This document introduces the major concepts of communication. It defines communication as the transactional process of creating meaning between people who are mutually responsible for the communication. It then lists and describes the six key elements of effective communication: 1) Context, 2) People, 3) Messages, 4) Channels, 5) Noise, and 6) Feedback. For each element, it provides details about their role in the communication process.

1. C H A P T E R 1 – M A J O R C O N C E P T S
INTRODUCTION TO
COMMUNICATION

2. I. DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION
• The transactional process of creating meaning
• People communicating are mutually responsible for
what occurs
• Examples of communication

3. EXAMPLES OF COMMUNICATION

4. II. ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
• 1. context
• 2. People
• 3. Messages
• 4. Channels
• 5. Noise
• 6. Feedback

5. 1. CONTEXT
• The interrelated conditions of communication make
up context
• A. Physical setting
• Location
• Time
• Light
• Temperature
• Distance between communicators
• Seating arrangements

6. 1. CONTEXT
• B. historical aspect
• Look at this example. Is there a historical aspect in
these communication episodes?
• A: Excuse me! How much is this?
• B: It’s $15.
• A: Have you done what I told you?
• B: I’m sorry. I’m too busy.

7. 1. CONTEXT
• C. Psychological aspect: the manner in which
people perceive themselves and how they
perceive those with whom they communicate.
• D. Cultural norms: guidelines that we establish for
conducting transactions.

8. 2. PEOPLE
• Sender: forms messages, communicate them to
others through verbal and nonverbal symbols
• Receiver: processes the messages, react to them
both verbally and nonverbally
• Forms of communication vary depending on the
relationship of participants
• Meaning sent and meaning received may not be
exactly the same for the individuals involved due to
different individual experiences, feelings, ideas,
moods, occupation, religion…

9. 3. MESSAGES
• A. meanings
• B. symbols
• C. encoding and decoding
• D. form or organisation

10. 3.A.MEANINGS
• Ideas and feelings in the mind of a person
• To share ideas and feelings, you must form
messages comprised of both verbal and nonverbal
elements

11. 3.B. SYMBOLS
• Verbal: words
• Nonverbal:
• facial expressions,
• gestures,
• tone of voice,
• eye contact,
• posture,
• clothing

12. 3.C. ENCODING AND DECODING
• Encoding: transforming ideas and feelings into
symbols and organizing them
• Decoding: transforming messages back into ideas
and feelings
• Unintended meaning: created when the decoding
person receives a meaning unrelated to what the
encoder thought was being created
• Conflicting meaning: created when the verbal
symbols are contradicted by the nonverbal cues.

13. 3.D. FORM/ORGANISATION
• When meaning is complex, people communicate in
sections or in a certain order/in a particular form to
convey the meaning

14. 4. CHANNELS
• The route travelled by the message and the means
of transportation
• Words: by air waves
• Nonverbal cues: light waves
• Five sensory channels: examples?

15. 5. NOISE
• A. external noise: sights, sounds… that draw
people’s attention way from intended meaning
• Internal noise: thoughts, feelings that interfere with
meaning
• Semantic noise: those alternate meanings aroused
by certain symbols that inhibit meaning

16. 6. FEEDBACK
• Verbal or non-verbal response to the messages

17. MODEL OF COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS