Chapter 1: Understanding Communication

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I. Communication

A. Communication is the process of sharing information by using symbols to send & receive messages

1. Interpersonal Communication - communication between 2 or more people

II. Sending & Receiving Messages

A. Message - consists of the ideas & feelings that make up the content of communication

B. Sender - the person who sends the message

C. Reciever - the person who receives the message

D. Feedback - a return message

E. Verbal/Nonverbal Symbols - verbal are just words spoken, and nonverbal are gestures, facial expressions, sounds, clapping, hissing, & whistling

F. Channels - all messages are transmitted through this

1. Verbal Symbols - channel is sound waves

2. Nonverbal Symbols - channel is sound waves (tone of voice), light waves (gestures), or sense of touch

G. Elements of Communication - senders & receivers, messages, verbal & nonverbal symbols, channels, and feedback

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I. Using Communication

A. Communicating helps people to feel good about themselves & about their world

B. Communicating also helps people build/maintain satisfying relationships

C. By talking with other people, you can get information, exchange ideas/feelings, and decide which action to take

II. Consider Different Settings

A. Informal Settings are casual, unstructured situations

B. In informal settings, communication is usually spontaneous

C. Examples: talking with friends/family, giving instructions/directions, giving & receiving information in a class, etc

D. Formal Settings are situations that you prepare for in advance

E. Formal Settings allow you to affect the ideas & feelings of people in important positions

III. Types of Formal Settings

F. Interview - a form of communication in which people ask & answer face questions. Usually 1 on 1

G. Group Discussions - a face-to-face meeting among a small number of people who convey thoughts

H. Public Speaking - one person addresses an audience to inform/persuade/entertain them

I. Debate - speakers take opposing sides of an issue and argue for or against it

J. Parliamentary Procedure - a set of rules used to conduct orderly meetings

K. Oral Reading - a performing art in which literature is read aloud and interpreted for an audience

L. Drama - a performing art in which the characters in a play are interpreted & presented by actors on stage

M. Electronic Communication - includes radio, television, & videos

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I. Developing the Communication Process (Interrelated Steps)

A. Find ideas to speak about

B. Adapt the message to the needs of the audience

C. Determine how to present your ideas in the most effective way

D. Interpret audience feedback

E. Deal with verbal & nonverbal interference

II. Finding Ideas

F. When choosing an idea, consider factors such as the audience, setting, and the given time frame

G. You may find ideas for formal/informal situations from:

1. Examining your own experience

2. Looking at the lives of people around you

3. Watching television shows or movies

4. Reading the newspaper/magazine articles

III. Adapting to your Audience

H. In formal situations, you can learn about your audience before giving your speech

I. Be aware of cultural, sociological, & individual information about your audience

J. These factors will help you to anticipate your audience's response, interpret feedback, & respond appropriately

IV. Individual Characteristics

K. Individual Characteristics - things such as a person's personality, interests, & aspirations

L. These items help you gauge how an individual would react

V. Cultural Characteristics

M. Cultural Characteristics - things such as age, religion, and national/ethical background

N. This helps you focus your presentation so that the audience will respond favorably

VI. Sociological Characteristics

O. Sociological Characteristics - elements such as their affiliations, educational backgrounds, & occupations

P. This information helps you formulate general ideas about your listeners, based on what you discover

VII. Encoding & Decoding Information

Q. Encoding - the process of turning ideas/feelings into verbal and non-verbal symbols

R. In formal situations, you plan how you want to state an idea, but in informal situations, the encoding process is nearly instantaneous

S. Decoding - finding the meaning of verbal/nonverbal symbols

T. The decoding process is usually instantaneous in conversations, but it may take a minute to translate in an informal setting

VIII. Dealing With Interference

U. Interference is anything that gets in the way of clear communication

V. Physical Noise consists of any sound that prevents a person from being heard

W. Psychological Noise - thoughts and feelings that distract people from listening to what is being said

X. Semantic Noise - interference caused by words that trigger strong negative emotions against the speaker or the content that the speaker is saying (negative)

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I. Communicating Effectively

A. Care about your communication

B. Know what you are talking about

C. Be organized

D. Use language well

E. Use effective nonverbal signals

F. Listen carefully