Defining communication

1. INTRODUCTION TO
COMMUNICATION

2. DEFINING COMMUNICATION
The root of the word “communication” in Latin is communicare,
which means to share or to make common (Weekley, 1967).
Communication is defined as the process of understanding and
sharing meaning (Pearson & Nelson, 2000).
” Communication is the transfer of information from one person
to another, whether or not it elicits confidence. But the
information transferred must be understandable to the receiver –
G.G. Brown.
“Communication is the intercourse by words, letters or
messages”- Fred G. Meyer.

3. MEANING OF DEFINITION
The first keyword in this definition is process. A process is a
dynamic activity that is hard to describe because it changes
(Pearson & Nelson, 2000).
The second keyword is understanding: “To understand is to
perceive, to interpret, and to relate our perception and interpretation
to what we already know.” (McLean, 2003)
Next comes the word sharing. Sharing means doing something
together with one or more people
Finally, meaning is what we share through communication.

4. CATEGORIES OF COMMUNICATION
• Spoken or Verbal Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Visualizations

5. TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
1. Intrapersonal
2. Interpersonal
3. Mass communication
4. Group communication
5. Public communication

6. ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
Communication is a two-way process, wherein the interchange of messages connects the sender and
receiver, towards an agreed direction, consisting of seven elements:
• Sender: Otherwise known as a source, it is the person who has something to pass on, to another
individual.
• Encoding: The sender of the message, selects appropriate words or non-verbal techniques to convert
the idea into the message, which is called encoding.
• Message: Message implies something that the sender wants to communicate, to the receiver. Without a
message, no communication is possible.
• Medium: Medium alludes to the channel or mode, through which message is communicated to the
receiver, i.e. it can be sent by way of an electronic word processing system, graphic, symbol, etc.
• Receiver: The one to whom the message is directed, is called the receiver. He/she notices and conveys
some meaning to the message.
• Decoding: The act of interpreting a message by the receiver, is termed as decoding. The receiver’s
outlook, experience, and attitude play a vital role in decoding the message.
• Feedback: The process of communication can never be completed, if the response of the receiver is
missing. It enables the communicator of a message to know whether the message has been received
and interpreted in the same manner as directed.

7. MASS COMMUNICATION
• DeFleur & Dennis – "Mass Communication is a process in
which professional communicators use media to disseminate
messages widely, rapidly and continuously to arouse intended
meanings in Large and diverse audiences in attempts to
influence them in a variety of ways."
• Orlik – "Mass Communication is the process of rapidly
conveying identical information, assertions and attitudes to
potentially large, dispersed and diversified audiences via
mechanisms capable of achieving that task."
• Berge – "Mass Communication involves the use of print and
electronic media such as newspapers, magazines, film, radio or
TV to communicate the large number of people who are
located in various places often scattered all over the country or
the world."

8. FUNCTIONS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Mass communication has the following basic functions:
• To inform
• To educate
• To entertain and
• To persuade

9. BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
1. Semantic barriers
2. Psychological barriers
3. Organisational barriers
4. Cultural barriers
5. Physical barriers
6. Physiological barriers

10. SUMMARY
Communication is defined as the process by which information
is exchanged between individuals through a system of signs, and
symbols. The concept of communication involves a sender, a
message, and a recipient. The sender sends the message and the
recipient is the receiver of the message. The process of
communication is never smooth as it is affected by the barriers
to communication. Barriers to effective communication can
result in confusion which can lead to incorrect information being
conveyed or miscommunication which can lead to loss of
business.

11. THANK YOU