7/21/2019 Elements of Communication

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The Communication Process & The Elements of 

Communication

Communication as a ProcessHuman communication is interpersonal, it is purposive and it is a process.Question: What do we mean by process?

 Answer: By process we mean that steps have to be taken and in a set/particular order toachieve a desired result/oal. !hese are the important elements o" the communicationprocess:

#. SENDER/ENCODER !he sender also known as the encoder decides on the messae to be sent, the best/moste""ective way that it can be sent. All o" this is done bearin the receiver in mind. $n a word, itis his/her %ob to conceptualize.!he sender may want to ask him/hersel" &uestions like: What words will $ use? 'o $ needsins or pictures?

(. MEDIUM!he medium is the immediate "orm which a messae takes. )or e*ample, a messae may becommunicated in the "orm o" a letter, in the "orm o" an email or "ace to "ace in the "orm o" aspeech.

+. CHANNEL!he channel is that which is responsible "or the delivery o" the chosen messae "orm. )ore*ample post o""ice, internet, and radio.

. RECEIVER !he receiver or the decoder is responsible "or e*tractin/decodin meanin "rom themessae. !he receiver is also responsible "or providin "eedback to the sender. $n a word, it

is his/her %ob to $-!0!.

1. EED!AC" !his is important as it determines whether or not the decoder rasped the intendedmeanin and whether communication was success"ul.

2. CON#E$#3ommunication does not take place in a vacuum. !he conte*t o" any communication act isthe environment surroundin it. !his includes, amon other thins, place, time, event, andattitudes o" sender and receiver.

4. NOISE 5also called inter"erence6

!his is any "actor that inhibits the conveyance o" a messae. !hat is, anythin that ets inthe way o" the messae bein accurately received, interpreted and responded to. -oise may

 be internal or e*ternal. A student worryin about an incomplete assinment may not beattentive in class 5internal noise6 or the sounds o" heavy rain on a alvani7ed roo" mayinhibit the readin o" a storybook to second raders 5e*ternal noise6.!he communication process is dynamic, continuous, irreversible, and conte*tual. $t is notpossible to participate in any element o" the process without acknowledin the e*istenceand "unctionin o" the other elements.

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