Albidon Communication Channel

1. INTRODUCTION Communication occurs when there is sharing of information. This includes ideas, concepts feelings, and emotions. The word communications was derived from a Latin word communis which means to share. So this process is used when there is a need to share information and for the communication of ideas and concepts for all to know. It is important to communicate in some form or the other because every moment of our lives where are required to communicate to get our message across. Communication is considered to be a two-way process in which there is an exchange of information and ideas towards progression and this information should be towards a certain goal. For this process to materialize, there are elements that have to be followed. The elements are: •

Sender/Encoder/Speaker: The initiator of this process (sender) disseminates their ideas by first encoding the information before disseminating it. This is when the choice of words is decided and in which way it will be delivered.

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Receiver/ Decoder/ Listener: The listener receives the encoded message, to which they attempt to decipher (decode). The process would be in relation to what was communicated by the sender. It would be in relation to values perceived by the receiver.

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Message: This is the encoded idea by the sender. As it is formed, it should be put across in such a way that it is received correctly so that the receiver can listen then decode the message appropriately. The message should be based on the requirements of the listener so that it

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Medium: This is the communication channel used to disseminate the message. The medium used may be oral, written or non-verbal. Before the message is sent, a medium must be chosen. This would be helpful to the receiver to decide which appropriate channel to use. The medium used will decide whether it is informal or formal and in which way it would be replied.

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Feedback: This is the most important component in communication as it completes the process. Communication is considered to be effective if there is feedback. Errors occur if there was a breakdown of communication.

Below is an illustration of the model of the elements of communication.

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Message

Channel

Encoding Idea

sender Decoding of feedback

Figure 1 Model of communication

1. TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS

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Receiver Decoding meaning Receiver and internal Encoding of response response

Communication can be categorized in the following way: Oral, Non-verbal and Written. Oral (Audible sound) communication is transmitted from the mouth. The manner in which they are transmitted is through pronunciations and the words are voice articulated. This type of communication is effective in the sense that the receiver of a message is in direct contact with the message. As this process is done, the listener pays attention so that they can be prepared to decode the message and send feedback through the appropriate media. As the process of communication is taking place, the words should be chosen carefully so that they can connote and denote the meaning. Non-verbal communications uses no sound to transmit information to and from the transmitter and the receiver. It acts as a support to sound communication to ensure that the message is understood. The type of communication uses signs and body movements, body language and gesture to transmit a message. As a discussion is taking place, it is said that the receiver observes the signs and body language 55% of the time (Kaul, 2003). Written communication is the most formal of all communications. It is bound by the person sending the message.

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2. BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION Communication can suffer from setbacks. These setbacks that are contrary to the smooth functioning of the process emerge from the communication process. They are referred to as barriers to communication. Barriers to communication can occur if the recipient has failed to convey the meaning or / and the importance of the message. It creates impediments in the process of interaction. Barriers to communication can be categorized in two ways; SenderOriented and Receiver-Oriented. Sender-Oriented information breaks down when too much information is being sent. The receiver misses key points, hence misinterpreting the message. The sender of the message should at all costs try to try to identify the barriers and to remove them. A badly expressed message can generate a barrier as it’s ideas have not be structured well enough by the sender. The moment the listener feels the barrier, they switch off thus ceasing the process of effective communication. The recipient deliberately makes a choice to misinterpret the message because of their attitude to either the sender to the message at hand. When a loss in transmission occurs, the channel or media chosen to transmit the communication leads to the inability of transmitting the actual message. The sender has to ensure that the impact of the message is felt making sure that the channels are free from interference. When the receiver is not able to comprehend the impact of the words, they sound foreign, hence making the exercise pointless. This may arise from interpretation of the words or overall meaning of the message. When information is very detailed or complicated, then written instructions are better than messages which can be misinterpreted. If the speaker “Knows-It-all”, it can prove to be detrimental to the process of communication as the receiver will listen with prejudice. Other barriers to communication include; conflicting information, differing in status position, resistance to change, Cultural differences and Interest and attitude.

3. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES Culture is …………………………Communication is done with people from different backgrounds and cultural perspectives. This comes to light when communication is taking E

[place and attemped humor fall flat due to lack of shared interests. To avoid cultural differences, different values can help to avoid ethnocentricizm so that the message is deleverd in the most cultrally appropriate manner. a. Individualism Vs. Collectivism b. High Uncertainty Vs Low uncertainty c. High power distance Vs.Low Power Distance d. Masculine Vs. Feminie

Situations in which human beings communicate 1. Intra-personal context This is process of communication which focuses on the creation meaning within an individuals inner self and this type of communication received stimuli that represents ones own sentiments which maybe verbal or non verbal. The sender and the receiver in this context are and the same person, messages begin and end within him.

Advantages Keeping secrets to yourself Decisions made are not challenged No conflict between receiver and sender of messages is one and the same person

Disadvantages Likelihood of making a wrong decision since all that is resolved within ones inner self is kept secret and is likely to take a wrong action e.g. committing suicide.

2. Inter personal context This involves sharing of ideals between individuals basically at least two people can have a face to face conversation. In this context every message has a sender and a receiver. This message

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maybe in one code so that it can be understood by both parties and both the sender and receiver have to recognise and acknowledge the presence of one another.

Status of an individual. Age of an individual. Place of communication. Time of communication. Education of an individual Culture of an individual Sex of an individual. 3. Group context This is a form of interpersonal communication except that in group context a person communicates as a member of a group e.g. lecturer and his students. 4. Organisational context This form of communication basically is interpersonal except that a person communicating communicates with an organised section of a group e.g. the manager of an organisation maybe addressing a group of an organisation.

5. Mass communication. This describes a process whereby individuals of a group of people or organisations or institutions seek to communicate with large audiences using whatever communications devices they choose to employ to get their messages across e.g. of mass communication are; instruction manuals, company reports, employee reports, shareholders reports, television and radio, newspapers, magazines, films, videos and advertising.

These types of mass communication are essentially designed for mass audiences which are characterised by the heterogeneous nature as opposed to homogeneous. To engage in mass communication is to broadcast to audiences where individuals have little or nothing in common with other members. In mass communication the information channelled between participants is essentially one way mainly the originator tot the audiences. E

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