Define ‘communication’ using your own words. Discuss why you say so.
“Communication is an effective, two-way transfer of a message through a medium involving a sender and a receiver.”
Communication is considered to be effective only when the receiver is able to interpret the meaning of the transmitted message as it was originally intended (by the sender).
The Medium
A message is conveyed through a medium (plural - media) that acts as the bridge between the sender and the recipient. Examples include words, images, audio and video. For example, a public announcement can be broadcasted to the masses through a radio channel.
Factors That Affect Communications
In order to optimize communication, the following play a pivotal role:
Understand Your Target Audience
Firstly, by understanding your target audience, you will be able to optimize your communication accuracy. Different demographics may prefer different channels of communication. For example, youths may prefer to communicate through social media while the elderly are probably more comfortable with more traditional forms of exchanges, such as face-to-face interactions.
Language (a ‘vehicle’ of communication) and culture plays a big part in understanding the audience. For example, a man who does not know the French language might find it hard to interact with another who speaks only French. Similarly, a student might experience difficulties in understanding a theory if the teacher uses difficult terms in class.
By knowing your audience’s preference, you can transmit your message across more efficiently and effectively.
‘Noises’
Messages can be easily distorted by ‘noises’. These refer to external influences or distractions that may cause misinterpretation of the intended message. For instance, if you are preoccupied with a problem, you may be inattentive during a lecture and thus miss out on what the professor is trying to explain. In order to get the message across effectively, the sender must find a way to rise above the ‘noises’ by maintaining the class’s attention.
Exchange Of Ideas
Communication is also an exchange of ideas between two or more people. Effective communication starts with the sender sending a message across to another person known as the receiver. In order for the message to be effective, the receiver has to correctly interpret the message that was sent. For example, if person A (sender) is having a conversation with person B (receiver), the only way in which person A would know if the message was conveyed successfully is through feedback received from person B. This is why communication is a two-way interaction.
In essence, effective communication requires a mutual understanding between the sender and the receiver. To quote R. Rivera, “As communicators, we must be able to do what machines cannot.”