Communication Process

Defining Communication On a sticky note, write down your own definition of communication. Be as detailed as possible. With a group, discuss your definitions – what was different? What was the same? Together with your group, come up with the BEST possible definition to share with the class.

The Communication Process Model Speaker: the person who begins the communication interaction by having a thought or intended message to send to a listener. Who can this be? Does it have to be a singular person? Does it have to be human? Do they have to know who their audience is before they decide to communicate?

Process Model Cont. Encoding – the process of creating the message to be transmitted from a sender to the listener. Converting your thoughts and ideas into content that can be transmitted. The speaker’s decision Denotation and Connotation (we will discuss this more on Wednesday)

Process Model Cont. Message – what is actually communicated or transmitted to the listener. What is the goal of the message? Did you send the intended message? Verbal – the actual words communicated (words are symbols) – written, spoken, signed Nonverbal – how you say it (voice, body language) Which do you think is more believable – verbal or nonverbal? Best if these match!

Process Model Cont. Channel: the means by which the message is communicated. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS ENCODING. What are examples of different types of channels of communication? The “break-up” scenario - discuss why certain channels are better for certain situations.

Process Model Cont. Listener – the person or people who receive the speaker’s message. Discuss “Frame of Reference” – this is what affects the way speakers and listeners communicate

Process Model Cont. Decoding – how the listener interprets and processes the message transmitted by the sender. Was the intended message received? What could go wrong here?

Process Model Cont. Feedback – the message or response sent from the listener back to the speaker. Shows understanding and interpretation of the speaker’s message. Can be verbal or nonverbal Can be positive or negative

Process Model Cont. Situation – the context in which the communication process occurs. Time and Place Includes physical and social components (what’s happening in the world)

Process Model Cont. Interference – anything that could impede the process of communication. External – noises and sounds Internal – feelings, emotions, thoughts of the speaker and/or the listener