Chapter # 2

Components of Communication

Components of Communication
Context
Sender-encoder Message

Medium
Receiver-decoder Feedback

Components of Communication Context

Context is a broad field that includes country, culture, organization, and external and internal stimuli. This aspect of context is the playing field on which you must plan, design, and communicate your message accordingly.

Components of Communication Sender-encoder

The sender of a message is an encoder, the writer or speaker, depending on whether the message is written or oral. As a sender-encoder, you use symbols that express your message and create the desired response.

Components of Communication Message

You must first decide what the main point of your message is and what other information is to be included.

Components of Communication Medium

Medium is the message channel that is chosen, depending on the contextual factor and the nature of message itself. Your medium can be the printed word, electronic mail, or sound.

Components of Communication Receiver-decoder The message receiver is your reader or listener, also known as decoder. Your message may have more than one decoder. The receiver-decoder is influenced by context and by his or her mental filter.

Components of Communication Feedback

The receiver reacts with either the desired response based on a clear understanding of the symbols or with an undesired response because of miscommunication.
Feedback can be an oral or a written message, an action, or simply silence.

A Communication Model
CONTEXT
Stimuli

Sender-Encoder Message
(experiences, attitudes, skills) Perception Idea encoding Sending mechanisms

Receiver-Encoder
(experiences, attitudes, skills) Perception

Medium Verbal, nonverbal

Decoding

Idea Interpretation

Feedback Verbal, nonverbal

VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication involves using speech to exchange information with others," according to Jeff Butterfield, author of "Verbal Communication." By talking with another person or persons, you are verbally communicating.

Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. That is, through:
Appearance Body Language Silence, Time and Space

Nonverbal Communication
Effects on Written Messages The format, neatness, and language of a written message sends a non verbal message to the reader. Effects on Oral Messages Personal Appearance Appearance of Surroundings

How Body Language Communicates

Facial Expressions Gestures, Posture, and Movement Smell and Touch Voice and Sounds

Communication through time

A person in Latin America and the Middle East treats time more casually than do Americans who prefer promptness. Germans are timeprecise rarely you wait for an appointment. In Latin America and in Buddhist culture, you may wait for an hour, the host shows no disrespect arriving late is socially acceptable.

How space communicates

How close strangers may stand to you? Americans feel uncomfortable when strangers come closer than 18 they need buffer space. Those who stand closer are intrusive, rude, pushy and over-bearing. Food, dress, manners, decisionmaking situations communicate differently.