Meaning of Communication

MEANING OF COMMUNICATION

Communication means a common ground of understanding. It is a process of exchange of facts, ideas, opinions and as a means that individuals or organizations share meaning and understanding with one another.

Scope of Communication

The scope of communication is very wide and comprehensive. It is a subject of almost unlimited dimensions and is a interdisciplinary one.

It is a continuous process of exchange of information and uses a set of symbols like words, action, pictures, figures etc.

Communication can be downwards, for example the Head Master giving instruction to the students through the teachers.

Communication can be upward, for example students opinion conveyed to the Principal through the teachers

Communication can be horizontal, for example discussions among teachers themselves or the students deciding on some issues related to their club activities.

Levels of Communication

Self Communication or Intrapersonal Communication

Communication scholars and researchers recently have come to realize the logical way to start improving our communication skills by understanding our own self-communication or otherwise called intrapersonal communication. This involves the internal communication patterns we use to 'talk to ourselves' either consciously or unconsciously. Example: When we talk to ourselves about what we have done or completed over a week or say to yourself ' I ate too much'.

b) Dyadic Communication or Interpersonal Communication This represents the type of communication that involves two or more persons communicating directly within a relatively informal two- person or small-group setting.

Dyadic communication is a transaction between two people.

This level of communication can take many forms -conversation, debate, interview, etc.

We spend most of our communication time at this level. Example: we interact with people at home, at work place, while traveling and so on.

c) Small group Communication

This is a form of interpersonal communication that usually involves three or more persons but generally not more than twelve. The group is brought together for some common purpose or goal. Example: meetings at workplace, family get together.

d) Large group communication

This is also a common level in communication where more than thirty people come together to share their ideas, experience, knowledge, etc. They have common interests and aspirations. Example: Conferences, meetings, etc.

e) Mass Communication

In today's interdependent world, one needs to look beyond face to face communication to cater to our need to speak to many people at a time spread all over the world. In mass communication we reach large groups of people. Modern civilization has devised almost magical methods to carry our messages even to the remotest corner of the world with astonishing speed, much beyond the wildest imagination of the earliest generation. The method is known as mass communication. Eg: press, cinema, radio and T.V.

Successful Communicatio

Involves six elements - communicator (who) sending a useful message (what) through proper channels (how), effectively treated to an appropriate audience (whom) to evoke the desired response (effect).

That is who says what to whom, how and with what effect:

            A good communicator should

know his audience well. 

know his message well. 

know the different channels that can be used.

A good message must be.

clear simple and understandable

significant and need based

 appropriate and applicable.

Treatment of message helps in

organizing the subject matter

relating the message to suit the audience

avoiding any misinterpretation..

IV. Channels of communication are the physical bridges between the sender and the receiver of messages

Channel will depend on the size of the audience- individual/ group/mass.

Channel used will depend upon the skills of the communicator and the audience knowledge.

Channel chosen will depend on the message to be conveyed.

V.   The audience

may consist of one person or many or mass.

homogenous or heterogenous

highly motivated and actively participate

communication process

VI  Audience Response

1 . reaction of the audience to the message they received.

can be verbal or non-verbal.

is important to make the communication process complete.

The choice of a channel or method of communication, also m called

Teaching Methods, generally depends on the number of people

(audience) location or the place where communication is taking place, time available for communication and the skills of the communicator.

In any communication process, how you communicate is very important since this determines the effect or impact of the process. The important channels of communication are the teaching methods and the use of audio/visual aids.