Process of Communication

Process of Communication is dynamic, ongoing and ever changing. We also used some terms such as sender, message, channel, receiver, noise and feedback. These are known as Elements of Communication that makes it a continuous process. Now let us examine these elements in some detail and understand the type of interrelationship that exists among them.    

 

1) Sender

The Sender initiates the process of communication. The sender has to be clear

about the purpose (or goal or objective) of the communication and about the target

audience (or receiver) of the communication; that is, the sender decides why and to

whom to send a message. Conscious or intended communication has a purpose. We

communicate because we want to make someone do something or take some action, or think or feel in a certain way, that is, to influence the person.

Sender's functions make up half the process of communication. The functions

of the sender are:

1. Being clear about the goal/purpose of the communication

2. Finding out about the understanding and needs of the target audience

3. Encoding the required information and ideas with symbols to create the message to suit the receiver/ audience

4. Selecting the medium to send the message

5. Making efforts to get feedback, that is, finding out the response of the target audience.

2)  Message - Message is a key idea that the sender wants to communicate. It is a sign that elicits the response of recipient. Communication process begins with deciding about the message to be conveyed. It must be ensured that the main objective of the message is clear.

3) Encoding - The entire process starts with the sender of the communication having a thoughts in mind which needs to be communicated. This thought than is coded - that is converted in a form which can be sent or transmitted from sender of communication to the receiver, The process of coding typically involves representing the thoughts of information to be communicated in some form of language. This is first done mentally then represented in some physical form like written or spoken word or some other forms method physically representing and transmitting data. The coded data is then transmitted or sent to the receiver of the communication.

4) Medium - Medium is a means used to exchange / transmit the message. The sender must choose an appropriate medium for transmitting the message else the message might not be conveyed to the desired recipients. The choice of appropriate medium of communication is essential for making the message effective and correctly interpreted by the recipient. This choice of communication medium varies depending upon the features of communication. For instance - Written medium is chosen when a message has to be conveyed to a small group of people, while an oral medium is chosen when spontaneous feedback is required from the recipient as misunderstandings are cleared then and there. 

5) Noise /Barriers - All physical ,psychological , and cultural factors which mar the process of communication and relegate it to the level of meaningless exchange of sounds or signs , are termed as barriers to the process of communication

6) Decoding -  The Receiver receives the message through his senses. He must be aware of the code in which the message has been sent. This code can be in verbal or non-verbal form. If the receiver knows the relation between the symbols (words , signs ,gestures , postures etc) and the objects they represent,  he can easily decode the message and understand the meaning.

 7) Recipient / Decoder - Recipient / Decoder is a person for whom the message is intended / aimed / targeted. The degree to which the decoder understands the message is dependent upon various factors such as knowledge of recipient, their responsiveness to the message, and the reliance of encoder on decoder.

9) Feedback - Feedback is the main component of communication process as it permits the sender to analyze the efficacy of the message. It helps the sender in confirming the correct interpretation of message by the decoder. Feedback may be verbal (through words) or non-verbal (in form of smiles, sighs, etc.). It may take written form also in form of memos, reports, etc.