Communication: Definitions & The Different Elements in The Process of

Communication
Communication is an integral part of human existence. It is communication that contributes to success or otherwise of every human activity.
Human beings communicate with each other through speech and gestures, whereas animals, birds, insects and even plants communicate
through Sounds. Sense organs and Movements.

The word “Communication'' is derived from the Latin word 'Communis' which means to make common, to transmit to impart or to share
between two or more persons or groups.” Communication is the natural aspect of man's life. Communication is as old as human, human
being himself starts communicating from birth. When a baby cries it is communicating its need for attention or milk, when it gurgles (happy)
it is expressing its sense of satisfaction.

Man has always tried to share his thoughts, experiences and feelings with others. We achieve our goals according to our ability to
communicate effectively. Communication is the basis of all Socio-economic, Political and Cultural activities. There can be no society
without communication.

Definition of Communication:

Communication is the activity of conveying information. The word communication has been derived
from the Latin word ‘communis’, meaning to share. The term share ‘common’ qualifies the
availability of similar qualities in any two living and nonliving things. Thus communication has two
things of messenger and receiver with similar comprehensibility. It basically involves a sender, a
message and a receiver. Communication is giving, receiving or exchanging ideas, data,
information, signals or messages through appropriate media.

Communication is usually a two-way process. It is not just giving information or signalling

someone; it also involves the comprehension of the information or the signal by the receiver.

Communication is a continuous and dynamic process involving more than one person. It is a cyclic
process denoting continuous flow of information. It essentially involves sender, message and
recipient. The sender conceives ideas and encodes them into suitable mediums (facts, figures,
pictures), sends them through appropriate channels (email, phone, speech) to the recipient. The
recipient decodes the message, understands it and encodes feedback and sends it to the sender.

Definition:
Communication in simple terms is a transfer of information between people, resulting in common
understanding between them. Communication has been defined differently by different writers and
behavioural theorists.

According to Newman and Summer “communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or

emotions by two or more persons”. Hoben defines communication as “The verbal interchange of
thought or ideas”. In the words of Anderson, “communication is the process by which we
understand others and in turn endeavour to be understood by them”. According to Keith Davis the
definition of communication is as follows: “Communication is the process of passing information
and understanding - from one person to another.” According to Peter Little the definition of
communication is as follows: “Communication is the process by which information is transmitted
between individuals or organizations so that an understanding response results.”
Definitions:
1. Keith Davis: Communication is a process of passing information and understanding from one
person to another.
2. John Adair: Communication is essentially the ability of one person to make contact with another
and make himself or herself understood.
3. William Newman and Charles Summer: Communication is an exchange of ideas, facts,
opinions or emotions of two or more persons.
4. Louis Allen: Communication is a bridge of meaning. It involves a systematic and continuous
process of telling, listening and understanding.
5. Peter Little: Communication is a process by which information is transmitted between
individuals and / or organizations so that an understanding response results.
6. Murphy, Hildebrandt, Thomas: Communication is a process of transmitting and receiving
verbal and non-verbal messages. It is considered effective when it achieves the desired response or
reaction from the receiver.

In short communication can be defined as following:

1. Communication is the process by which an idea is transferred from a source to a receiver with the
intention of changing his behavior.
2. It is a mutual exchange of facts, thoughts or perceptions leading to a common understanding of all
parties. It does not necessarily imply agreement.
3. Communication is the transfer of information being understood by the receiver.

The Different Elements in The Process of Communication

Sender or Source: Source or sender is the origin of any message. The very foundation of the
communication process is laid by the person who transmits or sends the message. He is the sender of
the message which may be a thought, idea, a picture, symbol, report or an order and postures and
gestures, even a momentary smile. The sender is therefore the initiator of the message that needs
to be transmitted. After having generated the idea, information etc. the sender encodes it in such a
manner that can be well-understood by the receiver.

Message: Message is referred to as the information conveyed by words as in speech and write-ups,
signs, pictures or symbols depending upon the situation and the nature and importance of
information desired to be sent. Message is the heart of communication. It is the content the sender
wants to convey to the receiver. It can be verbal both written and spoken; or non-verbal i.e.
pictorial or symbolic, etc.

Encoding: Encoding is putting the targeted message into an appropriate medium which may be
verbal or non-verbal depending upon the situation, time, space and nature of the message to be sent.
The sender puts the message into a series of symbols, pictures or words which will be
communicated to the intended receiver. Encoding is an important step in the communication process
as wrong and inappropriate encoding may defeat the true intent of the communication process.

Channel: refers to the way or mode the message flows or is transmitted through. The message is
transmitted over a channel that links the sender with the receiver. The message may be oral or
written and it may be transmitted through a memorandum, a computer, telephone, cell phone, apps
or televisions. Since each channel has its advantages and disadvantages, the choice of proper
selection of the channel is paramount for effective communication.

Receiver: Receiver is the person or group who the message is meant for. He may be a listener, a
reader or a viewer. Any negligence on the part of the receiver may make the communication
ineffective. The receiver needs to comprehend the message sent in the best possible manner such
that the true intent of the communication is attained. The extent to which the receiver decodes the
message depends on his/her knowledge of the subject matter of the message, experience, trust and
relationship with the sender. The receiver is as significant a factor in the communication process
as the sender is. It is the other end of the process. The receiver should be in fit condition to receive
the message, that is, he/she should have a channel of communication active and should not be
preoccupied with other thoughts that might cause him/her to pay insufficient attention to the
message.

Decoding: Decoding refers to interpreting or converting the sent message into intelligible language.
It simply means comprehending the message. The receiver after receiving the message interprets it
and tries to understand it in the best possible manner.

Feedback: Feedback is the ultimate aspect of the communication process. It refers to the response
of the receiver as to the message sent to him/her by the sender. Feedback is necessary to ensure that
the message has been effectively encoded, sent, decoded and comprehended. It is the final step of
the communication process and establishes that the receiver has received the message in its letter
and spirit. In other words, the receiver has correctly interpreted the message as it was intended by
the sender. It is instrumental to make communication effective and purposeful.

Summit P
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