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Use of English II
Unit One- Communication Styles
Communication Process
Communication
Communication has been defined as the process of people interacting through the
use of messages [Zeuschner: 1997]. Also it has been referred to as the process of
human beings responding to the symbolic behaviour of other persons.
 A close observation of them reveals that communication is a process [not an
event], it involves people, it involves interaction among people and it
involves the use of messages.
 As a process, communication is dynamic, continuous, irreversible and
contextual. It is inevitable, that is, it is sure to happen and cannot be altered
or revoked.
 All communicative events involve content and relationship. Content refers to
the substance of the message while relationship tells of the receiver and
sender and how they perceive their interaction.
 Finally, communication happens in a setting or context and it is from such
that much meaning is derived. Context may be defined as a culture, location
or a relationship.
Elements in the Communication Process
Within the process of communication there are five primary elements, because
communication is a process, there are certain elements of this process that are
present in every communication act.
These elements must be involved in order for communication to take place:
*Senders/Sources/Encoders
* Receivers/ Decoders
* Messages
* Channels and Mediums
* Feedback
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Use of English II
Unit One- Communication Styles
Communication Process
DESCRIPTION OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROCESS
1. Sender (also called source or encoder)
As the word suggests, the sender is the person/group with whom the
message originates. The sender conceptualizes the message. That is, she
determines what the content of the message will be, the best form for the
message to take and the best way of getting the message across.
2. Message
This is the content of the communication process. Before the communication
process begins, there must be an idea or body of knowledge that needs to be
communicated
3. A. Medium
This is the method that someone chooses to convey her message. Will you
use e-mail? Speech? Gestures? A poster?
B. Channel
Channel is closely associated with medium. This is the means by which your
message is conveyed. For example, an e-mail is a medium, whereas the
internet is a channel; speech is a medium, but radios and loudspeakers are
channels; gestures are a medium, your hands act as their channel; finally, a
poster may be your medium, but the poster-board and ink are your channels.
4. Receiver (also called decoder)
Eventually your message arrives at the receiver. This is the person
responsible for interpreting your message and taking some sort of meaning
form it. The receiver is the main goal of any communication act.
5. Feedback
After the receiver interprets the sender’s message; she then provides
feedback to the sender. This is the receiver’s response to the message and is
essential in that it alerts the sender to whether or not the message has been
accurately/effectively received and interpreted.
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Use of English II
Unit One- Communication Styles
Communication Process
DESCRIBING THE PROCESS
Communication is described as a process because there are certain stages that it
must follow in order for effective communication to take place. If any of the steps
are neglected communication will not take place. The process is both cyclical
(going in a circle/cycle) and transactional (has to be performed).
 The event begins with the conceptualization/thinking of the message and
this is the sender's role as the originator of the message.
 In addition, after the sender has thought of the message, it is the sender's task
to encode the contents of the message (putting it in a form that the receiver
can understand).
 After which the sender selects the medium (what form it will take) and
channel (what device will be used) through which the message will be sent
so that the receiver will be able to receive it.
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Use of English II
Unit One- Communication Styles
Communication Process
 The receiver's role is chiefly to receive the message and to decode it which
shows that the message was received
 After which the receiver will try to interpret/understand the message sent to
him/her.
 The receiver will then provide a feedback/answer to the sender. Without this
feedback communication has not taken place.
It is very important for you to understand that both the sender and the receiver
conceptualize, encode, select medium and channel, decode, interpret and provide
feedback in all communicative events.
Often during communicative events there is some sort of interference or blockage
to interaction. These are commonly referred to as barriers to communication and
may be internal or external in nature.
Internal barriers include: daydreaming, anxiety and hunger, headache,
depression.
External barriers include: noise from a lawn mower, gestures, attire, posture,
chatting, spilled beverage on a page and choice of words.
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Use of English II
Unit One- Communication Styles
Communication Process
Facilitators and Barriers
There are factors that may influence the effective conveyance of messages
positively or negatively. Anything that helps to ensure an effective transfer of
messages is called a facilitator to communication. Anything that hinders this
effectiveness is a barrier to communication
Some common facilitators to communication are:
i. choosing a familiar language
ii. Using an accessible channel
iii. Ensuring that the medium is appropriate to the message
iv. Using audio/visual aids to enhance the encoding of the message
Some common barriers to communication are:
i. A language barrier
ii. A channel that is inaccessible to the receiver
iii. The message is ineffectively encoded or the meaning is ambiguous
iv. The medium is inappropriate to the message
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