Abstract
The following is a discourse on my theory of human communication. It is impossible to define what successful communication is, so rather, I will explain what is involved in successful practices of human communication. when syntax using order wrong it is impossible to understand, but when you use the right syntax and correct diction, it is much easier to understand.
In the paragraphs to follow, I will explain how verbal, nonverbal, listening, understanding, and language can come together to provide successful communication. I chose many areas, fore the more theories you know, the more different problem solving options you have (LittlJohn).
As stated before, human communication occurs in many different forms. The first form of communication I will talk about is verbal communication. According to students at Frostburg State University, they define verbal or oral communications as “the process of people using verbal messages to generate meaning within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Richard Budd, author of the book “Approaches to Human Communication” states that a communication system consists of essentially five parts; an information source, a transmitter, a channel, a receiver, and a destination (Budd & Ruben). Similarly, if you look at the Shannon-Weaver Mathematical Model of 1949, you see much of the same concepts. The diagram will help.
Info Source Transmitter (encoder) Channel Receiver(decoder) Destination
Message Signal | Receive Signal Message
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Noise Source
Let’s say that I want to talk to Josh. I am the information source. The transmitter is my voice (verbal). The channel is the air waves my voice travels on. The receiver is Josh’s ears, that enable him to hear what I say when the voice reaches him, which is the destination. One must keep in mind that these two models do not only pertain to verbal communication. This is perhaps one of the most common misconception. Although most of us communication verbally every single day, it is not the only form of communication. Perhaps a more influential form of communication occurs in the form of non-verbal communication. Before I explain the concept of non-verbal communication, we must recognize the fact that there are different aspects of verbal communication, such as words or writing and language (language I will explain in detail later on). Even though the process of writing does not always include us to make noise, verbal, the result of the written communication is reading (spoken words). Anytime we talk on the phone, have a “chat” or whisper a secret, we are expressing verbal communication.
In the days of silent movies, Charlie Chaplin could communicate with his audience without using words. His hands, his ace, his funny walk, and his cloths all conveyed his messages (Williams). Charlie Chaplin was communicating in the most basic, as well as most rudimentary form of communication. Often times, people will communicate non-verbally without knowing it. It is the most complex form of communication. Students at DePauw University defines non-verbal communication as communication that includes all nonverbal stimuli in a communicative setting generated by an individual, and the individual’s use of environment. The most dominate form of non-verbal is in the form of body language. Ray Biuswhistell stated “perhaps the most abundant cues relate to body position or movement (kinesics). In his lecture, he estimated that more than 700,000 body positions can be observed by others. These cues range from our basic posture (slouched, reclining, leaning forward, etc) to the position of our fingers (curled, straight, up, down, etc.). (Byker & Anderson). The way people present themselves can say a lot about what the person is thinking.
Although these are two very different forms of communication, they do not always happen independently. In fact, there are many ways in which the two co-exist. Based from the book, “Communication as identification; a introductory view”, the following is a list of how the two can interact with each other.
Relationships between verbal and non-verbal
1. repeating- when making a verbal statement, one may repeat non-verbally
2. Substituting- one may use a non-verbal rather than a verbal. Ie. When someone asks for a direction, one can point.
3. Accenting- non-verbal behavior may function as punctuation for verbal messages.
4. Complementing- Non-verbal behavior expresses attitudes toward others.
5. Regulating- non-verbal cues are employed to regulate the communication flow.
6. Contradicting- while stating one message verbally, non verbal behavior may be saying the opposite.
As you can see, often times, these two forms of communication happen simultaneously. So even though someone is saying they are paying attention, their non-verbal cues are saying otherwise.
The best way by far to engage others is by listening (Littlejohn). The key concept for affective communication is to not only understand what a person is trying to communicate, but also understand why they are trying to do so. In other words, you are “getting where they are coming from”. In order to do this, you must not only hear what they are trying to express, but you must listen to them. When you listen to someone, you observe how they are trying to communicate. In short, you are trying to see beyond the words. You are trying to understand what the communicator is trying to communicate.
Effective communication requires, among other things, that we the co-actors have a somewhat similar understanding of the cues employed (Byker & Anderson). Whenever someone decides if they are going to take their time to listen, they first should ask 3 questions. 1. what is the artiest trying to do? 2. How well do they do it? 3. Is it worth doing? (Geothe). Thoughts can be misconceived if not properly translated from the sender to the receiver; diction and emphasis can play a role in the interpretation of the meaning by the sender to the receiver (Hile).
Only when you understand someone can you affectively communicate with them. To aid in understanding, you must find a common way to communicate. This is why people communicate in a common language. “Human language is not to be equated with the sign system of animals, for man is not restricted to calling his young, or suggesting mating, or shouting cries of danger; he can with all his remarkable facilities of speech give utterance to almost any thought.” (Cherry)
In any form of communication, there are different levels of language. Such levels includes oral, aural, written, and non-verbal (Dr. Jay). There are multiple aspects and details of communication (Cox). Sending and receiving messages by either using verbal or non-verbal cues is also part of what human communication is all about (Seidman). If you learn to communicate in a manor that will result in all parties involved, being able to understand the concept you are trying to display, no matter in what form you communicate it in, then you will achieve successful communication. to end, never be afraid to seek classification if you do not understand, fore Abraham Lincoln once said, “Man who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes, man afraid to ask is a fool forever.” Remember, you must communicate clearly by thinking clearly.
http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/achandrasek2/2007/11/the_search_how_it_impacts_the.html
http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/jlcox2/2007/10/human_communication_theory.html
http://www.cicsworld.org/dehile/2007/11/human_communication_a_theory_r.html