Human communication on 1 page
Human communication is the process by which two or more people are able to successfully exchange information. It can occur in several different forms. Communication can be physical in nature, by using body language, sign language, touch, or eye contact. It can be oral, or verbal, using speaking or singing. And it can also be written.
In order for this process to occur, the two parties that are attempting communication must establish a few guidelines. First, you must decide what types of things are going to be communicated. This is usually decided upon by the source. The source of communication between humans is usually the person who broadcasts or conveys the content. They are the vessel from which the content originates.
Next, the source decides which format he/she should use to best communicate their message. This decision is important, because if the source uses an incorrect form, then they will be unable to convey their particular message effectively. Choosing the form could be as simple as deciding whether to use verbal or nonverbal language. It could also be as complex as choosing the best language, in order to convey the content efficiently.
After the form is decided, the next step is picking an appropriate medium to convey the message. Today, with technology advancing at a very accelerated pace, we have more options for our medium than ever. We can communicate face to face from 3 feet away, or three thousand miles away, thanks to advances in technology such as web cams and cell phones. Traditionally, the mediums have been things like written communication, verbal communication, and nonverbal communication, but in this day and age, we are able to use these three forms of communication with much more variety.
The next step in human communication is the receiver. He/she/they must be able to receive the broadcast from the source, be able to understand that broadcast, and then confirm that they understood. Only when the receiver acknowledges that have understood the purpose of the message can human communication have taken place. If the receiver does not receive the message in a way that they can understand, then the process of human communication has not taken place.