8 Principles of Communication

1. Package of Signals 2. Transactional 3. Process of Adjustment 4. Involves Content & Relationship Dimensions 5. Sequences are Punctuated 6. Involves symmetrical & Complementary Transactions 7. Inevitable, Irreversible & Unrepeatable 8. Multi-Purposeful

COMMUNICATION IS:

1.

Communication is a Package of Signals

(Komunikasi adalah satu pakej isyarat) Communication involves verbal and nonverbal signals which reinforce or support each other. Your entire body works together verbally & nonverbally to express your thoughts and feelings. eg. When we are sad, we cry; when we are happy, we laugh / smile Contradictory messages are particularly damaging when children are involved.

 

2. Communication is Transactional
(Komunikasi adalah transaksional)
  

 

Communication is a two-way process. Each person is seen as both speaker and listener at the same time. Elements in communication changes all the time everchanging process and ongoing activity. All elements are interdependent. Although the words and symbols are the same, each person interprets them differently.

3. Communication is a Process of Adjustment

(Komunikasi adalah proses penyesuaian)
  

 

Communication may only take place if the communicators use the same system of signals. However, no two persons use identical signal systems. Communication involves identifying the other persons signals, learning how they are used and understanding what they mean. Communication adjustment is especially important in intercultural communication. Communication Accommodation Theory speakers will adjust to or accommodate to the speaking style of their listeners to gain social approval and greater communication efficiency.

4. Communication Involves Content and Relationship Dimensions

(Komunikasi melibatkan dimensi makna dan hubungan)
 

Content dimension : the actual meaning of the message. Relationship dimension : the relational aspect underlying the message
Eg. See me after the meeting

Paying attention to both the content and relationship aspects could help us in communicating effectively.

5.
  

Communication Sequences are Punctuated

 

Communication events are continuous transactions. Communication participants divide up this process into causes and effects, and stimuli and responses. People punctuate communication in ways that allow them to look good and consistent with their own selfimage. Your punctuation does not reflect what exists in reality. To communicate effectively, you have to understand what other people mean from their point of views, i.e recognizing how they punctuate their communication).

6.

Communication Involves Symmetrical and Complementary Transactions

(Komunikasi melibatkan transaksi simetrikal dan komplementari)


Symmetrical relationship
 The behavior of one person is reflected in the behavior of the other.  The relationship is one of equality, with the emphasis on minimizing the differences between the two individuals.

Complementary relationship
 Two individuals engage in different behaviors.  The behavior of one serves as the stimulus for the complementary behavior of the other.  Differences between parties are maximized.

7. Communication is Inevitable, Irreversible, and Unrepeatable (Komunikasi tidak boleh dihentikan, tidak
boleh ditarik balik dan tidak boleh diulang)  Inevitability
 Communication takes place even though one of the individuals does not think he / she is communicating or does not want to communicate.  In an interactional situation, you cant avoid communicating and cant avoid responding to the message.


Irreversibility
 Once you say something you cant uncommunicate it  Be careful not to say things you may be sorry later

Contd.

Unrepeatability
 Communication is unrepeatable because everyone and everything is constantly changing  You can never recapture the exact same situation, frame of mind, or relationship dynamics that defined a previous communication.  Eg. Making a first impression in an interview.

8. Communication is MultiPurposeful
 

(Komunikasi mempunyai pelbagai tujuan) Purposes may be conscious or unconscious, recognizable or unrecognizable 5 general purposes of communication:
i. To Discover for personal discovery ii. To Relate establish / maintain close relationship with others iii. To Help iv. To Persuade to change peoples attitudes and behaviors v. To Play pleasure, escape and relaxation from pressures and responsibilities