Elements of Communication

Elements of Communication are :

a)    Sender :One who sends a messa^ge is either the writer or speaker, depending upon whether the communication is written or oral. Sender is the encoder of the message. Message includes symbols, usually words that will correctly and tactfully express the message. So, the receiver will understand it and react with desired response. Both internal and external stimuli affect message encoding and sending.

b)   Message :The message may consist of both verbal, written or spoken symbols and nonverbal symbols to convey ideas from the sender to the receiver. The sender translates his ideas into a message.

c)    Channel :Like message content, the choice of channel or medium is influenced by the interrelationship of sender and receiver, If the message requires an immediate answer or if it contains bad news for the receiver an oral channel may be the better choice. But if the message contains complicated details and figures or if its subject requires filing for future reference, a written communication is necessary.

d)   Receiver :The message receiver is the reader or listener and decoder of the message. The receiver as well as the sender are influenced by external environment and internal stimuli. The receiver receives messages through eyes, ears and sometimes through touch and decode according to his / her own experiences. A problem is that all of us do not have identical experience with the subject or the symbols a sender uses. Attitudes, abilities, opinions, communication skills and cultural customs of receiver and sender of message usually vary. Hence misinterpretations occur, personal biases intervene as each receiver through his or her recepter mechanism perceives the intended meaning of the sender's idea. Ultimately the receiver reacts, either with a response based on clear interpretation of the symbols or an incorrect response because of miscommunication.

Feedback :Feedback is the receiver's reaction indicating to the sender whether or not the message has been understood and correctly interpreted. Feedback creates a two-way process of communication rather than a simple send-receive relationship. Feedback may be a simple 'yes' or 'no' or a request for further clarification. If the receiver incorrectly perceives the message, that is miscommunication. The success or failure of the communication is indicated by the feedback.