The Basic Elements of the Communication Process

Whenever youve had a conversation, texted a friend, or given a business presentation, you have engaged in communication. Any time two or more people get together to exchange messages, they are engaging in this basic process. Although it seems simple, communication is actually quite complex, with a number of components. Communication Process Definition The term communication process refers to the exchange of information (a message) between two or more people. For communication to succeed, both parties must be able to exchange information and understand each other. If the flow of information is blocked for some reason or the parties cannot make themselves understood, then communication fails. The Sender The communication process begins with the sender, who is also called the communicator or source. The sender has some kind of information—a command, request, question, or idea—that he or she wants to present to others. For that message to be received, the sender must first encode the message in a form that can be understood, such as by the use of a common language or industry jargon, and then transmit it. The Receiver The person to whom a message is directed is called the receiver or the interpreter. To comprehend the information from the sender, the receiver must first be able to receive the senders information and then decode or interpret it.   The Message The message or content is the information that the sender wants to relay to the receiver. Additional subtext can be conveyed through body language and tone of voice. Put all three elements together—sender, receiver, and message—and you have the communication process at its most basic. The Medium Also called the channel, the  medium  is the means by which a message is transmitted. Text messages, for example, are transmitted through the medium of cell phones.  Ã‚   Feedback The communication process reaches its final point when the message has been successfully transmitted, received, and understood. The receiver, in turn, responds to the sender, indicating comprehension. Feedback may be direct, such as a written or verbal response, or it may take the form of an act or deed in response (indirect). Other Factors The communication process isnt always so simple or smooth, of course. These elements can affect how information is transmitted, received, and interpreted: Noise: This can be any sort of interference that affects the message being sent, received, or understood. It can be as literal as static over a phone line or radio or as esoteric as misinterpreting a local custom.Context: This is  the setting and situation in which communication takes place. Like noise, context can have an impact on the successful exchange of information. It may have a physical, social, or cultural aspect to it. In a private conversation with a trusted friend, you would share more personal information or details about your weekend or vacation, for example, than in a conversation with a work colleague or in a meeting. The Communication Process in Action Brenda wants to remind her husband, Roberto, to stop by the store after work and buy milk for dinner. She forgot to ask him in the morning, so Brenda texts a reminder to Roberto. He texts back and then shows up at home with a gallon of milk under his arm. But somethings amiss: Roberto bought chocolate milk, and Brenda wanted regular milk.   In this example, the sender is Brenda. The receiver is Roberto. The medium is a text message. The code is the English language theyre using. And the message itself is Remember the milk! In this case, the feedback is both direct and indirect. Roberto texts a photo of milk at the store (direct) and then come  home with it (indirect). However, Brenda did not see the photo of the milk because the message didnt transmit (noise), and Roberto didnt think to ask what kind of milk (context).