communication: what and why

communication: what and why

1. communication defined

   • characteristics of communication
     • communication is a process
       • communication is continuous, ongoing process.
     • communication is relational, not individual
       • communication isn't something we do to others; rather, it is something we do with them.
     • communication is symbolic
       • symbols are used to represent things, processes, ideas, or events in ways that make communication possible.
   • modeling communication
     • a linear model
       • a sender encodes ideas and feelings into some sort of messages and then conveys them to a receiver who decodes them.
     • a transactional model
       • both seeing and receiving are simultaneous
   • textbook example: data flows from one database to another in a cascade of electronic impulses is a communication
     • personal example: I often use different emojis in my text to symbolize my emotion to state a clear communication

2. types of communication

   • interpersonal communication
     • listening to the little voices in our mind
   • dyadic/interpersonal communication
     • two persons interacting
   • small group communication
     • every person can participate actively with the other members
   • organizational communication
     • people engage in communication when they collectively work to achieve goals
   • public communication
     • a group becomes too large for all members to contribute
   • mass communication
     • messages that are transmitted to large, widespread audiences via electronic and print media
   • textbook example: you pause a minute and look at the audience before beginning a 10-minute speech is an example of interpersonal communication
     • personal example: I always practice with myself before giving a speech so I don't feel too strange on the stage

3. communication in a changing world

   • changing technology
     • communication technology is changing more rapidly than ever before
   • changing discipline
     • communication study reflects the changing world
   • textbook example: many tools and technology are used in making communication
     • personal example: I always use FaceTime to talk to my family in Thailand because it is so convenient and effective

4. understanding social media

   • mediated versus face-to-face communication
     • message richness
       • the abundance of nonverbal cues that add clarity to a verbal message
     • synchronicity
       • synchronous communication
         • real time communication
       • asynchronous communication
         • there's a time gap between when a message is sent and when it's received
     • permanence
       • face-to-face conversation is transitory
   • how people use social media
     • be careful what you post
     • be considerate
     • respect others' need for undivided attention
     • keep your tone civil
     • respect privacy boundaries
     • be mindful of Bystanders
     • balance mediated and Face Time
     • be safe
   • textbook example: twitter is an example of the fuzzy boundary between mass and interpersonal communication isn't as clear as it might seem
     • personal example: with social media I talk with my friends less because I already know what's going on in their lives

5. the many meanings of communication

   • interdisciplinary heritage
     • communication has captured the interest of scholars from a wide range of fields
   • field and activity
     • communication also denotes as an activity that people do
   • humanity and social science
     • communication straddles two very different academic domains
   • natural and professional communication
     • a natural activity that we engage in unconsciously
   • communication and communications
     • communications
       • activities involving technology and the mass media
     • communication
       • face-to-face and written messages as well as the field as a whole
   • textbook example: message on a t-shirt
     • personal example: advertisement between Youtube videos

6. functions of communication

   • physical needs
   • identity needs
   • social needs
   • practical needs
   • textbook example: social isolated people are four times more susceptible to the common cold than those who have active social network
     • personal example: I translate a lot of English words to satisfy my practical need to understand the words

7. communication competence

   • communication competence defined
     • achieving one's goal in a manner
     • there's no 'ideal' way to communicate
     • competence is situational
     • competence is relational
     • competence can be learned
   • characteristics of competence communicators
     • a wide range of behaviors
     • ability to choose the most appropriate behavior
     • skill at performing behaviors
     • empathy/perspective taking
     • cognitive complexity
     • self monitoring
     • commitment to the relationship

8. clarifying misconceptions about communication

   • communication does not always require complete understanding
   • communication will not solve all problems
   • communication is not always a good thing
   • meaning rest in people not words
   • communication is not simple
   • more communication isn't always. better