What Is Communication?
The
word communication is derived from the Latin word ‘communis’ which means common,
consequently, it implies that common communication is common understanding
through common minds and hearts. Communication is usually defined as a process
of transferring information through the verbal form that is by saying words to
the other person or by the non-verbal form that is through facial expressions,
positive gestures, body language, sign language, habits, paralanguage,
kinesics, chronemics etc.
The
process of communication is complete when the receiver understands the concept
in the same sense and spirit the sender is trying to convey.
“Communication
is defined as the process of passing information and understanding from one
person to another. It is essentially a bridge of meaning between the people. By
using this bridge a person can safely cross the river of misunderstanding” –
Keith Davis.
“Communication
may be broadly defined as the process of meaningful interaction among human
beings. More specifically it is the process by which meanings are perceived and
understanding is reached among human beings” – D.E. Mc Farland.
“Communication
is essentially the ability of one person to make contact with another and make
himself or herself understood – John Adair.
Why Communication Is Important?
As
discussed above communication is the only way to process other person thoughts
and intentions verbally and non-verbally both.
In
earlier times around 30000 BC people found the need for communication. The ways
used earlier for communicating information by those early people were mostly by
sounds and gestures as communication through language developed gradually and
began at first as an imitation of sounds in nature, such as the barking of
certain animals and the howling of the wind.
Then
they stared with facial expressions and body gestures and slowly merged with
vocals. As different people tend to attain different languages according to
their places and their surroundings.
Here Are Some Important Features of Communication
Communication Is Unavoidable- Communication is always an existing and unavoidable phenomenon.
Not to talk of facial expressions and positive gestures and other behavioral
ways, even silence also conveys a lot about the person’s attitude.
Continuous Process- Communication is not an art or event at an instance of time rather it
is a continuous process, incorporating various events and activities that are
interrelated and interdependent.
Two-way Traffic- Communication is always two-way traffic as it is stated above that
communication will only be completed when the receiver understands the content
with the same spirit and sense the sender is trying to convey. While
communicating with the sender when sending the message he or she expects feedback
to know if the receiver has understood the message in the right manner or not.
Transactivity- Since the communication process involves multiple causality interactions and
transactions, it is transactive. It has been observed that in a gathering of
five or six persons when one person leaves, the conversation changes entirely.
People change radically when they move from one communication situation to
another; sometimes becoming talkative and silent.
Multidimensionality- Communication is multidimensional. Its sources, channel, audiences, and effects
of these messages are multi-dimensional.
Multipurpose- Communication process is multipurpose. The participants, act as sources to the
extent they have purposes- which they wish to accomplish. Participants act as
receivers too, to the extent they have purposes they wish to accomplish.
Universal- Communication is a universal process as it is done by every living creature on
this planet and even on other planets. Without communication, there is no
meaning of life on this earth as without it is impossible to live a life. Every
human need require to communicate with the other person to make them understand
their feelings to survive. For example: even if a person requires water or
oxygen he or she needs to convey that, and tell them that you need water, thus
communication is really important for humans to communicate.
The Role of Perception- Human perceptions, the process of interpreting and giving
meaning to objects or signs, through the five senses seeing, hearing, touching,
tasting and feeling plays a dominant role in the communication process. Our
sensory receptors are limited are detect only a small part of the phenomenon,
we notice. Consequently, our communication is selective.
Thus,
communication is as important as oxygen and water to live. There should always
be effective and finished communication between people to avoid
misunderstandings.
Written by Aditi Singh
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