Chapter 2: Getting the message across Flashcards
What is the origin of the word “communication” and what does it signify?
The word “communication” comes from the Latin commūnicātiōn, meaning “common.” It signifies having something in common through sharing knowledge and exchanging information, ideas, and emotions.
How is communication defined?
Communication is defined as the sharing of symbols—words, images, gestures—to co-create meaning.
It is a transactional process of sharing meaning with others, and a human process through which we make sense out of the world and share that sense with others.
What is the role of communication theory?
Communication theory is a system of ideas that explains communication. It is based on empirical research and observation, and helps explain what happens when we communicate. It brings communication experiences into focus when communication breaks down.
What are some examples of “urgent social problems involving communication”?
Examples include impacts of technology, communicating and organizing in a global society (including intercultural communication),
intergroup and interpersonal communication,
public relations involving communication between organizations and target groups,
and issues related to visual media and representation.
What are the four main theoretical frameworks used in studying communication?
The four main theoretical frameworks are
rhetoric (the use of language to persuade an audience),
semantics (the study of the words and symbols we choose),
semiotics (the study of how meaning is assigned and understood),
and cybernetics (the study of how information is processed and how communication systems function).
What are the three key characteristics of communication?
Communication is
situated (embedded in a particular environment or socio-cultural context),
relational (involves the ability to interact effectively and ethically according to what is needed at a given moment), and
transactional (exists as a co-operative activity in which people adapt to one another).
What are the key components of the Communication Process?
The key components are
the sender,
the message (or information being communicated),
the channel (or medium by which the message is transmitted),
the receiver (or the individual or group at whom the message is directed),
and feedback (the receiver’s response to the message).
What is the role of the sender in the communication process?
The sender is the person or group with a particular idea or purpose in mind.
They express this purpose in the form of a message, which they encode in a way that they hope will be understood by the receiver.
What is the role of the receiver in the communication process?
The receiver is the person or group at whom the message is directed.
They are responsible for decoding the message, and extracting meaning from its symbols.
Their interpretation and response can be influenced by their experiences, knowledge, attitudes, and context.
What is feedback in the context of communication?
Feedback is the receiver’s discernible response to a message.
It allows for clarification and ensures that the message has been properly understood.
Feedback can be non-verbal, oral, or written.
What is “noise” in the context of communication?
“Noise” refers to physical and psychological obstacles that can interfere with the communication process and lead to misunderstandings. It can be any factor that makes the outcome of the communication process less predictable.
What are communication barriers?
Communication barriers are problems that can affect the communication transaction, leading to confusion or misunderstanding.
Examples include
- Channel overload,
- Information overload,
- Emotional interference,
- Semantic interference,
- Bypassing,
- Physical and technical interference,
- Mixed messages,
- Channel barriers,
- Environmental interference.
What is channel overload?
Channel overload refers to the inability of a channel to carry all transmitted messages.
What is emotional interference?
Emotional interference is a psychological factor that creates problems with the communication transaction.
What is bypassing in the context of communication?
Bypassing is a misunderstanding that results from the receiver inferring a different meaning from a message based on the different meanings of the words that are used.
What are mixed messages?
Mixed messages are conflicting signals or messages that may result in miscommunication.
What is environmental interference?
Environmental interference results from preconceptions and differing frames of reference.
What are some guidelines to overcome communication barriers?
To overcome communication barriers, one should:
Be timely and time-sensitive.
Be purposeful in communication.
Be a good listener and a careful reader.
Be context-sensitive, considering whether the communication channel is right for the situation and audience.
Be proactive, verifying facts and getting more information before proceeding if unsure.
FIGURE 2.2 Communication Barriers
What is interpersonal communication?
Interpersonal communication is an interactional process between two people (sender and receiver), either face-to-face or mediated.
This form of communication, also called dyadic, is typically informal, spontaneous, and done within a specific context to achieve interpersonal goals.
It involves attitudes, behaviors, and cognition, playing a crucial role in creating and managing relationships.
What are the key purposes of interpersonal communication?
Interpersonal communication serves the purposes of sharing meaning, meeting social goals, managing personal identity, and conducting relationships.
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to be in touch with one’s emotions, manage one’s behaviors, understand and respond to others’ emotions to foster strong interpersonal relationships.
It is based on personal competence (self-awareness and self-management) and social competence (social awareness and relationship management).
What is small-group communication?
Small-group communication is an interactional process that occurs among three or more people (up to 20) and pursues common goals.
The size of the group must allow all participants to interact freely, and the links between participants are vital to successful outcomes.
What is organizational communication?
Organizational communication pursues common goals within a hierarchical social system composed of interdependent stakeholder groups.
It takes place in large businesses and industries, as well as government institutions.
This form of communication is defined by formalized behaviors and rules of an “organizational culture” that arise from interactions between organization members
FIGURE 2.3 Tips for Achieving Interpersonal Success
FIGURE 2.4 Non-verbal Communication Cues Can Play Five Roles in Relation to Verbal
Communication
FIGURE 2.5: The Three General Domains of Non-Verbal Skills
What is intercultural communication?
Intercultural communication is the management of messages between people and groups of different cultural backgrounds.
This form of communication requires necessary adaptation to account for differences between socially constructed forms of communication behavior.
What is mass communication?
Mass communication is a one-to-many, public interaction in which media professionals send messages to a large anonymous audience.
This type of communication is distinct from face-to-face public communication and is often mediated through media such as radio, television, newspaper or magazine, or online platforms.
What is non-verbal communication?
Non-verbal communication is communication that does not use words but takes place through gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, body movements, posture, and other non-verbal cues.
Non-verbal messages can communicate emotions, attitudes, greetings, and cues of status.
What are the types of non-verbal cues that can influence the interpretation of a message?
The types of non-verbal cues that can influence the interpretation of a message include
tone,
inflection,
and other acoustic properties of speech,
eye gaze and facial expression,
body movements,
posture,
gestures,
and touch,
appearance (bodily characteristics and clothing),
and the use of personal space and time.
Why is non-verbal communication important?
Non-verbal communication is important because it enriches verbal messages and is a key factor in how people interpret and remember information.
Non-verbal cues can also provide feedback about the success of communication efforts and the mood of a group. They can be powerful indicators of feelings and attitudes in verbal communication.
TABLE 2.1 Hall’s Spatial Zones (North American norms)
FIGURE 2.6 The Three Classes of Vocalic Cues
