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Faizan
It is the process by which we share information, cultivate relationships, express our thoughts and feelings, and assign and convey meaning to create a shared understanding. Communication is how we connect with one another.
The Facts
Communication, as defined by most sources, is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver through the use of a medium or channel that is understood by the sender and receiver. While this describes communication in a very general sense, communication is far more than simply conveying information. Communication is how we exchange our thoughts, feelings or ideas; how we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create a shared understanding; how we utilize signals or words to produce a desired effect; and it is a very complex process with a lot of room for potential error.
For most people, it is viewed as simply talk or data transfer. But it is more than simply conveying information; communication is about conveying the information in a way that the receiver understands it exactly as the sender intended. Every step of the way allows for error and miscommunication because language is a symbolic representation that leaves much room for interpretation and distortion of meaning. Humans and animals alike communicate with one another to produce desired effects and send messages; but, with humans, there is significant room for misinterpretation.
Communication is traditionally described in the following major dimensions: content (what is being communicated); source, sender or encoder (from whom); form (in which form is it being communicated), channel (through which medium); destination receiver or decoder (to whom), and purpose.
Good communication originates with a clearly defined source and message, an ability to anticipate and eliminate any sources of confusion, using the best channel for the message, knowing the receiver of the message and using that knowledge to clarify your message.
Evolution
Through shared signals and behaviors, humans and animals alike have communicated to one another since the dawn of time. Human communication was further developed with the discovery of language, a shared code of sounds or drawings. With the use of language, humans now had an assigned set of symbols and sounds that could easily be used to relay information to one another.
One of the earliest modes of communication was in the Ancient Egyptians' hieroglyphics, which was essentially pictures representing words. Humans revolutionized primitive communication with speech about 200,000 years ago, symbols 30,000 years ago and writing about 7,000 years ago. Dating back to the earliest sign of life, communication has ranged from the most subtle information exchanges to full conversations and mass communication worldwide.
For the first 20 centuries, communication was primarily verbal. Five centuries ago, though, with the invention of the letterpress, messages and ideas could quickly and relatively inexpensively be communicated to a wide audience. In the 20th century, communication was again revolutionized by technological advances and digital communication as humans have the ability to communicate more frequently, at rapid speeds, over thousands of miles instantly and to wide audiences with a touch of a button. The only downfall: As communication technology increases, communication misunderstandings also increase.
Type
There are two distinct types of communication: verbal and non-verbal.
Verbal communication includes both written and oral communication. Oral communication is comprised of spoken dialogs and conversations and is influenced by voice modulation, pitch, volume, and speed and clarity of speaking. Only about 45 percent of meaning is made up of the actual words we use and the tone of our voice.
Non-verbal communication is expressed through body language, sign language and paralanguage. According to various communication studies, non-verbal communication, like body language, accounts for relatively 55 percent of the emotional meaning in a message. This means your posture, gestures, eye contact, touch and facial expressions account for the majority of the message you are sending someone. Savvy communicators utilize non-verbal communication to connect with others and ensure a consistent message throughout verbal and non-verbal communication.
Function
Why do we communicate with one another?
Communication serves multiple functions such as informing or providing information, requesting specific actions, persuading or reinforcing a receiver's belief, and building relationships with others. Universally, it allows organisms, both human and non-human, to exchange information by several methods as long as all parties understand the common language by which it is exchanged.
Defined as "the management of messages for the purpose of creating meaning" by communication researchers, all communication has one goal: shared meaning. Communication is not simply about exchanging data but creating shared meanings. It is about transmitting information in a way that is satisfactorily received and understood. There is no point in communicating if the receiver does not understand the message being conveyed. Meanings are the heart of all communication. If your meaning isn't being accurately conveyed, you are not communicating.
Misconceptions
The fundamental problem with communication is the perception that communication is nothing more than an information exchange. Communication is far more complex than a way to transfer information; it is about acting or changing another's behavior through what we say and about ensuring that the message communicated is the same message received.
As HM Tomlinson states, "we see things not as they are, but as we are." With regard to communication, this statement is all-important. Meanings are not in words, and the message sent is not always the message received because our perceptions determine the meanings we attribute to words and the method by which we interpret the message. Therefore, real communication isn't about what was sent but what is received. Misunderstandings occur primarily because the sender failed to understand the receiver.
In addition, another misconception is how messages are conveyed when communicating in person. Most people fail to realize that the majority of their message, when communicated in person, is conveyed through non-verbal communication as opposed to their actual words and tone of voice. Over 50 percent of your message communicated in person is communicated through non-verbal communication signals.
Risk Factors
While communication has a multitude of benefits, there are also inherent risk factors in communication that ultimately lead to misunderstandings on the receiver's end. For instance, since language is comprised of assigned symbols and sounds, any vaguely defined symbols are easily prone to being misunderstood. Misunderstandings in communication can be detrimental to building relationships whether professional or personal.
Other factors that contribute to miscommunication and communication misinterpretation: language differences; cultural differences; personal differences and assumptions; lost data; individual perceptual biases and personal barriers; poor word selection; failing to know your message's audience; using an inappropriate channel to communicate a message; and misreading body language.
Given that everyone has different perceptions, assumptions and experiences affecting how they interpret messages, communication will never be perfect. Understanding the audience to which you are communicating is the best way to lessen the percentage of having your message misinterpreted by the receiver.
Significance
With all the clear misconceptions and risks involved in communicating, why do we even bother?
Communication achieves a shared understanding by directing the flow of information, helping people overcome discussion barriers, stimulating others to take action to achieve goals, channeling information to encourage people to think in new ways and allowing humans to build deep and meaningful relationships. Building upon your communication skills will enable you to improve productivity, solve problems better, have fewer grievances, enhance creativity and efficiency, clearly convey thoughts and idea, cultivate deeper relationships, and be an effective listener.
Without communication, society would not be as we know it. Only through communication do we possess the ability to connect with others and convey our thoughts, feelings, ideas and messages.
The Facts
Communication, as defined by most sources, is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver through the use of a medium or channel that is understood by the sender and receiver. While this describes communication in a very general sense, communication is far more than simply conveying information. Communication is how we exchange our thoughts, feelings or ideas; how we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create a shared understanding; how we utilize signals or words to produce a desired effect; and it is a very complex process with a lot of room for potential error.
For most people, it is viewed as simply talk or data transfer. But it is more than simply conveying information; communication is about conveying the information in a way that the receiver understands it exactly as the sender intended. Every step of the way allows for error and miscommunication because language is a symbolic representation that leaves much room for interpretation and distortion of meaning. Humans and animals alike communicate with one another to produce desired effects and send messages; but, with humans, there is significant room for misinterpretation.
Communication is traditionally described in the following major dimensions: content (what is being communicated); source, sender or encoder (from whom); form (in which form is it being communicated), channel (through which medium); destination receiver or decoder (to whom), and purpose.
Good communication originates with a clearly defined source and message, an ability to anticipate and eliminate any sources of confusion, using the best channel for the message, knowing the receiver of the message and using that knowledge to clarify your message.
Evolution
Through shared signals and behaviors, humans and animals alike have communicated to one another since the dawn of time. Human communication was further developed with the discovery of language, a shared code of sounds or drawings. With the use of language, humans now had an assigned set of symbols and sounds that could easily be used to relay information to one another.
One of the earliest modes of communication was in the Ancient Egyptians' hieroglyphics, which was essentially pictures representing words. Humans revolutionized primitive communication with speech about 200,000 years ago, symbols 30,000 years ago and writing about 7,000 years ago. Dating back to the earliest sign of life, communication has ranged from the most subtle information exchanges to full conversations and mass communication worldwide.
For the first 20 centuries, communication was primarily verbal. Five centuries ago, though, with the invention of the letterpress, messages and ideas could quickly and relatively inexpensively be communicated to a wide audience. In the 20th century, communication was again revolutionized by technological advances and digital communication as humans have the ability to communicate more frequently, at rapid speeds, over thousands of miles instantly and to wide audiences with a touch of a button. The only downfall: As communication technology increases, communication misunderstandings also increase.
Type
There are two distinct types of communication: verbal and non-verbal.
Verbal communication includes both written and oral communication. Oral communication is comprised of spoken dialogs and conversations and is influenced by voice modulation, pitch, volume, and speed and clarity of speaking. Only about 45 percent of meaning is made up of the actual words we use and the tone of our voice.
Non-verbal communication is expressed through body language, sign language and paralanguage. According to various communication studies, non-verbal communication, like body language, accounts for relatively 55 percent of the emotional meaning in a message. This means your posture, gestures, eye contact, touch and facial expressions account for the majority of the message you are sending someone. Savvy communicators utilize non-verbal communication to connect with others and ensure a consistent message throughout verbal and non-verbal communication.
Function
Why do we communicate with one another?
Communication serves multiple functions such as informing or providing information, requesting specific actions, persuading or reinforcing a receiver's belief, and building relationships with others. Universally, it allows organisms, both human and non-human, to exchange information by several methods as long as all parties understand the common language by which it is exchanged.
Defined as "the management of messages for the purpose of creating meaning" by communication researchers, all communication has one goal: shared meaning. Communication is not simply about exchanging data but creating shared meanings. It is about transmitting information in a way that is satisfactorily received and understood. There is no point in communicating if the receiver does not understand the message being conveyed. Meanings are the heart of all communication. If your meaning isn't being accurately conveyed, you are not communicating.
Misconceptions
The fundamental problem with communication is the perception that communication is nothing more than an information exchange. Communication is far more complex than a way to transfer information; it is about acting or changing another's behavior through what we say and about ensuring that the message communicated is the same message received.
As HM Tomlinson states, "we see things not as they are, but as we are." With regard to communication, this statement is all-important. Meanings are not in words, and the message sent is not always the message received because our perceptions determine the meanings we attribute to words and the method by which we interpret the message. Therefore, real communication isn't about what was sent but what is received. Misunderstandings occur primarily because the sender failed to understand the receiver.
In addition, another misconception is how messages are conveyed when communicating in person. Most people fail to realize that the majority of their message, when communicated in person, is conveyed through non-verbal communication as opposed to their actual words and tone of voice. Over 50 percent of your message communicated in person is communicated through non-verbal communication signals.
Risk Factors
While communication has a multitude of benefits, there are also inherent risk factors in communication that ultimately lead to misunderstandings on the receiver's end. For instance, since language is comprised of assigned symbols and sounds, any vaguely defined symbols are easily prone to being misunderstood. Misunderstandings in communication can be detrimental to building relationships whether professional or personal.
Other factors that contribute to miscommunication and communication misinterpretation: language differences; cultural differences; personal differences and assumptions; lost data; individual perceptual biases and personal barriers; poor word selection; failing to know your message's audience; using an inappropriate channel to communicate a message; and misreading body language.
Given that everyone has different perceptions, assumptions and experiences affecting how they interpret messages, communication will never be perfect. Understanding the audience to which you are communicating is the best way to lessen the percentage of having your message misinterpreted by the receiver.
Significance
With all the clear misconceptions and risks involved in communicating, why do we even bother?
Communication achieves a shared understanding by directing the flow of information, helping people overcome discussion barriers, stimulating others to take action to achieve goals, channeling information to encourage people to think in new ways and allowing humans to build deep and meaningful relationships. Building upon your communication skills will enable you to improve productivity, solve problems better, have fewer grievances, enhance creativity and efficiency, clearly convey thoughts and idea, cultivate deeper relationships, and be an effective listener.
Without communication, society would not be as we know it. Only through communication do we possess the ability to connect with others and convey our thoughts, feelings, ideas and messages.
Posted in: Dating & Relationships
