My Theory of Human Communication
“Human communication is common” my colleague Griffith Goas always tells me. It is common for all human being and helps them in sharing information and helps in creating new ideas. There are one million words in English and people use 2400-3000 words. (Dr. Gillette). Here word count is not important but understanding the concept is important. Human communication helps people in understanding the concept.
Communication:
Communication is one of the everyday activities that are intertwined with the human life. Many scholars worked very hard in defining the term “Human Communication” and “Theories of Human Communication’. Frank Dance took a major step in clarifying this muddy concept by outlining a number of elements used to distinguish communication (john Little, 1987, pg-3). He gave three terms and they are
• Observation
• Intentionality
• Judgment (John Little, 1987 pg-3)
Theodore Clevenger, another scholar who also believed in Frank’s concept. Hence the Human communication is indefinable and unavoidable. Dr. Gillette once said that “complex word has three syllables and the communication has five syllables”. So, the word communication is also a complex term. Different researcher approach the topic in different ways and my job as a student is to understand the various approaches that have influenced my knowledge of communication
Human Communication:
Human Communication also known as “Anthrop semiotics” is a process of generating, transmitting and receiving signals (information idea) with mutual understanding between listener and speaker. The term “Anthrop” means human and “Semiotics” means “study of sign and symbols”. Human Communication can be broadly classified into
• Intrapersonal Communication
• Interpersonal Communication
• Group Dynamics
• Organizational Communication
• Cross cultural Communication (Stewart, Gwen, 2005).
The transfer of information can be bi-directional normally between two or more entities.
Characteristics of Human Communication:
Human Communication is characterized into five terms and each core element is very important and mutually dependent.
• Content and form of message
o Verbal communication
o Non-verbal communication.
• Source
• Channel
• Destination
• Context and situation (Little, john 1987 pg 38)
Content and form of message:
Sharing of information can be done in several methods but the information should reach the destination (listener) without any loss. Dr. Gillette stated that “Information is wealth and it will do magic in life”. There are two types of methods in sharing the information. They are
• Verbal communication
• Non-verbal communication
Verbal communication:
Verbal communication can be obtained by a common medium such as language to share the information. In verbal there are two types: Oral communication and written communication. Here grammar, diction accent plays important role and second mandatory rule is both receiver and sender should know the “common language”.
E.g. Americans and British people have two different accents and context. Since people used to their accent there will be some lag in communication. Some examples of words to illustrate the point
British word American word
Biscuit cookies
Football soccer
Mental crazy
So the Grammar, Diction and context are very important in verbal communication.
Non-verbal communication:
Non-verbal communications are also called as “Body Language”. It deals with Gestures, emotions, facial expressions. According to social scientists 7% of communication lies in verbal and 93% of communication comes under Non-verbal communication. (Stewart, Gwen 2005).
E.g. whenever we speak about non-verbal communication the person comes to my mind is Charlie Chaplin. He was one of the greatest comedian in 19th century and his films have no verbal communication. His expression, feelings speaks more than words.
Source:
Source is one where we get information from and should use the common channel where the listener can get the signal with 0% loss.
Channel:
Channel here illustrates the transmitting medium and must be a common language.
Language:
Language is an aspect of culture which is common to all human societies. Languages are in continual state of change (chaos), as social conditions change. (Colin cherry, pg 77). It is a system of symbols and the rules used to manipulate them. Languages are not only set of symbols but certain system of rules is to manipulate the symbols. Language is most important factor and primary criteria of human communication. Tom peters stated that “Invest in human capital as much as in hardware. Train entry-level people retrain them necessary.” (Tom peters, 1987, pg 386). This quote is not only for giving technical information but also train people with good communication to share their ideas.
Levels of Language:
Many scholars worked with the term language and identified the five different levels of language.
• Phonology
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Conceptual knowledge
• Belief
Grammar provides complete set of rules that will generate or produce all acceptable sentences and should not produce unacceptable sentences.
1. Phonology: Rules of how a language stands and how and when certain sounds can be combined.
2. Syntax: Rules concerning word order or arrangement (Dr. Gillette, 18 September 2007)
3. Semantics: combines the separate word meaning into a sensible meaningful whole
4. Conceptual knowledge:
Conceptual knowledge is rich in relationship and understanding. It must be learned by thoughtful. It refers to a person’s representation of the major concepts in a system. Deepak, one of the scholars in our class said that “consciousness is our first language”. This relates our thought with the communication. Tom peters in his management handbook says that “Become a learning organization, create your idea and adapt to that practice” (Tom peters, 1987 pg: 278).
Knowledge value added methodology:
Knowledge value added (KVA) is a framework for measuring the value of knowledge assets. This framework acts as a knowledge measuring tool where higher officials like executives use this tool to measure the value of knowledge (Housel, 2005)
E.g. every scholar will spend a lot of time in adding value and Dr. Gillette allocates the time for the researchers to add value in his class. It is exactly like a brainstorming session where lot of ideas can be created. KVA is a tool to measure the value of knowledge obtained from the seminar.
Tom peters, another scholar gave prescriptions from c1 to c6 which constitutes the basic value adding strategies. (Tom peters, 1987, pg 177).
Maurice Merleau-ponty a theorist in his tradition wrote that “all my knowledge of the world, even my scientific knowledge, is gained from my own particular point of view or from some experience of the world” (Little john, 2007 pg 38)
The scholars like Maurice’s experience should be shared and it will not only help the researcher who is sharing but also the entire world with the knowledge value.
Destination:
Listener listens to the speaker and the most important skill in Human communication is listening skill. Dr. Steele in his 601 class states that “Listen carefully, it will reduce the 25% of the work and it helps you in finishing the work successfully and professionals always successful in their work” (Dr. Steele). Tom peters states that “create an environment where listening is cherished and opportunities for structured and unstructured listening” (Tom peters, 1987 pg 367). Listening skill will always progress our level and management handbook by Tom peters stated that “If you don’t believe there’s much worth listening you will make a mess of this”(Tom peters, 1987 pg 370). While listening listen for the facts and perceptions and listen with the intensity.
Effective Listening:
There are lot of difference between listening and effectively listening. “Effective listening is an engaged listening’. There is an important emotional component to this. The note-taking habit is a tip-off to the latter, but retrieving the information after a long period is not possible. But when we store the information in information storing device (Note books) we can get the information whenever we want. Since “information is wealth” (Dr. Gillette).
The process of sharing information between people is exactly same as the process of sharing data in a computer. Shannon-weaver who came with the idea before ten decade and illustrates the same principle in his theory of human communication.
Shannon-Weaver model:
Shannon-Weaver model is the one of the most important model in the theory of human communication.
The main important aspects are source, channel and destination which are mutually dependant on each other. The communication here is bidirectional information sharing model and often speaker will get questions which will make human communication fruitful.
Conclusion:
Human Communication is like god, everybody wants to use it but nobody wants to understand it my colleague Jonah’s statement. There is nothing permanent in this world and scholars will always to adapt to the constant change. (Dr. Gillette). Dr. Gillette also stated that “The master’s condition is not to generate contradictions but to resolve them”. As a scholar, I tried to resolve the contradictions on “Theories of Human communication” as many scholars did. Hence Human communication plays an important role in human life, technology, Business, and acts as a medium for a better life and better future.
Reference:
Littlejohn, S (2005). Theories of Human Communication. Belmont, California: Tomas Wadsworth
Peters, T (1987). Thriving on Chaos: Handbook for a Management Revolution. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers
Housel (2005). Online Education. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from Knowledge Value Added (KVA) Methodology Web site: http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/kva/index.html
(2007). Conceptual knowledge/procedural knowledge. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from conceptual knowledge Web site: Math.arizona.edu
Retrieved October 23, 2007, web site: http://www.leehopkins.com/types-of-nonverbal-communication-listening-skills.html
The Secret Language of Leadership: How Leaders inspire Action Through Narrative. Retrieved October 23, 2007, website: http://www.stevedenning.com/communications_viewpoint.html
On Human Communication: A review, a survey, and a criticism By Colin Cherry Chapter 1, On signs, Communication and Organization- an Essay pg 3-4
On Human Communication: A review, a survey, and a criticism By Colin Cherry Chapter 3, On signs, Language and Communication pg 77
Quote on signs and symbols contact: Human Communication and its History edited by Raymond Williams CH.4 Signs and Symbols by Donis A. Dondis pg 72
Devaraj, Srikant. CICS Grad Student, Ball State University.23 October, 2007
Tang Jonah. CICS Grad Student, Ball State University. 23 October 2007
Gillette, Jay. Professor. Ball State University. 23 October 2007