This document discusses communication skills and the communication process. It defines communication as transmitting ideas from one person to another and explains its key components: a sender, receiver, message, medium, feedback, and potential noise. It also outlines barriers to communication like physical, psychological, perceptual and language differences. The document recommends ways to overcome barriers such as simplifying language and improving organization. It emphasizes that the goal of communication is understanding.

1. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
CODE: WTU07105
CREDIT: 06
VANI TOSHA/SHABANI MFANGA
ASSISTSTANT LECTURER
THE COLLEGE OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

3. MEANING
o The word “communication” is descended from latin word
communicare, which means ‘to make common’ or ‘to share’.
o Communication is an art of transmitting ideas, thoughts,
information and attitudes from person to another.
o It is a meaningful interaction among human beings.
o Communication skills is the ability to convey information and ideas
effectively.
o The nature of communication is about sharing the information with
another who has something in common with you. It is a process by
which two systems or people exchange information because they
have enough things in common for this exchange to be relevant and
possible for them to happen.
o The goal of any communication is understanding.

6. BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION
 Physical barrier
This happens due to the nature of the environment where the communication is
taking place. Example; Mountains, lakes, forestd are among the obstacles that can
hinder communication process.
 Psychological barrier
This involves people’s state of mind. When we are happy, we tend to be more
receptive to information but if someone has a personal problem like worries about
his/her health or marriage then it’ll affect concentration in communication process.
 Differences in perception
Based on how one views the world, the mind absorbs experiences in a unique and
personal way. Because your perceptions are unique, the ideas you want to express
differ from other people. even when two people have experienced the same event,
their mental images may not be identical.

7. BARRIERS CONT..
 Language barrier
The language that we use to describe what we want to say in our terms may
be a barrier to others who are not familiar with it. Communicating in such a
language is a way of excluding others.
 Gender barrier
There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in men and
women. Women tend to use more words than men. Amongst children,
girls speak earlier than boys; at the age of three, girls have a vocabulary
twice that of boys.

8. CONSEQUENCES OF POOR
COMMUNICATION
o Time may be lost, as instructions may be
misunderstood and jobs may have to be repeated.
o Frustration may develop, as people are not sure of
what to do a task.
o Product may be wasted if not handled correctly.
o People may feel left out if communication is not
handled correctly.
o Messages may be misinterpreted or misunderstood
causing bad feelings.
o People’s safety may be at risk.

9. WAYS OF OVERCOMING
COMMUNICATION BARRIER
o Make communication simple, clear and direct.
o Choose the media carefully.
o Use simplified language
o Improve human relations so as to reduce
psychological barriers and encourage
cooperation.
o Carefully regulate the flow of information to
eliminate unnecessary communication.
o Plan and organise information well in advance of
the interaction.

10. COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION
o Sender/initiator- refers to the person sending the message. The sender is
sometimes known as encoder of the message. For example, a teacher teaching in
a class during a lesson is the sender of the information received by the learners.
-Encoding is the process of packing ideas or expressing of what sender wants to
say in a language.
o Receiver/recipient
This refers to the person receiving the message sent by the speaker. The receiver
is sometimes known as the decoder of the message. For example, a learner
listening to a teacher in class during a lesson is the receiver of the information
sent by the teacher.
- Decoding is the process whereby a receiver is interpreting or understanding the
meaning of a word in a language.
o Medium/channel
This refers to the path which the communicators use to pass or convey their
messages. This may be through radio, books, television, telephone, internet, etc.

11. COMPONENTS CONT.....
The media is concerned with things that are used to encode the message
(written, oral, audio visual) while channel is concerned with a set of system
used information from one point to another. The types of message will
help the sender to determine the channel that he/she should use.
o Message/goal
The message is a piece of information that is transferred from the sender
to the receiver. The message begins as a mental idea within the sender
and it can be either positive or negative in nature.
o Feedback/action
Feedback/effect/action is a comment or act that follows the receipt of the
message sent by the sender. Apart from offering a chance to adjust
communication process for the future, it can also be either
good/bad/positive/negative.

12. COMPONENTS CONT....
o Noise
Noise is anything that can interfere with the
communication process at any stage. Noise
results from both internal and external
factors. It refers to all kinds of physical
interference like poor handwriting, poor
telephone connection, poor television
reception, electronic blasting, dirty
photocopies e.t.c

14. REFERENCES
1. MICHAEL, K (2005). Communication skills theory and
practise. Afroplus industries, Dar es salaam Tanzania.
2. Mahundu M.C (1999). A manual on communication
skills towards improving communication skills in
english language. Ndanda mission press, Tanzania.
3. Macharia, M.J (2014). Improve your communication
skills. Serengeti educational publishers, Tanzania.
4. Khan W.S, Communication Skills,
https://www.slideshare.net/ShafqatKhan15/english-
communication-effective-skills-ppt