What is Communication? Definition, Concept, Process, & Types

What is Communication?

Communication is the activities of sending information or ideas through speech, visualization, writing or other means. It is a dynamic process of exchange of ideas between sender and receivers that takes place around us all the time. It is a fundamental process for a living being for the the exchange of feeling.

We spend 75% of our time involved in communication in receiving and sending messages. In the meantime, speech or ideas must be simple enough to be decoded and understood by the recipient. If ideas do not correctly present, decoding is inappropriate, and the recipient does not understand.

Definition of Communication

The source of the word ‘communication,’ derived from ‘communism,’ that means ‘to communicate,’ ‘to share’ ‘to take part in decoding and encoding the information,”is the meaning of “communication.”

Definitions by various famous scholars:

Communication is the ability of one person to get in touch with each other and understand each other.

Communication is the process of transferring information and understanding from one person to another.

Communication is the exchange of ideas, facts, opinions, or emotions of two or more people. Communication is the process by which it sends information between a sender and receivers to get understanding of the communication.

Communication is a bridge. It includes a systematic and continuous process of speaking, listening, and understanding.

Communication is the process of sending and receiving verbal and non-verbal messages. It considers complete while it achieves the desired reaction from the recipient.

The process of communication

It is a two-way process that includes the following elements: sender, message, carrier, channel, receiver, response, and feedback. However, it is not enough to always have all these elements.

There should be understanding and cooperation between the two parties involved. It is essential to have a typical frame of reference or context for successful and meaningful communication, e.g., a common language or a conventional interpretation of the gesture.

It concerns the sender, messenger, and recipient. Both should share a commonly accepted code, e.g., a universal language.

We know the context in contact as the “environment.”In which the code of the communication is sent in a specific medium (oral, written or non-verbal) using channels (air, microphones, body images, text, etc.) in the form of encoded messages.

The “code" is not limited to language; it can also include the use of costumes, gestures, colors, and others.

The communication process is described below-

The sender sends a “message" using"using "medium channel to the“recipient.”The message reaches the sensual world of the recipient.

The recipient’s brain filters the message based on his or her knowledge, emotions, attitudes, prejudices and understands there is a unique meaning. This meaning can trigger the response that the recipient’s mind creates.

The recipient encodes his answer and sends it as “feedback”to the sentient world of the sender. This completes one communication cycle, and the process is continued cyclically, cycle after cycle, as long as it involves people.

Decoding received feedback

Types of Communication

There are various types of communications, as described below:

1. Verbal

Verbal communication can also be called oral communication. Talk by mouth that takes place between people is called verbal communication.

This makes sure that people understand everything you want to convey. Because of its nature, verbal communication is faster and more precise than e-mail or written communication. There is an essential aspect of verbal communication because it sees as a valid result in it.

The manager or team leader must have excellent verbal communication skills. The manager must support a team of people and be qualified to convince the team of people to do what they want.

The higher the organization, the better verbal skills should be. This is because it needs to ensure that the speech is accurate and leaves no room for any misunderstandings.

2. Non-verbal

How do you show while you make entry there in the room? Is your body language strong, do you stand straight or dull? Are you looking healthy or tired? Are you clean-shaven? When you shake hands, do you do it hard, or do you wash your hand against others?

The above were examples of non-verbal communication or interpersonal communication. One of the HR requirements for new employees in the organization is to have excellent interpersonal skills. This means that employees should refresh their non-verbal skills.

If you were at a sales meeting and you have not achieved your target, then how do you react? Will you be calm? Will you panic and stutter? These are the essential role of non-verbal skills, and your growth may depend on them.

3. Written

There are many ways to use written communication. This is doing by the use of technology smartphones and the Internet. Most common forms of written communication today is e-mail, WhatsApp, message, social media and other applications for online messaging using.

4. Visual

There are many elements of visual communication marketers or companies use as advertisements, presentations, Colours, animations, design (logo and brand design), illustrations, etc.

Disturbances in Communications

Noise: In some cases, the message may not give the desired response because of a semantic interruption or barrier between the sender and the recipient. It refers this to as “noise”; refers to any unplanned interference in contact that causes an obstacle in the transmission of messages.