Concept Notes: Nature and Elements of Communication

HOLY NAME UNIVERSITY
CITY OF TAGBILARAN
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Senior High School Level
S Y. 2020 -2021
Week 2 (Aug. 31 – Sept. 5, 2020)
Concept Notes
Nature and Elements of Communication
 WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
The word communication is derived from the Latin terms cum munis [to make common] and
communicare [to share]. Hence, communication is defined as the exchange of information, thoughts,
ideas, feeling and the like.
There is no single definition of communication.
According to Infante and Womach (1990), communication is “the stimulation of meaning through
the exchange of shared symbols.”
Rogers (1996,2000) defined communication as “a process in which participants create
information with one another to reach mutual understanding.”
For Gerbner (1967), communication is a “social interaction through messages.”
For Stevens (1950), communication is “the discriminatory response of an organism to a
stimulus.”
Berelson & Steiner (1964) defined communication as “the transmission of information, ideas,
emotions, skills, etc., by the use of symbols-words, pictures, figures, graphs, etc.”
For Dance (1967) it is “the eliciting of a response through verbal symbols.”
Miller (1966) wrote that “communication has its central interest those behavioral situations in
which a source transmits a message to receivers with conscious intent to affect the latter’s
behaviors.”
For Cronkhite (1976), “human communication has occurred when a human being responds to a
symbol.”
 WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION?
Basic Elements of Communication
SOURCE
The source of the communication transaction is the originator of the message. Also known as the sender of
information, the source initiates the communication process. In speech communication, we can identify the
source to be the speaker, the one delivering the message. In daily life situations we are all sources of
information as we relate to others and speak our ideas to them. We are both a source of message, consciously
and unconsciously.
MESSAGE
In the simplest sense, a message may be thought of as an idea, concept, emotion, desire, or feeling that a
person desires to share with another human being. A message may be in verbal or non-verbal codes. The
purpose of a message is to evoke meaning in another person. Some messages are intentional some are not.
CHANNEL
A channel is the means by which a message moves from a person to another. The channel is the medium
or vehicle by which we are able to transmit the message to the recipient. The means we use to communicate is
the channel. The country’s president to deliver his message to his fellowmen may speak face to face with an
audience, via the broadcast media or via print. Language is the basic medium of communication available to
man.
RECEIVER
The receiver gets the message channeled by the source of information. In a one-way communication
process, he is in the other end. But in a dynamic communication process the receiver may start to share his
ideas and hence become also a source of information for the originator of the message. Listeners and
audience are receivers of information. In a classroom situation, the students spend a lot of time as receivers of
information.
EFFECT
Feedback is that integral part of the human communication process that allows the speaker to monitor the
process and to evaluate the success of an attempt to get the desired response from the receiver. Also called
“return signals,” it has a regulatory effect upon the speaker since the speaker must adjust to the feedback
responses in order to be successful. In a public communication situation, the response of acceptance of the
audience with their applause may be considered a feedback.
NOISE
Noise may occur anywhere along the communication line, and it may be physical, physiological,
or psychological in nature. Noise is any interference in the communication process. Annoying vocal
habits of the speaker may interfere in the transmission of his verbal signals. Noise as a barrier may
originate from the source or the receiver, from the channel used in sending the message, or outside
of the source and receiver’s control. The poor listening of the audience and their unnecessary actions
may also interfere in the communication process.
CONTEXT
Communication does not take place in a vacuum. Between communicators, the process takes
place in a particular communication situation where the identifiable elements of the process work in a
dynamic interrelation. This situation is referred to as the context– the when and where of a
communication event.
When do we communicate?
Communication takes place, everywhere at anytime. It changes in various situations and affects
change among participants as the process takes place. Process implies dynamics and change. It
implies parts interacting and influencing each other so as to function as a whole. Brooks and Heath
posit that when we accept the concept of process, we view communication events and relationships
as dynamic, systematic, transactional, adaptive, and continuous:
• Communication is dynamic – it is not static. It is not fixed but always changing. As it deals with
change of behavior it changes constantly.
- Your manner of speaking changes when you are happy, sad, angry, etc.
• Communication is systematic – a simple speech communication occurs within a larger system.
- You cannot answer if you don’t know the question.
- If you can’t contact the person, just go to their house.
• Communication is transactional – the essence of the term transaction is relationship. Included in
the transactional characteristic of communication is the fact that each communication event is unique
combination of people, messages, and situation that operate to achieve some definite purpose.
- You talk to your friends when you ask for advice.
• Communication is adaptive – communication takes place with an intention to achieve some
outcome. In this process it must adapt to change. Thus, communication must pay attention to the
other person, to the topic, to the physical surroundings, to motives and needs, and to other elements
that we will study in this text. The ability to adjust and adapt to changing situation is a characteristic of
effective communication.
- You don’t talk to teachers the same way you talk to your friends.
• Communication is continuous – it has no beginning and no end. We can consider communication
as a product of a previous communication event that proceeds to another communication situation.
 Why is communication important to human life?
Communication is a process of sending and receiving information among people. Humans
communicate with others not only by face-to-face communication, but also by giving information via
the Internet and printed products such as books and newspapers. Many people believe that the
significance of communication is like the importance of breathing. Indeed, communication facilitates
the spread of knowledge and forms relationships between people.
REFERENCES:
Agbayani, D. R., & Meru, Y. M., (2016), Definition, Elements, and Process of Communication.
Enhanced English engagements: Oral Communication. Don Bosco Press, Inc.
Dean, L. (n.d.) Nature and Elements of Communication. Academia.Edu.
https://www.academia.edu/27412025/Nature_and_Elements_of_Communication_A
(n.a) (2017, January 20). Why Is Communication Important To Human Life? [Blog Post]. Retrieved
from http://routecommunication.com/why-is-communication-important-to-human-life.html

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HOLY NAME UNIVERSITY

Week 2 (Aug. 31 – Sept. 5, 2020)

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