver.

Historical Background:

We cannot certainly claim to know when and how did communication start? However, it is generally believed that initially people communicated through gestures and body language. Slowly and gradually language was originated. Then the need for written communication was felt so the first written communication began, with pictographs. These writings were made on stone, which were too heavy to transfer. During this era, written communication was not mobile, but nonetheless existed.

From the archeological discoveries in Mohenjodaro, Harrapa and Mehr Garh, it was found that the trend of letter-writing existed at that time. These letters were written on clay slabs. These slabs were baked in kilns and then another coating of clay was put on it to ensure secrecy. When the letter reached its destiny, the clay coating was removed and letters were read.

In ancient Egyptian civilization, writing began to appear on papyrus. Much later the Gutenberg printing-press was invented. Gutenberg created the first printed book using his press, and that book was the Bible. The writings were able to be transferred for others across the world to view. Written communication is now storable, and portable. And now, information can be transferred via waves and electronic signals.

The theory of using communication as a skill was presented by Plato. But it was crude and filled with abstract ideas. However, Aristotle worked on it and he wrote, “The Art of Rhetoric” in 330 B.C.The term Rhetoric means the skill to persuade or convince people through speech.

In 2nd Century, Roman scholars ‘Quintillion’ and ‘Cicero’ worked on communication. Later on, in 5th Century A.D, ‘Saint Augustine’ who was a Roman ecclesiast, worked on Communication and used this skill for preaching Christianity.

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Components of communication theory:

There are three major parts in human face to face communication which are body language, voice tonality, and words. According to the research: [4]

• 55% of impact is determined by body language—postures, gestures, and eye contact,

• 38% by the tone of voice, and

• 7% by the content or the words used in the communication process.

Communication Involves Three Components:

1. Verbal Messages - the words we choose

2. Para verbal Messages - how we say the words: the tone, pitch, and pacing of our voices

3. Nonverbal Messages - our body language: facial expressions and gestures

These Three Components Are Used To:

1. Send Clear, Concise Messages

2. Receive and Correctly Understand Messages Sent to Us.

Types of Communication:

According to intention:

There are three types of Communication according to intension:

1- Accidental Communication: It is the type of communication having no intentional, conscious or voluntary basis. It is just an accidental phase of communication arising at the spur of a moment between two people or in the mind of a person. It is the weakest form of communication with no significance and pivotal role in social life.

2- Expressive Communication: It is not only intentional and volitional but is mainly concerned with the human emotions, rather steeped in the motive of the individual. In Expressive Communication the intension remains unrealized and in potential form. It sometimes arises due to some sudden injury, pain or joy. It is highly possible to repress the expressive communication in the presence of others.

3- Rhetorical Communication: An intentional and conscious process of stimulating the other source with the selected meaning in the mind of a receiver with the aid of verbal and non-verbal messages is called Rhetorical Communication.

According to Social Point of view:

There are five types of Communication according to Social point of view:

1- Intra-personal Communication: This process of communication takes place within a person’s mind. All organisms heavily depend upon effective Intra-personal Communication as it is the root of all other communications.

Aspects of Intra-personal Communication are:

(i) Participant is one as the mind itself is the sender and receiver.

(ii) Channel or Medium of Communication is the brain or mind.

(iii) Style of language is Random

(iv) Feed back is received in the form of taking action

2- Inter-personal Communication: the communication that takes place between two people is Inter-personal Communication. In this type of communication, people talk face-to-face.

Aspects of Inter-personal Communication are:

(i) Participants are two

(ii) Channel or Medium is the voice and sight

(iii) Style of language is normally informal

(iv) Feed back is immediately given

3- Small-Group Communication: The communication that takes place amongst a small group i.e. more than two people is Small-Group Communication.

Aspects of Small-Group Communication:

(i) Participants are more than two

(ii) Channel is voice and sight

(iii) Style of language is normally formal

(iv) Feed back is immediately given

4- Public Speaking: in Public Speaking a speaker (sender/encoder) sends message to an audience (receiver/decoder).

Aspects of Public Speaking:

(i) Participants can be in millions

(ii) Channel is voice and sight

(iii) Style of language is highly formal

(iv) Feed back, whether positive or negative is immediately given

5- Mass Communication: The communication encoded and decoded through media is called Mass Communication. It involves electronic media, print media etc.

Aspects of Mass Communication:

(i) The count of Participants can not be easily mentioned

(ii) Channel or Medium is voice and/or sight

(iii) Style of language is highly formal

(iv) Feed back is delayed.