Communication process involves transmission of message or information from the sender to the receiver through understandable medium.
Although communication starts with the sender and ends with the receiver, there are four major components of communication process namely encoding, channel of transmission, decoding and feedback. The sender initiates the communication and may be individual; a group or organization .The success or failure of the message is influenced by attitude, experience, knowledge, culture, skills and perception of the sender. Before imparting information the sender must encode the message into symbolized ideas e.g. words, languages, or gestures. The sender decides on what is to be transmitted based on the receiver’s knowledge and assumption with the mode of coding familiar to the receiver with the sender mentally visualizing the communication from the receiver’s point of view. The message transmission must be through proper channel. The channels may be oral e.g. telephone, written e.g. letters, memos and reports with visual channels increasingly advancing due to technology. The medium used to convey message must be effective although the effectiveness fluctuate as per the characteristics of communication for example when immediate feedback is needed, oral communication is more appropriate and when message is intended to larger audience the written communication may be more effective. Before settling on which medium to be used, the choice may be influenced by urgency of message, destination, receiver’s ability to understand the channel used and need for confidentiality and immediate feedback. The entity that receives the information becomes the receiver who decodes the message generating meaning or purpose out of it. Successful communication is when the receiver correctly interprets the sender’s message depending on the receiver’s cognitive ability. The receiver’s ability to comprehend the message may be influenced by culture, knowledge, receptivity to the message, relationship and trust between the receiver and the sender. When the sender’s idea is understood, the receiver in response communicates back to the sender. The sender will use the feedback to evaluate whether the receiver interpreted the message correctly giving the sender opportunity to take corrective action incase of misunderstanding.
Verbal communication involves expressing thoughts with words as people communicate face to face using sounds, words and spoken language. Vocal cords produce sounds which turn into words .words are signed meaning to develop language resulting into speaking. Speaking may be interpersonal or public depending on the type of information to be imparted. With visual communication, the message is decoded through reading or looking upon through visible medium like texts or images. The eyes primarily sense by selecting and perceiving ideas using theories of cognition, perception and color, physics of light and eye anatomy. Visual communication may be in form of pictures, charts graphs, signs, signals and other forms of body expression. The message imparted may be analyzed by personal, technical, historical, ethical, historical, critical, cultural perceptions based on the interest of society. To understand the information being presented, visual aids must be in cooperated ranging from handouts to power points. The visual aids are to enhance effecting communication but may distort information when used incorrectly. Visual aids may be tables, maps, graphs, photographs, drawings or diagrams conveyed through chalkboard, handouts, video excerpts and projectors .body language shows how we react and act to others and vice versa. Reflects what’s on and may vary depending on an individual, culture and nationality. For example to convey disengagement or dissatisfaction audience may heads down, glazed eyes gazing differently, audience doodling or sitting slumped in the chair. To show being defensive the sender will arms closed in front of the body, down casting or showing little or no eye contact with body physically turned away. While to convey message of confidence, the sender will stand tall, have solid smiling face, slow and clear speech at a moderate tone.
Social relationships when communicating in multicultural society should be considered since communication across cultures will depend on ability to communicate competently with people from other cultures whose ethics, behaviors, and languages may be totally different from one’s own way of life. Difference in words and behavior may increase chances of misunderstandings doubts and conflicts when communication is not effective. Size of the society should be given consideration as smaller the society the more effective communication becomes but, increasing cultural diversity due to migration of people with different cultural backgrounds create more barriers to communication. Duration of existence should be looked into since the longer the stay, the more visibility of co-cultures resulting into cultural assimilation with arrival of new emigrants hence possibility of universal culture emerging enhancing communication since a single mode can reach wide receivers. Intercultural communication to bring diverse groups in pluralistic society achieving national cohesion with creation of common goal while preserving cultural integrity bearing in mind the multiplicity of meanings, modes of living and sets of mind. The ambiguities that may arise due to shared meanings in a multicultural society and the ability to handle any miscommunication should also be taken into account.
Effective communication should be accurate, relevant, brief, precise, and goal oriented to create good self- image of both the sender and the receiver. Communication across borders should be nurtured for democratic life in global multicultural society.
References
Colorado Services to Children with Deaf blindness. (2009)Fact Sheet, Receptive Communication, retrieved from http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/download/pdf/dbReceptiveCommunication.pdf
IQPC Worldwide.COM .The Importance of Effective Communication – Part 2 http://www.iqpc.com/uploadedFiles/Training/Asia_Training/The_Gateway/Article2_EffectiveCommunication2.pdf
Lewis .C (2008).Intercultural Focus, Successful Communication in Multicultural Environments, retrieved from http://www.luthais.com/index_files/papers/Chad%20Lewis%20-%20Successful%20Communication%20in%20Multicultural%20Environments.pdf
WordPress.com Elements of the Communication Process, retrieved from http://rodrigo75.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/elements-of-the-communication-process/
