CMS101: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION -

EXTENSIVE FULL COURSE NOTE

WEEK 1: COMMUNICATION (NATURE, USES, AND FORMS)

Definition of Communication:
Communication is the intentional or unintentional exchange of information, feelings, ideas,
thoughts, and meanings between people using symbols, signs, or behavior. This exchange
can be verbal or non-verbal, conscious or subconscious, and takes place across various
contexts.

Nature of Communication:

 Dynamic Process: Communication is fluid and constantly evolves based on

feedback, culture, relationships, and the context in which it occurs.
 Continuous: Even in silence or inactivity, communication takes place through body
language, facial expressions, or context.
 Irreversible: Once a message has been sent and received, it cannot be unsent or
completely erased; its effect lingers.
 Transactional: Communication is a two-way process where both participants are
simultaneously senders and receivers.
 Contextual: It takes different forms depending on the physical, psychological,
social, and cultural setting.

Uses of Communication:

 Information Sharing: Facilitates the flow of knowledge and data from one person
to another.
 Persuasion: Helps in influencing beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.
 Entertainment: Used in arts, media, and storytelling to engage and amuse
audiences.
 Instruction: Essential in education, training, and guidance.
 Emotional Expression: Enables the sharing of feelings and emotional states.
 Social Interaction: Forms the basis of relationships and community building.

Forms of Communication:

1. Verbal Communication: Includes both oral (spoken) and written words; structured
and formal.
2. Non-verbal Communication: Encompasses body movements, gestures, eye
contact, posture, facial expressions, etc.
 3. Visual Communication: Use of symbols, signs, images, charts, videos, and other
visuals to pass information.
4. Electronic Communication: Communication through digital platforms such as
email, social media, SMS, and forums.
5. Symbolic Communication: Use of logos, flags, and cultural symbols to convey
meaning.

WEEK 2: COMMUNICATION PROCESS

Participants in Communication:

 Sender/Source: The originator of the message, who initiates communication.

 Receiver: The person or group for whom the message is intended.

Stimulus:

 An event, thought, feeling, or need that prompts the initiation of a communication

act.

Messages:

 The core content communicated, which can be:

 Verbal (spoken or written words)

 Non-verbal (gestures, tone, expressions)
 Written (texts, letters)
 Visual (charts, diagrams)

Encoding:

 The process through which the sender converts thoughts, ideas, or emotions into a
message using symbols or language.

Decoding:

 The process by which the receiver interprets or makes sense of the message.
WEEK 3: COMMUNICATION PROCESS (CONTINUED)

Context:

 The environment or background that shapes the communication process.

 Types:

 Physical: The tangible setting (e.g., classroom, park).

 Social: The nature of the relationship between sender and receiver.
 Psychological: The mental state and emotions influencing the
communication.
 Cultural: The shared beliefs, values, and norms.
 Temporal: Time-related aspects like occasion and timing.

Channels of Communication:

 The medium or route through which messages travel from sender to receiver:

 Auditory: Spoken words via air.

 Visual: Symbols, signs, gestures.
 Written: Texts, emails, books.
 Electronic: Digital tools like Zoom, WhatsApp.

Noise in Communication:

 Anything that distorts or disrupts the message.

 Physical Noise: Loud sounds, external disturbances.

 Physiological Noise: Hearing issues, fatigue, hunger.
 Psychological Noise: Biases, emotions, stress.
 Semantic Noise: Language barriers, jargon, ambiguous words.

Feedback:

 The receiver’s response, which allows the sender to evaluate message success and
adjust accordingly.
WEEK 4: PERCEPTION IN HUMAN COMMUNICATION

Perception Process:

1. Selection: Focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

2. Organization: Structuring information in patterns for interpretation.
3. Interpretation: Assigning meaning to selected and organized data.

Self-concept:

 One's perception of themselves based on beliefs, experiences, and feedback.

Self-esteem:

 The emotional evaluation of one's worth or value.

WEEK 5: PERCEPTION (CONTINUED)

Gender and Perception:

 Socially constructed gender roles shape communication preferences and perception

styles.

Cultural Influence:

 Our cultural background deeply influences how we interpret messages and how we
behave communicatively.

Perception of Others:

 We often judge based on first impressions, assumptions, and stereotypes.

 Attribution: Assigning reasons for others’ behavior based on our interpretation.
WEEK 6: COMMUNICATING VERBALLY

Purpose of Language:

 Serves as a symbolic code used to express ideas, share feelings, and transmit culture.

Nexus between Language and Meaning:

 Words carry no inherent meaning; their meaning is derived from social usage and
context.

Cultural Purpose of Language:

 Language maintains identity and reflects shared traditions, beliefs, and norms.

Improving Language Skills:

 Read widely and actively.

 Practice active listening and clear articulation.
 Enhance vocabulary.
 Engage in discussions and seek constructive criticism.

WEEK 7: COMMUNICATING NON-VERBALLY

Attributes of Non-verbal Communication:

 Often spontaneous and subconscious.

 More reliable in revealing true emotions.
 Supports, complements, or contradicts verbal communication.

Classes of Non-verbal Communication:

1. Kinesics: Body motion, gestures, facial expressions.

2. Proxemics: Use of space and territoriality.
3. Haptics: Communication through touch (e.g., handshake, hug).
4. Chronemics: Time management and response timing.
5. Paralanguage: Voice modulation—pitch, volume, speed.
6. Appearance: Clothing, grooming, posture.
7. Facial Expressions and Eye Contact: Powerful cues of emotions and intentions.
WEEK 8: MID-SEMESTER TEST

(Students are evaluated on topics covered from Weeks 1-7)

WEEK 9: LISTENING

Forms of Listening:

1. Active Listening: Engaged, responsive, and reflective listening.

2. Empathetic Listening: Understanding emotions and showing care.
3. Critical Listening: Evaluative listening to judge accuracy or logic.
4. Appreciative Listening: Listening for pleasure or enjoyment (e.g., music).

Steps in Listening:

1. Receiving: Physically hearing the message.

2. Understanding: Grasping the message’s meaning.
3. Evaluating: Judging the message’s content.
4. Responding: Giving verbal or non-verbal feedback.
5. Remembering: Retaining the information received.

WEEK 10: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Interpersonal Relationships:

 Close relationships developed through sustained communication.

 Involves trust, disclosure, empathy, and feedback.

Communicating Across Cultures:

 Requires openness to diversity.

 Avoid stereotypes, generalizations, and ethnocentrism.
 Develop cultural intelligence and awareness.
WEEK 11: GROUP COMMUNICATION

Essence of Group Communication:

 Collective interaction where members contribute ideas to achieve goals.

 Requires clear leadership, defined roles, and mutual respect.

Benefits:

 Diverse perspectives.
 Increased creativity.
 Collective decision-making.

Challenges:

 Conflict resolution.
 Groupthink.
 Dominance by stronger personalities.

WEEK 12: AFRICAN COMMUNICATION

Need for African Communication:

 Highlights indigenous methods of communication embedded in culture and

traditions.
 Often community-based, oral, and symbolic.

Forms of African Communication:

 Oral Literature: Proverbs, folktales, chants.

 Drum Language: Talking drums conveying messages.
 Town Criers: Traditional news announcers.
 Symbols: Carvings, fabrics, cultural items.
WEEK 13: PUBLIC SPEAKING

Basics of Public Speaking:

 Understand the audience.

 Structure ideas logically: Introduction – Body – Conclusion.
 Use storytelling and rhetorical devices.
 Rehearse and refine.

Presentation Tips:

 Control nervousness with breathing techniques.

 Maintain eye contact.
 Use gestures naturally.
 Anticipate questions and answer confidently.

WEEK 14: MASS COMMUNICATION

Definition:

 Dissemination of information to large, diverse, and dispersed audiences through

mass media technologies.

Features:

 Usually one-way.
 Time-sensitive and far-reaching.
 Can influence public opinion and societal norms.

Examples:

 Newspapers, Television, Radio, Internet, Social Media.

Functions:

 Information.
 Entertainment.
 Education.
 Persuasion.
 Surveillance.
WEEK 15: MODELS & THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Key Models:

1. Aristotle’s Model: Focused on speaker’s influence on the audience.

2. Shannon & Weaver Model: Highlights technical aspects and noise.
3. Berlo’s SMCR Model: Emphasizes source, message, channel, and receiver.
4. Schramm’s Model: Introduces shared field of experience.

Theories of Communication:

 Hypodermic Needle Theory: Audience is passive; media injects messages directly.

 Two-Step Flow Theory: Media influences opinion leaders who influence others.
 Uses and Gratification Theory: Audience is active and selects media based on
needs.
 Cultivation Theory: Long-term media exposure influences perception of reality.

NOTE: This document is an in-depth, extended summary of the CMS101 course, designed
to equip students with detailed explanations, enriched examples, and comprehensive
insights for exams, presentations, and real-world communication mastery.

Prepared By: CAMPUS WIFI (CMS101 won't stress you when you're with me)
CMS101 Quiz Questions (Weeks 1–5)
1. Which of the following best describes communication as a process?
A. Static and one-way
B. Fixed and permanent
C. Dynamic and transactional ✅
D. Silent and reversible
2. What is semantic noise in communication?
A. Loud environmental distractions
B. A misinterpretation of words or phrases ✅
C. Internal emotional conflict
D. Fatigue or tiredness
3. The following are forms of communication EXCEPT:
A. Verbal
B. Electronic
C. Telepathic ✅
D. Non-verbal
4. Which component of the communication process involves translating thoughts into a message?
A. Decoding
B. Encoding ✅
C. Feedback
D. Channel
5. What role does the receiver play in communication?
A. Initiates the message
B. Transmits the message
C. Interprets the message ✅
D. Blocks the message
6. Which of the following is NOT a type of noise in communication?
A. Physical
B. Temporal ✅
C. Semantic
D. Physiological
7. What is the final step in the perception process?
A. Selection
B. Organization
C. Interpretation ✅
D. Communication
8. Self-concept refers to:
A. How others perceive you
B. How you see yourself ✅
C. Your body language
D. The way you speak
9. Which one influences our communication through beliefs and traditions?
A. Gender
B. Psychology
C. Culture ✅
D. Proxemics
10. The idea that communication is irreversible means:
A. You can always correct a mistake
B. Communication can’t be learned
C. Once a message is sent, it can’t be undone ✅
D. You can erase memories with new messages