Communication is the process of conveying information, ideas, feelings, or meaning between individuals or groups through a common system of signs, symbols, or behavior. It is a dynamic and interactive process essential for human interaction, understanding, and collaboration.

The Communication Process

The communication process typically involves several key components that interact to facilitate the exchange of information. These components often operate in a cyclical manner:

1. Sender (Source):

   The individual or group who initiates the communication. The sender has a message they wish to transmit.

2. Encoding:

   The process by which the sender converts their thoughts, ideas, or information into a form that can be understood by the receiver. This involves choosing appropriate words, gestures, facial expressions, symbols, or other forms of representation.

3. Message:

   The encoded information that the sender wishes to convey. It can be verbal (spoken or written words) or non-verbal (body language, tone of voice, images, symbols).

4. Channel (Medium):

   The pathway through which the message travels from the sender to the receiver. Common channels include face-to-face conversation, telephone, email, text message, video call, reports, presentations, or even non-verbal cues.

5. Receiver:

   The individual or group to whom the message is directed. The receiver is the intended recipient of the information.

6. Decoding:

   The process by which the receiver interprets and makes sense of the encoded message. This involves translating the symbols, words, or gestures back into thoughts and ideas. The receiver's personal experiences, knowledge, and cultural background influence this interpretation.

7. Feedback:

   The response of the receiver to the sender's message. Feedback indicates whether the message was received and understood as intended. It can be verbal (e.g., a reply, a question) or non-verbal (e.g., a nod, a smile, a frown, a lack of response). Feedback allows the sender to adjust their future communication.

8. Noise:

   Any interference that distorts or obstructs the message, hindering effective communication. Noise can be:

   • Physical Noise: External distractions like loud sounds, poor connection, illegible handwriting.
   • Physiological Noise: Internal distractions like hunger, fatigue, illness, headache.
   • Psychological Noise: Mental distractions like preconceived notions, biases, emotional states, stress, daydreaming.
   • Semantic Noise: Misunderstanding due to differences in language, jargon, or interpretation of words.
9. Context:

   The circumstances, environment, or setting in which communication takes place. This includes physical surroundings, social relationships, cultural norms, and historical background, all of which can influence how messages are encoded, transmitted, received, and interpreted.

In essence, the sender forms an idea, encodes it into a message, sends it through a channel, the receiver decodes it, and then provides feedback, completing the loop. This entire process is susceptible to noise and is influenced by its context.

Source:

• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/communication-process
• https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/communication/chapter/the-communication-process/