Communication Terminology 

1. Definition:   "Communication is a systemic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings."  (Wood 11)

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

3. Message - a single uninterrupted utterance

   1. code - a system suitable for carrying messages through a specific medium

   2. encode (put into code) and decode (take out of code)

   3. episode - a group of messages which follows a consistent set of rules

   4. relationship - the sum total of all available episodes between people
       

4. Levels (aspects) of message meanings

   1. Content - Literal meaning, information

   2. Relationship - defines the relationship between sender and receiver

      1. Liking

      2. Responsiveness (intensity)

      3. Control

      4. Trust
          

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

6. Medium - manner of transmission — determines kind of code

7. Noise - interference with message — physical or mental

8. Context - that which surrounds and provides meaning to a message

9. Feedback - checks effects of messages

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

   2. negative feedback - change what you’re doing

Themes in the Field of Communication

1. Symbolic Activities - Symbols are arbitrary, abstract and ambiguous representations of other phenomena. All communication activities have symbolic features.

2. Meaning - symbols not only represent phenomena, they have meaning for us.  In creating meanings for the world around us we actively interpret events, situation and relationships.

3. Critical thinking - Significant communication always involves reflection (see page 30 of Woods' text for critical thinking skills) involving understanding claims and support, logical thought, reliability and bias of sources, use of information for problem solving and more.

"How Americans Communicate" -- A Roper Poll

Works Cited

Wood, Julia T.  Communication in Our Lives. Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth, 2006.