WEEK 1 TOPICS Concepts of Communication as a

WEEK 1 TOPICS: Concepts of Communication as a concept has many definitions. Before defining it operationally it is highly important to know the source of the term: communication. The word: communication is a derivative of the Latin word: communicare meaning sharing or to share, and of the French word: communis meaning common. Communication serves as a tool of social interaction, which helps human beings to understand themselves, to keep in touch with one another, to establish, extend and maintain relationships and to understand situations.

Communication as a Process From the above we can define communication as a process of transmitting thought; sharing and imparting of information; giving of comprehensive information and receiving and understanding of message; transmitting of messages and linking of people; conveying of ideas, feelings and attitudes and creating and exchanging of messages with a network of interdependent relationships.

Types of Communication There are different types of communication; they include (1)visual/non-verbal communication (2)written/verbal communication

Visual/Non-verbal Communication This is a form of communication that is carried out without words. It comprises of tactile communication like touching and kissing; signs like road traffic signs; symbolic objects like uniforms, crown, artworks; actions like boxing, football, racing and genetic factors like skin colour, shape of head, body proportion,

Written/Verbal Communication This is a form of communication that is done through the use of words and it takes place in an oral form or written form.

Other Forms of Communication can also be intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, organizational and mass communication.

Intrapersonal Communication This is a process of transfer of information that takes place within an individualthe communicator keeps his ideas to himself.

Interpersonal Communication This is a face-to-face communication that involves exchange of ideas, opinions and/or information between two people-the sender shares ideas with the receiver.

Group Communication This is a process where three or more people come together with a view to achieving a specific goal through the exchange of ideas, opinion and information-takes place in churches, mosques, schools, offices and clubs.

Organizational Communication This is a type of communication that can place in an organization. This type of communication can still be divided into two: Intra-organizational and Inter-organizational. Intra-organizational communication can take place within an organizational system while Inter-organizational communication is the type that can take place between two or more organizations

Mass Communication This is a process of passing information, ideas, feelings, values, and beliefs to a large, heterogeneous and anonymous audience simultaneously through modern communication devices like radio, television, newspaper, magazine, film, book, internet, billboard etc.

Element of Communication Process A convenient technique for defining the concept of communication is to answer the following interrogative questions: 1 Who? (Encoder) 2 Say what? (Message) 3 Through which channel? (Medium-Radio, TV, N/P etc) 4 To whom? (Receiver) 5 With what effect? (Response)

Communication occurs when: A----+---B--E=X! A=the source sends a message +=through a channel B= to a receiver E=producing some X= effects

Communication involves Sharing There must be a SHARING or CORRESPONDENCE of meaning for communication to take place. Communication is a RECIPROCAL and ON-GOING PROCESS with all participants engaging in the creation of a SHARED MEANING. communication can be defined as the process of creating shared meaning

Communication is ongoing process Communication can be defined as the process of creating shared meaning. Communication is an on-going and reciprocal process in which all the participants or interpreters are working to create meaning by ENCODING and DECODING messages. A message is first encoded, that is, transformed into an understandable sign or symbolic system. The encoding elements include: Speaking, Writing, Printing, and Filming a programme on the television. Once the encoded message is received, it is instantly decoded, that is, the signs or symbols are interpreted. The decoding elements include: listening, reading and watching the television programme.

Interference/Noise Anything that interferes with successful communication is NOISE. The noise can be in form of shouting, screeching, screaming or loud music when you are reading. The noise is a barrier that leads to incorrect decoding. Encode messages are carried by a medium, that is, the means of sending the information.

Sound Wave When two friends are conversing across a table it is the SOUND WAVE that serves as a medium that carries their voice (Interpersonal communication). The medium that carries our voice to friends across town is the mobile telephone (Interpersonal Communication).

Mass Mediated Message When the medium carries messages to a large number of people at the same time (as the tabloids or broadsheets carry printed words and radio conveys the sound of music and news, and television carries both the sound and vision) then we have what is called mass medium-the plural is media. The mass media that are used frequently include: radio, television, books, magazines, movies, newspapers, sound recording, and computer networks. Each of this medium is operated by a giant industry and other adjunct or related and supporting industries like advertising and public relations also serve the media and the audience and/ or the readers

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK Describe the concept of communication Explicate the basic types of communication Communication is a process. Discuss

READING Evans, H. (1974) Editing and Design London: Heinemann Dorothy, A. B. and L. B. Diane (2011) Creative Editing Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning International Edition