Lecture 1

Introduction to Human Communication

Communication is essential. Studying communication is essential to you, it is central to your life.
Effective communication can help you solve problems in your professional life and your
relationships. Communication is consequential. Understanding the theory, research, and
application of communication will make significant differences in your life and involves people
around the world. Communication principles and practices can resolve disputes among nations as
well as among friends and family. Effective communication may solve all the world's problems,
but better communication practices probably can begin solve or avoid many problems.
Communication is ubiquitous. You cannot avoid communication and you will engage in
communication every minute of every day of your life.
Learning how to communicate is just as important as learning about communication. It offers a
number of advantages:
1. Studying communication can improve the way you see yourself . Communication is vital
to the development of the whole person. As we engage in thought (intrapersonal communication)
and interactions with significant other people (interpersonal communication), we learn about
ourselves. Learning communication skills can improve the way you see yourself in a second
way. As you learn how to communicate effectively in a variety of situations--from interpersonal
relationships to public speeches--your self-confidence will increase.
2. Studying communication can improve the way others see you. You will learn that you
can control your own behavior, which will lead to positive outcomes with others. You can
achieve your goals more easily as you manage the impression you make on others. You can
improve the way others see you a second way. Generally, people like communicating with others
who can communicate well. Most of us like competent communicators.
3. Studying communication can increase what you know about human relationships . The
field of communication includes learning about how people relate to each other and about what
type of communication is appropriate for a given situation. Human relationships are vital to each
of us. Adults who engage in human relationships appear to be more successful and satisfied than
do those who are isolated.
4. Studying communication can teach you important life skills . Involves learning important
skills that every one will use at some point in his or her life, such as critical thinking, problem
solving, decision making, conflict resolution, team building, media literacy, and public speaking.
5. Studying communication can help you exercise your constitutionally guaranteed of
speech. Freedom of speech is essential to a democratic form of government. It involves knowing
about current issues and being able to speak about them in conversations, in speeches, and
though the mass media; it also involves being able to critically examine messages from others.
6. Studying communication can help you succeed professionally . A look at the job postings
in newspaper will give you an immediate understanding of the importance of improving your
knowledge and practice of communication.
Communication: The process of Exchanging meaning
Communication comes from the Latin word communicare (to make common or to share).
Communication is defined as the process by which meaning is exchanged between individuals
through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is considered a
process because it is an activity, an exchange, or a set of behaviors. Communication involves
meaning, which is the shared understanding of the message. Understanding the meaning of
another person's message does not occur unless the two communicators can elicit common
meanings for words, phrases, and nonverbal codes. When you use language, meaning facilitates
an appropriate response that indicates that the message was understood. For example, you ask a
friend for a sheet of paper. She says nothing and gives you one sheet of paper. You and your
friend share the same meaning of the message exchanged.
Communication principles
Communication begins with the self. How you see yourself can make a great difference in how
you communicate. Many communication scholars and social scientists believe that people are
products of how others treat them and of the message others send them. Barnlund introduced the
idea that individuals 'construct' themselves through the relationships they have, wish to have, or
perceive themselves as having. Also developed the idea of 'six persons'
1. How you view yourself.
2. How you view the other person.
3. How you believe the other person views you.
4. How the other person views himself or herself
5. How the other person views you
6. How the other person believes you view him or her.
Communication Involves Others. Communication itself is probably best understood as a
dialogic process. A dialogue is simply the act of taking part in a conversation, discussion, or
negotiation. We observe that communication begins with the self, as defined largely by others,
and involves others, as defined largely by the self.
Communication is complicated. Some believe that communication is a simple matter of
passing information from on source to another. But it is far more than simple information
transmission. It involves different aspects of the message: the verbal, nonverbal, and behavioral
aspects, the transmission channel used, the characteristics of the speaker, the relationship
between the speaker and the audience etc.
An Increased Quantity of Communication Does Not Increase the Quality of
Communication. What we need more is communication. However, greater amounts of
communication do not lead to more harmony or more accurate and shared meanings. Sometimes
people disagree, and the more they talk, the more they learn that they are in conflict.
Communication is Inevitable. Although communication is complicated and more
communication is not necessary better communication, communication occurs every minute of
your life. If you are not communicating with yourself, you are observing others and drawing
conclusions from their behavior. A person yawns and you believe that person is bored with your
message.
Communication cannot be Reversed. It has happened that you have insulted someone
accidentally. You may have tried to explain that you did not intend to insult anybody, that you
are sorry etc. but your word cannot be reversed.
Communication cannot be repeated. You may have experienced sometime one remarkable day
with someone. If you try to recreate the conversation, the situation, the setting, you see that it is
impossible, you cannot repeat communication.
Components of communication
People. People are involved in the human communication process in two roles. They serve as
both the sources and the receivers of the message. A source initiates a message, and a receiver is
the initiated target of the message. People are the sources and the receivers of the message
simultaneously and continually. Individual characteristics of people, including race, sex, culture,
values, attitudes, affect the way they send and receive messages.
The message. Is the verbal and nonverbal form of idea, though, or feeling that one person wishes
to communicate to another person or group of people. It includes symbols, facial expressions,
body movement, gestures, touch, tone of voice, and other nonverbal codes. The real
communication can occur through either intentional or unintentional messages.
The channel. Is the means by which a message moves from the source to the receiver of the
message. A message moves from one place to another, from one person to another, by traveling
through a medium or channel.
Feedback. Is the receiver's verbal and nonverbal response to the source's message. You respond
to another person's messages by providing feedback so that the source knows the message was
received as intended. Feedback is part of any communication situation.
Code. Is a systematic arrangement of symbols used to create meanings in the mind of another
person or persons. Syntax- rules of arrangement, Grammar- rules of function- in language
result in the 'systematic arrangement' that becomes a code. Words, phrases, and sentences
become 'symbols' that are used to evoke images, thoughts, ideas in the mind of others. Verbal
and nonverbal codes are the two types of code used in communication. Verbal codes consist of
symbols and their grammatical arrangement. All languages are codes. Nonverbal codes consist
of all symbols that are not words, including bodily movements, your use of space and time, your
clothing and other adornments, and sounds other than words. Nonverbal codes include oral
codes, such as rate of speech and sounds like eh and ah.
Encoding and Decoding. Encoding is defined as the act of putting an idea or a thought into a
code. Decoding is assigning meaning to that idea or thought. Encoding and decoding are
essential in sharing your thoughts, ideas, and feelings with others.
Noise. Is any interference in the encoding and decoding processes that reduces the clarity of a
message. It can be physical, such as loud sounds, distracting sights. It can be as well mental,
psychological, or semantic, such as daydreams about a loved one, worry about sth, pain from
tooth etc.
Models of Communication
The Action Model. People believed communication could be viewed as action; in the action
model, one person sends a message and another person receives it.
The interaction model. One person sends a message to a second person, who receives it and
responds with another message. The receiver cannot return a message until the speaker's message
is received. posit
The Transaction model. Communicators simultaneously send and receive messages. Sending
and receiving are no longer separate activities, and they do not occur one at a time.
The Constructivist Model. Hypothesizes that the receivers create their own reality in their
minds.
Communication Context.
Communication occurs in a context, a set or a situation.
Intrapersonal Communication. Is the process of understanding and sharing meaning within the
self, it occurs within your own mind.
Interpersonal Communication. Is the process of coordinating meaning between at least two
people in a situation that allows mutual opportunities for both speaking and listening.
Dyadic Communication. (two person communication). Includes interviews with an employer or
a teacher, talks with a parent, spouse, child etc.
Small-group communication. Is the interaction of a small group of people to achieve an
interdependent goal. It occurs in families, work groups, support groups, study groups etc.
Public Communication. Is the process of generating meanings in a situation where a single
source transmits a message to a number of receivers who give nonverbal and, sometimes,
question-and-answer feedback. It is recognized by formality, structure, and planning.
Mass communication. Or communication mediated between a source and a large number of
unseen receivers.
Goals of Communication Study.
Effective Communication (Communication competence). Is defined as the ability to effectively
exchange meaning through a common system, signs, or behavior.
Ethical Communication. May be defined as a set of moral principles or values
NCA Credo for Communication Ethics. Ethical communication is fundamental to responsible
thinking, decision making, and the development of relationships and communities within and
across contexts. Unethical communication threatens the quality of all communication. We shuld
be open, honest, and reasonable.