Overview
Two or more people can convey ideas, facts, messages, and information to one another through communication. Additionally, it can take many different forms, such as verbal, written, and nonverbal communication. In this article, we will discuss the meaning and communication approaches in detail.
Meaning of Communication
Communication is derived from the Latin word ‘communicare’ which means to share, participate, and make common. The communication process helps individuals and groups to understand each other and share meaning. To make an effective communication channel both the parties involved must convey and understand messages, information, and responses effectively.
Key Elements of Communication:
- Sender: The person who has sent the message or from where the message has originated.
- Message: It is the information, ideas, facts, etc. that is being conveyed by the sender.
- Channel: The medium through which the message is being sent (verbal, non-verbal, etc.)
- Receiver: The party who is present at the other end to receive or interpret the message.
- Feedback: The response that is being received by the sender and is given by the receiver.
Definitions of Communication:
- American Management Association defines, ‘Communication is any behavior that results in an exchange of meaning’.
- Peter Little defines communication as ‘Communication is the process by which information is transmitted between individuals and/or organizations so that an understanding response results’.
- Newman and Summer Jr. state that ‘Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons’.
- According to Keith Davis, ‘The process of passing the information and understanding from one person to another. It is essentially a bridge of meaning between the people. By using the bridge a person can safely cross the river of misunderstanding’.
Communication Approaches
There are two types of communication approaches, physical and mechanical media. Let’s understand each of them in detail.
Physical Media
In this type of medium, the person who is speaking or conveying a message can be seen or heard by the other parties. The importance of this media is that not only the sender can be seen but also their body language and the climate of the surroundings can also be detected.
Examples of physical media include:
- Video conferences
- Viral communication
- Personal meetings
- Large meetings
- Departmental meetings
Mechanical Media
The second approach to communication is the mechanical medium. In this medium, there is the use of written or electronic channels. This medium involves message archiving to convey the information in a detailed manner and is typically used for detailed communication processes.
Examples of mechanical media include:
- Social media
- Personal letters
- Billboards
- SMS
- Magazines
- Newsletters, etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that communication is an intricate process that is essential for comprehending development, information exchange, and improving global connectivity. There are many different communication approaches accessible, such as mechanical and physical media, and these approaches serve to improve understanding and encourage support and engagement between individuals and groups.