kchinnasamy

The term communication evokes from a Utopia where nothing is misunderstood, hearts are open and expression is inhibited.

As one of my team mate Denise quotes that “Communication encompasses a persons life time, from very first breadth to last as a need to be heard, understood and to understand others”.

This term can also be quoted with the values for center for information and communication sciences where “ A tool for the maintenance of relationship , communication is two ways equally obligated to clearly and directly participate , by doing this we build a closer relationship among ourselves”. Context and situation speaks a lot in communication.

This communication must make sense to the observer and dual response should be obtained as per the requisite shared meaning. For each and every means of communication there must be a source or speaker, destination or observer and channel or medium of transport which is explained by Shannon Weaver model.
Certain key characteristics of human communication is
1. Communication is a continuous, on going and dynamic process
2. Communication is irreversible but reciprocal
3. This is unrepeatable and transactional.

Verbal Communication:
Language plays an important role in verbal means. If both sender and receiver are of same language then verbal communication would be easier. Verbal communication can be referred to the oral communication with what we converse with each other. Speech, tone, intonation, clarity and accent play a major role in verbal communication. Even in same language, problems in communication occurs due to difference in accent, speed with what we speak and so on. Diction, the word choice must also be considered for effective communication. Thinking clearly before communicating is an important aspect which is paraphrased by Goethe as “If you would like to communicate clearly, you must have clear thoughts”. There are some situations in which we think of something and speak something which may mean completely different.

As Dr.Gillette says “There is logic to all communication”. Analysis and synthesis are two important parts of communication. Analysis is splitting the whole in to parts and dealing with it. Planning and implementation must be in sink, in each and every step we must focus on the keywords so that content reaches the receiver.

Non-Verbal Communication:
These are conveyed by physical actions and not by words. Conveying information through signs, symbols such as emotions, actions, gestures, reading and writing. Emotions can be explained by the quote “Face is the index of mind”. Our face shows the feel we are in.
Gestures accompany oral communication to express the feelings of the words spoken even traffic signals, boards convey some information. Tears, smile, hand movements, raising eyebrows are some types of emotions. It is very fascinating to know Central Washington University has been researching in communicating skills of chimpanzees.
There is an inspiring quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the book Theories of Human Communication by Ralph Waldo Emerson “ What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say” which stresses the importance of non-verbal communication.
Listening is an integral part of communication. As Tom Peters in his book of “Thriving on Chaos” says that “Good listeners provide good feedback and act on what they hear”. By listening or observing keenly one can get the essence of work going on. One more quote by Peters says that “oddly enough to perse, is the single best tool for empowering large number of others”.
As said in Theories of human communication by Little John quoted from Frank Dance three critical conceptual differentiation.
1. Level of Observation or Absractness
2. Intentionality
3. Judgment

Communication occurs between individuals and in different groups. There are different levels of communication. They are
1. Public
2. Interpersonal
3. Intrapersonal
Public communication is nothing but communicating between groups. A big conference would be a public communication, where communication takes place between a person in the podium and to hundreds of audience. Interpersonal communication is between two individuals. Intrapersonal communication occurs within us such as speaking to one’s own conscious mind. Most of us would have experienced this.

Conclusion:
Human communication had passed through decades and had achieved its significance. Although the term seems to be easy, most of us find it difficult to integrate it and reflect in our day to day class activities. By speaking plainly with simple terms, constrain emotions, listen actively and writing clearly eliminates most problems.
• As long as people are talking, they should be able to understand each other
• As long as you have right message, it doesn’t matter how we send it.
• More communication is always a good thing.
• Communication is a process, which must be practiced and learned

Knowledge gained in any field of study is of little value if it cannot be accurately or effectively communicated. So good communication leads to knowledge value.