Communication, Its Definition and Reasons Research Paper

Introduction

In our day-to-day life, we always communicate. In fact, communication is a detrimental part of any activity that we may be involved with. We communicate to get things done; we communicate to gather information; we communicate to express feelings and emotions; we communicate to learn. Indeed, we do communicate because it has always been part of us. For this reason alone, it is important that we know how we can define communication.

Because communication is a process that we always do every single day, there are hundreds of definitions attached to it already. But each one of us may have our own definition for it. In this paper, I will be constructing my own definition for the term communication. I will then discuss two reasons why my definition useful:

1. because it gives a more specified idea of how successful communication happens, and
2. because it clarifies the reason why we communicate.

Definition of Communication

Based on different readings – journals, books, magazines, credible online articles – I now perceive communication as a process. It is a two-way process that involves sending and receiving messages. However, not only the sender and receiver and the message serve as the most important aspect of communication because there are also other aspects that need to be considered. This includes:

• · Channel used in sending the message
• · The interpretation of both the sender and the receiver about the message
• · The manner by which the message is sent/received to put it simply, below is my idea of communication:

Reason #1

I believe that communication is a two-way process involving different aspects such as sender, receiver, message, channel, interpretation, etc., because the entire idea of a communication process involves sharing and/or giving of information to the desired recipient through different channels. To make the communication process effective, one must send or initiate messages clearly, encode them carefully and choose appropriate channels for transmission. Furthermore, one must be a good listener. The challenge for both the sender and the receiver is to improve the likelihood that their messages will be received and understood while being receptive to message sent to them by others (Barker and Barker, 1993).

For a communication to be perceived as successful, the message sent must be understood and interpreted clearly and aligned with the real intention of both the sender and the recipient of the message. Thus, it is important that the barriers to communication are addressed and taken into account. The communication “killers” are those which are defined to be the barriers to effective communication. Some of the most common barriers to communication are (Gibson and Hannah, 1992):

• semantics – which pertains to the definitions and choice of words used, poor channels;
• physical distractions;
• noise;
• status difference;
• emotional effects;
• difference of perceptions by the receivers of the message;
• absence of feedbacks;
• information overload;
• poor listening skill of both the giver and the receiver of the message.

Added to this, some analysts have also noted some causes of communication failure. Some of the points that they highlighted are (Levinson, 2001):

• Sender breakdown – too much information is being sent, so the recipient misses key points.
• Method breakdown – when information is very detailed or complicated, then written instructions are better than messages which can be misinterpreted.
• Recipient breakdown – the recipient deliberately makes a choice to misinterpret the message because of their attitude to either the sender to the message at hand.

Other problems with communication could belong to a chain of command; language – complex and hard to understand; vague purpose – not detailed enough, more explanation required; inappropriate medium (a method used, e.g., written, electronically, etc.); red tape – the message gets passed on to many different people before finally reaching the recipient making the process too long and the message changing; status of two parties – can be intimidated by the other person’s status because of their gender, age, etc.; location – distance of recipient or where the message has to reach; and lastly, distraction – which can be attributed to communication channels breaking up (Levinson, 2001).

Reason #2

There are a number of reasons why we communicate – reasons which all coincide with my idea that communication is a two-way process.

There are forms of communication that are aimed at satisfying the need of the concerned individuals (normally the receivers) to document sets of information that are relevant to them. Meanwhile, there are forms of communication that include day-to-day conversation among the members, group talks, chats, and even gossips. This type of communication targets the emotional as well as the social aspect of both the sender and the receiver of the message. Attitudes are also influenced by the kind of relationship that people are established with one another. Pressures can be lessened when a cheerful and light environment is felt by the communicators. This can be achieved if everybody is able to express their opinions at all times, regardless if it’s during formal meetings or just informal chats (Watzlawick et al., 1967).

Conclusion

Indeed, communication is a two-way process of sending and receiving messages. It cannot be denied that the sender, receiver, and the message itself are the three most important aspects of the communication, but there are also other things that should not be taken for granted. By also taking into consideration the channel, the noise barriers, and the ways of interpreting the message itself, a successful flow of communication will be achieved. Thus, recognizing that communication is a two-way process results ability to analyze how successful communication happens and clarify the reason why we communicate.

References:

Adler, R. B., and Rodman, G. (1991). Understanding Human Communication. Chicago; Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Barker, L. L. and Barker, D. L. (1993). Communication. Prentice-Hall.

Gibson, J. W. and Hanna, M. S. (1992). Introduction to Human Communication. Dubuque, IA; William C. Brown.

Levinson, P. (2001). Digital McLuhan: A Guide to the Information Millennium. Routledge.

Watzlawick, P, Beavin, J.H., & Jackson, D.D. (1967). Pragmatics of human communication: A study of interactional patterns, pathologies, and paradoxes. New York: W W Norton.