Introduction
In our communication course, we learnt about eight different things regarding communication. This paper is therefore, going to be discussing all these learning objectives in form of a report. Among the areas to be covered in the paper are: fundamental elements found in a communication process, influences of self-concept on communication, effective habits, and skills in listening, the effects perception has on communication, language barrier in communication, communication problems resulting from nonverbal cues, resolution of verbal and non-verbal communication problems, and personal strategies that enhance effective intercultural communication.
Elements of Communication
There are five fundamental elements evident in any communication process. Consequently, these elements include feedback, channel, message, sender, and receiver. In this communication process, the message is expressed, sent, or communicated from the sender or the communicator. This sent or communicated message, order, or information, is meant to reach or is aimed at the receiver (Belzer 63). In this process, the process refers to the subject matter. In other words, it refers to the content of the suggestion, idea, information, order, speech, or letter. For the message to be transmitted from the sender to the receiver, it must go through a media, otherwise called communication channel. The understanding and the information is passed through this media to the receiver. Therefore, the communication channel connects the receiver and the sender. Lastly, feedback is the reaction, reply, or the effect of the information that has been passed to the receiver. For a successful communication, feedback is very essential (Knapp & Hall 56).
Self-concept
The aspect of self-concept is very important in influencing communication. This is because self-concept influences the behavior, attitude, and perception of an individual, as seen during the interpersonal communication process. Self-concept is influenced by the aspects of the individual’s self-life. Consequently, this will affect both the way people perceive the individual and the way the individual perceive himself or herself. Such aspects of individual’s life include psychological type, motivational level, and gender. It is important therefore, for the individual to understand himself or herself to be able to communicate effectively with others. Consequently, this is self-concept. It is clear that it greatly influence the way the individual communicates. In any communication process, before understanding one’s perception on situation as well as the way these perceptions influence their communication, the importance of self-concept must be understood first (Knapp & Hall 56).
Perception
Communication can be affected by perception. The way one individual perceive communicated or said things is different from the way another individual will perceive the same things. This means that one individual can take or consider the communicated or said things in a different way from someone else. Therefore, if the individual take or consider things in a wrong way, he or she can make the communication to get hurtful or angry.
Listening skills
Effective listening skills and habits can be demonstrated in a process constituting four main keys. These keys are, Tune in, Question, Listen, and Review. Regarding tune in, it means that the student should be tuned in right from the start of the lecture, should determine the topic of the speaker, and should be able to recall what he or she already understand about the topic. The question aspect on the other hand, implies that after being punctual for the lecture, the student should be listening while asking himself or herself some questions in his or her mind like the point being made by the speaker, the support devises being used by the speaker, the specific parts to be remembered. In this way, the student would understand the key ideas presented (Knapp & Hall 56).
Listening is another strategy that involves the determination of the basic message being communicated apart from the answering of the raised questions during the course of the learning process. This can be accomplished by anticipating the things to be said as well as taking in the said things. Listening always require active alertness. Lastly, the idea of reviewing is another important strategy resulting in effective listening (Belzer 63). Reviewing is about checking on or referring to the anticipated message following the delivery of the message. The reviewing process therefore, calls for the student to evaluate the communicated message against his or her questions. The other things involved in the review process are the fitting of ideas together, the summarizing of the ideas, and the evaluation of the meaning and influence of the communicated message based on the student’s circumstances (Chance & Chance 78).
Language
Language is one of the factors responsible for the creation of the communication problems. When people are working or living in a multilingual environment, language differences can result in all sorts of communication problems. This is because the language barriers will result in alienation feelings among the involved, unintended conflicts, and misunderstandings.
Nonverbal cues
Nonverbal cues form one of the other factors responsible for creating communication problems. The Asperger’s syndrome is a medical condition characterized by the use of inappropriate nonverbal cues. These kinds of nonverbal cues have been found to be very frustrating and irritating to those people around the users of this form of communication. The problems created are different. Walking too close to other people during the communication process is for instance frustrating to many people. Some people even bump into their colleagues or friends while communicating (Chance & Chance 78). Talking too loudly right in the faces of the people is also a frustrating nonverbal cue. Other people do not even sense that they have gone past the limits despite the nonverbal cues send by the people being talked to showing the need for the conversation to be ended. Another frustrating nonverbal cue is that of looking away from other people while they are talking to you. In addition to looking away, some people even go an extra mile of walking off abruptly even before the other person has not finished a sentence. Therefore, from these illustrations, we can see that the nonverbal cues bring many problems in communication (Chance & Chance 78).
Resolution of nonverbal cues problems
The nonverbal communication problems can be resolved through three different ways. One of the ways is that of relaxing oneself, building comfortable body sense and bodily self-awareness. The other way is that of trying to learn the non-verbal social communication scientifically. This involves the act of making scientific observations while practicing and experimenting non-verbal communication. Lastly, the nonverbal communication problems can be resolved by using an unconditionally loving, nonjudgmental environment to practice non-verbal communication on a regular basis (Belzer 34).
Resolution of verbal cues problems
The methods of resolving the verbal communication on the other hand involve tackling the cultural barriers, making assumptions, and resolving confused messages. Regarding the tackling of the cultural barriers is by learning more about the heritage and the culture of the others. This will avoid the loss of the full message that results from poor translation of some phrases from one language into the other. Making assumptions will help in resolving misunderstanding of the meaning of the opponent during an argument or a debate. Assumption here involves relaxing and not reacting. It involves analyzing what is being said by the other person without personalizing the debate. Lastly, resolving confused messages involves repeating back the concerns of the other person to be able to understand everything correctly and clearly without missing the point. Rephrasing the main points is a very helpful strategy in this case (Chance & Chance 78).
Intercultural communication
The personal strategies that can lead to an effective intercultural communication include knowledge, assumption, active listening, and use of intermediaries. Regarding knowledge, it is important to understand the key problems evident in cross-cultural communication and try to provide solutions to these problems. Assumption on the other hand, implies adjusting the behavior appropriately having assumed that your effort in communication is not always successful. On the other hand, active listening is potential in overlooking misunderstandings that result from the different use of words between cultural groups and languages. Lastly, intermediaries with some familiarity with both cultures are resourceful in bridging cross-cultural barriers in communication. These people will do the translation of both manner and substance of what is said (Belzer 34).
Summary
This report has discussed five elements of communication namely feedback, channel, message, sender, and receiver. It has also highlighted the aspect of self-concept and the way it influences the behavior, attitude, and perception of an individual, as seen during the interpersonal communication process. Perception has also be discussed whereby the way one individual perceive communicated or said things is found to be different from the way another individual will perceive the same things. In listening skills, the essay has highlighted the strategies of Tune in, Question, Listen, and Review. The language barriers alienation feelings among the involved, unintended conflicts and misunderstandings are also highlighted. Nonverbal cues are also highlighted, along with the ways of resolving the problems coming from there. Finally, personal strategies (Belzer 63).
Conclusion
In this report, we have looked at different things that entail the communication process right from fundamental elements found in a communication process, through the influences of self-concept on communication, to the personal strategies that enhance effective intercultural communication. We have also look at some aspects to do with effective habits, and skills in listening, the effects perception has on communication, language barrier in communication, communication problems resulting from nonverbal cues, and resolution of verbal and non-verbal communication problems. The entire discussion is very helpful in one way or the other to anyone with the mind of horning his or her communication skills.
Works Cited:
Belzer, Ellen. Skills Training in Communication and Related Topics Part 2: Communicating with
Patients, Colleagues, and Communities. New York, NY: Radcliffe Publishing, 2009.
Print.
Chance, Patti & Chance, Edward. Introduction to educational leadership & organizational
behavior: theory into practice. New York, NY: Eye on Education, 2002. Print.
Knapp, Mark & Hall, Judith. Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction. New York, NY:
Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
