A Model Of The Communication

Process

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 Introduction
• We define communication
operationally – with a model showing
how it works.
• The model describes face–to–face
communication. Later we adapt it to
writing.
• The model relies heavily on theory,
with significant factual support.
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A common misconception.
• Communication is not a natural human
activity.
• Human communication, at least the verbal
part of it – is far from being a natural
function, that is, it is not the sort of thing
we would do if left to nature’s devices , as
we would many of our other activities.

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A common misconception
(Cont)
• We learn to communicate.

• It is not instinctive but taught.

• It was originated by human beings

and it must be acquired from human
beings

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 The Communication
Environment
• Communication occurs in a sensory
environment – the real world with all the
signs the senses can detect.
• It is made up of all the signs existing in
the world of reality that surrounds each
of us.
• Your sensory environment is the real world
surrounding you as you read these words.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• By Real World We mean that which
actually exists.
• It contrasts with the world that exists
only in peoples minds.
• Of course one may argue that what exists
in the mind also is real – that, right or
wrong, the content of a mind exists only in
that mind.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• By Signs we mean everything from
the real world that can act as a
stimulus to us.
• In other words, it is everything that
our sensory receptors can detect.
• They produces responses in us.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• By Sensory Receptors we mean those body
organs that we use to use to detect the
signs in the real world.

• Specially the term refers to our eyes,

noses, ears, mouths and flesh with its
ability to detect surface and temperature
differences.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Sign Detections:
– Our sensory receptors continuously pick
up some of the infinite number of signs
existing in our communication
environment.
– Stated another way, the signs around us
continuously produce responses within us
through our receptors.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Consider these words that you are reading.
Do you notice other signs?
• Perhaps you are not picking up all of them
• Perhaps there are noises around you
• From time to time you may become aware
of being hot or cold, or your back may itch,
or your sitting positions may become
uncomfortable.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Thus, as have read the previous slide,
your sensory receptors have
continuously picked up signs from all
these parts of the reality that
surrounds you.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Sensory Limitations:
– Sensory Receptors are limited; they
detect only a small part of the real
world.
– In short they are restricted
– They are not capable of detecting all
the signs that we know exists in the real
world.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Sensory Limitations (Cont.):
– Examples:
– Our eyes can detect only a small part of the
total spectrum of wavelengths, and ability to
detect from these wavelengths vary from
person to persons.
– Dogs and birds can hear much that we cannot
– We can smell only the strong odor, while dogs
do a much better job of smelling.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Selective perception:
– Sensory receptors select signs to detect.
– They tune in on one and ignore others.
– Example:
• Place yourself in a roomful of talking people, and
notice how you are able to tune in on one
conversation and ignore others.
• Or notice how you are able to focus to your vision on
one minute object and then expand your view to a
much broader picture.

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 The Communication
Environment (Cont.)
• Varying alertness and perception:
– Our detection or nondetection of signs
also depends on our receptiveness to
sign.
– Our perception varies with the our
degree of mental alertness.
– When you are asleep, you detect almost
none.

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 The Communication
Process
• With the communication environment
as a base, we shall review the
communication process.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
Feedback

Sender Receiver
Message
Thought Encoding Reception Understand
transmission
Decoding

Noise

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
Encoding
• The sender generates thoughts to be
conveyed.
• The sender encodes the thoughts with
both verbal and non-verbal cues
(Gestures).
• Noises from outside may disturb the
encoding, which may alter the meaning.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
Transmission:
• The encoded message gets
transmitted to the receiver. During
the transmission, the both external
and internal noise may alter the
intended meaning of the original
message.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Receiving and Decoding
1. The receiver accepts the messages.
2. (S)He then assigns meaning to the
message according to his mental filter.
3. With the meaning assigned, the
receiver understands the messages
and sends feedback to the sender.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Sending feedback also applies the
same cycle.
• And the cycle keeps moving.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Reception of signals:
– The signs echo and re-echo throughout
the receiver’s nervous system
– This is the preverbal neurophysiological
stage

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Flow to the brain:
– Eventually the stimuli from the signs
reach the receivers brain.
– The sensory flow is continuous but may
vary with sign intensity and degree of
mental alterness.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Role of the filter
– The mind filters the stimuli and gives
meaning to them
– The filter includes knowledge,
viewpoints and emotions that influence
interpretation of signs

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Role of the filter (Cont.):
– All filters are unique because no two
people have identical experiences,
thoughts and emotional makeups.
– Thus meanings given to signs differ.
– Meaning depends on filter content.
– Words are but one type of sign

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Role of the filter (Cont.):
– Seeing snakes, feeling cool breezes and
such are non verbal signs we could
detect.
– Many signs produce multiple, mixed or
confused meanings.
– For example, we could respond to a
politician numerous ways.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Role of the filter (Cont.):
– Meanings in the filter may trigger
reactions – physical, verbal or both,
most reactions are verbal.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• The symbolizing stage:
– The symbolizing stage begins when the mind
searches for symbols (usually) words with
which to express the intended meaning.
– Intellect and knowledge of language relate
directly to competency in symbolizing
– Symbolizing imperfect because of language and
human limitations.

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 The Communication
Process (Cont.)
• Act Of Encoding:
– Encoding concludes the first cycle of
the communication process.

– It involves sending word and nonverbal

symbols to a receiver.

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 The Cycle Repeated
• The first receiver now becomes sender
and vice versa.
• Then Identical communication cycle begins.
• Communication occurs if receiver get the
meaning sender intended.
• The meaning receiver receive may cause
him to respond, then another cycle occurs
and the process may go on and on.

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 The model and written
communication
• Three differences exist when we
apply the model to writing.
1. Greater Creativity

3. Time Lag

5. Limited Number of Cycle

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 The model and written
communication (Cont.)
• Greater Creativity:
– Written communication involves more creative
efforts of the mind
– In report writing, for example, there is little
message exchange. The final words are
carefully though out.
– Letter writing may involve some exchanges, but
even then the messages are deliberate and
creative.

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 The model and written
communication (Cont.)
• Time Lag:
– Time delays occur in moving written messages
to others’ sensory environments.
– Feedback is slow.
• Limited Number of Cycles:
– Written communication has fewer cycles.
– Most writing involves only one cycle.

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Universal Ingredients of
Human Communication
• Human communication ahs four
universal ingredients:
– The communication environment,
– The Mental Filter,
– The encoding, and
– decoding process.

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 Some fundamental truths of
communication
1. Communication is imperfect:

– Communication is imperfect

– Symbols are imprecise, and

– peoples’ encoding skills vary.

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 Some fundamental truths of
communication (Cont.)
1. We communicate about ourselves:
– We project ourselves into our
communications
– The symbols we select for a message
tells how we feel.
– We communicate based on only a small
part of reality

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Some fundamental truths of
communication (Cont.)
1. Meaning is in the mind:
• People have meanings but symbols do
not
• Communication is successful when two
people give similar meanings to
symbols.
• Emphasize the intended meaning in
the sender’s mind – not the meaning
received in your mind.
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Thank You

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