Communication Terminology 

1. Definition:   "Communication is the process of using messages to generate meaning." (Pearson 10)

2. Sender/receiver - the participants in communication.  Typically the roles reverse regularly.

3. Message - a single uninterrupted utterance. Verbal or nonverbal

4. code - a system suitable for creating/carrying messages through a specific medium

   • encode (put into code) and

   • decode (take out of code)
      

5. Levels (aspects) of message meanings.  Levels include:

   1. Content - Literal meaning, information

   2. Relationship - defines the relationship between sender and receiver.  Features of relationship that get defined in message exchanges include:

      1. Liking

      2. Responsiveness (intensity)

      3. Control

      4. Trust
          

6. Channels (verbal, nonverbal, etc.) - the specific “pipeline” used

7. Medium (face-to-face, television, web, phone, etc.) - manner of transmission — determines kind of code used.

8. Noise - interference with message — physical or mental

9. Context - that which surrounds and provides a basis for the meaning of a message

10. Feedback - checks effects of messages

    1. positive feedback - "keep doing what you’re doing"

    2. negative feedback - change what you’re doing.
        

11. Contexts of Communication

    1. Intrapersonal

    2. Interpersonal

    3. Public Communication

    4. Mass Communication (non-interactive)

    5. Computer Mediated Communication (interactive)

Communication Principles

1. Communication begins with the self.  (Self knowledge is critical)

2. Communication involves others. (Knowing your audience and adapting is key.)

3. Communiation has both content and relationship diemensions. (see above)

4. Communication is complex.

5. Communication quantity does not increase communication quality.

6. Communication is inevitable, irreversible and unrepeatable.

"How Americans Communicate" -- A Roper Poll

Works Cited

Pearson, Judy, et al..  Human Communication.  3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print