1. Gokhale Education Society’s
S.M.R.K. B.K. A.K Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Nasik-5.
Department of English
CC English (LL)
S.Y.B.Com. Sem III
Unit 1
Ms. Geetanjali Gitay
Assistant Professor
Theory of Communication: Concept and Process
2. Introduction
•The word “Communication” word originates from the Latin word “communicare”
which means “to make common” or “to share”.
•Communication is an important aspect of human behaviour.
•However, not only humans but animals too communicate with
each other. But, their communication is limited.
• The process of communication is as old as the origin of human beings themselves.
Human beings start communicating right from birth.
• Language is an important means of communication. We use language in oral and
written form to communicate. However, we also communicate with the means of
gestures, facial expressions, body language, dress, secret codes and even silence.
• When a message is sent out, it becomes communication only when it is understood,
acknowledged, reacted or replied to by a receiving person.
3. Characteristics of Human Communication
• The meaning of the message communicated depends on the social or cultural situation in which it is
delivered.
• Communication is an ongoing process. It is dynamic and thus constantly changing. The people with
whom you communicate change, the situation in which you communicate, the means that you use to
communicate also change and one has to adapt to changes to communicate effectively.
• Communication is systematic. Every component of the process is affected by every other component.
The source, the environment, the goal, the medium, the nature of the message, the receiver, the
feedback all affect one another. Any change in any component affects the other component.
• Communication requires a channel. Thoughts, ideas or emotions cannot be communicated directly.
We need language, gestures, symbols, technology to communicate.
•Communication can be intentional as well as unintentional. It is very difficult to communicate the
correct message. The receiver may understand something more or less or something totally different.
4. Role of Communication in Business
• Entry into good organisation requires excellent communication skills. It is a tool with which we influence
others, bring out changes in the attitudes and views of our associates, motivate them, establish and
maintain relationship with them.
• A businessperson has to communicate with his employees, other businessmen, suppliers, organisations,
policymakers in the government and all other stakeholders in society. Communication is very important to
business.
• Communication is the glue that holds an organisation together, whatever its business or size. Without
effective communication, information cannot be collected, processed or exchanged. It is with
communication that multinational organisations spread across the globe can function uniformly.
• Communication is important when it comes to marketing and selling services and products.
5. Definitions of Communication
“ Communication is the process of transmitting feelings, attitudes, facts, beliefs and ideas between
living beings.” - Birvenu.
“ Communication is the process by which information is transmitted between individuals and/or
oganisations so that an understanding response results.”
- Peter Little
“ Business Communication is exchanging information in order to promote an oranisation’s goals,
objectives, aims and activities, as well as increase profits within the company.”
- www.wikipedia. com
6. Encoding and Decoding
• Communication starts or originates in the form of thoughts in the mind of the
sender and ends in the form of the thoughts being received by the mind of
the receiver.
• However , thoughts cannot be transmitted on their own, we need a medium or code to communicate them.
•Code can be defined as a set of symbols agreed upon by two or more people.
•Language, symbols, gestures, facial expressions are all such codes.
• The sender uses one of these codes to communicate the message. This process is called Encoding.
• When these set of symbols or signs are interpreted and understood by the receiver, it is called Decoding.
•Both encoding and decoding are essential to the two way process of communication.
7. Elements of Communication Process
In order to understand the process of communication, we need to know the elements involved in the
Process. There are Seven elements in the process of communication.
• Source/ Sender , is the one who has an idea or a thought in his or her mind and initiates the process of
communication.
• Audience/ Receiver, is the person(s) for whom the communication is intended.
•Message/ Content is the idea or thought being communicated. The sender encodes the message and
receiver should decode it to complete the communication process.
• Context/ Environment is the background in which the communication takes place.
• Goal/ Purpose is the sender’s reason for communicating, the desired result of the communication.
• Medium/ Channel is the means or method used for conveying the message.
• Feedback is the receiver’s response to the communication as observed by the sender.
8. The Process of Communication (Diagram)
Sender (s)
Receiver(s)
Receiver (s)
Sender(s)
encoding medium/message decoding
decoding medium/message encoding
Feedback
9. Process of Communication
• The process of communication involves decisions and activities by the two persons involved, the sender
and the receiver.
•The sender begins the process of communication. He has a message to communicate and a purpose for
it. The sender decides why and to whom to send a message.
• The sender decided upon the message to convey and then encodes it using language or other symbols
that can be understood by the receiver.
• The sender also chooses a suitable channel or medium , face to face talk, letter, e-mail, fax to convey
the message. The choice of medium depends upon the factors such as urgency of the communication,
availability and effectiveness of the medium and the relationship between the sender and the receiver.
• After the receiver receives the message he interprets it and translates the symbols in thoughts and
ideas which is called decoding.
• After decoding the message, the receiver may respond it, reply to it or react to it. This reaction is
called the feedback.
•One cycle of communication process completes here. The same cycle can be repeated again as many times .
•Context and circumstances of the communication also influence the meaning. The context of each
conversation, the social, cultural,legal, political and environmental influences also affect the process.
10. Conclusion
Regarding the theory of Communication, we saw:
•The meaning of Communication
•Characteristics of Human Communication
•Role of Communication in Business
•Definitions of Communication
•The concepts of Encoding and Decoding
•Elements of Communication Process
•The Process of Communication – Diagramatic Representation and Description
11. Text Content Source :
1. Business Communication, Doctor Aspi & Doctor Rhoda, Sheth Publishers, Mumbai.(Fifth Edition).
2. Business Communication, Rai Urmila & Rai S.M. ,Himalaya Publications, Mumbai .(Fourth Edition).
