What is
communication?
Lecture 1.2
University of Alberta
ALES 204
Nancy Bray




                        1
Housekeeping Items

Labs start on Monday, January 14

Textbook rentals - e-book through publishers




                                               2
Lecture Outline

1. Definition of communication

2. Models of communication

3. Myths of communication




                                 3
Course Map
                             Analyze a communicative situation
                                      Plan an approach
                     Identify strengths and weakness of your approach




            Context                       Rhetorical Purpose                    Channel
           Interpersonal                    Informative                           Oral
           Small Groups                     Persuasive                            Written
           Public
           Mass Communication                                                     Visual
                                                                                  Online




  Define communication and understand a model of communication
  Describe the role that culture, hierarchy, perception, language, non-verbal behaviour, and
 generation play in communication
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1. Definition of communication




                                 5
Example
Chandler and the pizza delivery woman

(Friends, Season 5, Episode 19)
                                        6
Define communication

1. Where is communication successful in this clip?

2. Where is communication not successful?

3. How would you define communication based on this clip?




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Why a definition?




                    8
Definition of communication




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More definitions




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More definitions




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More definitions




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Communication studies scattered

126 definitions of communication (Dance, 1972)

249 distinct communication theories (Anderson, 1996)

7 textbooks shared only 7% of their content (Anderson, 1996)

7 communication traditions -- emerging clarity (Craig, 1999)




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Definition of communication




                              14
2. Models of communication




                             15
7 essentials of
communication
1. People
2. Message
3. Channels
4. Noise
5. Context
(setting)
6. Feedback
7. Effect
Gamble & Gamble’s model of
communication
The Matrix
Scene: Morpheus proposal
Apply the Gamble &
Gamble model

 Who is sender? Who is the receiver?

 What is their shared field of
 experience?

 What is the message?

 What is the channel?

 What is the noise?

 What is the feedback? What type?

 What is the context/environment?
Strengths of the G&G model
Weaknesses of the G&G model
Dance’s communication helix
Meeting of helixes
Model of a conversation or contact
Model of communication in relationships
Growing together, then growing apart
3. Myths of communication




                            32
5 myths of communication
                      Source: Kory Floyd, Communication Matters
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Reading

Read Course Guidebook
(eClass)

Read Chapter 1

Read Chapter 2 by Monday




                           39
Discussion forum
Do you know a particularly effective communicator?

Can the Gamble and Gamble model of communication help you understa




                                                             40
Why this image?
Can you figure out what this image has to
do with communication?




                                            41
Photo Credits
Slide 1 & 2 - The Tower of Babel by Peter Bruegel the Elder. From Wikicommons
Slide 3 - Meister der Weltenchronik. From Wikicommons
Slide 4 - Jupiter (Zeus) from Wikicommons
Slide 11 - From Wikicommons




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Lecture 1.2 what is communication student notes