Explain the communication process.

1. The Communicator
Communication commences with the communicator. He is the sender of the message. He realizes the need for conveying something to someone else. A communicator or the sender is the source of communication. He has a purpose of communicating some information to one or more persons.

2. Encoding
Encoding means putting message into code. A message is initiated by encoding a thought. The communicator encodes the information to be transmitted. Translating into a series - of symbols or gestures, does it. Encoding is essential because information can be conveyed only through representations or symbols. The sender of the message and the receiver should speak the same thing. That is, the sender should establish mutuality of meaning with the receiver. Coded messages may be oral or written words or gestures.

3. The Message
A message is the output of encoding process. It is the physical form of the encoded message. The message may be in any form -oral, written or gesture. But the receiver must unambiguously understand it. Speech may be heard. Written words may be read. Gestures may be seen or felt. Message must be clear and precise.

4. The Medium
The communicator can communicate the message through a medium. The medium is the carrier of communication. The communication channel is the mode of transmission. Air is the medium for oral message. The medium is inseparable from the message. It links the sender with the receiver. The message may be conveyed through a memorandum, letter, a telegram, the telephone, a computer or T.V. But the channel or the medium must be appropriate for the message. At times, multiple media are used for effective communication. A letter may confirm a telephone talk, later. Since the choices of channels are, many, the proper choice of the channel is vital for effective communication.

5. Decoding
Decoding refers to the finding of the meaning of something conveyed in code. It is the process by which the receiver interprets the message. It means translating the message that is significant and meaningful to the receiver. The recipient has to be ready for the message. Then only the message can be decoded into thought. In decoding, the receiver converts the message into thoughts. Decoding is affected by several factors such as the recipient's knowledge, past experience, personal interpretations of the symbols and gestures used, expectations and mutuality of meaning. Thus, decoding is very important for understanding the message.

6. The Receiver
Communication requires at least a couple of people, the sender and the receiver. One “encodes" and the other “decodes" the message. It will be complete only when the receiver perceives the message intact. The receiver must decode the message without distortion. If the message does not reach a receiver, communication cannot be said to have taken place.

7. Feed Back
Feed Back refers to the reaction of the receiver. It is a reversal of the communication process. Feedback enables the communicator to know whether his message is received and interpreted correctly or not. Further, Feedback enables the communicator to know the reaction of the receiver so that future communication can be modified, if necessary. The importance of Feedback is incalculable. It helps to check the effectiveness of communication. It makes communication a two-way process.

8. Noise
"Noise" is the enemy of Feedback. It refers to any factor that interferes with communication. Interference may occur in all the above stages of the communication process. It hinders or blocks communication.

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Kavungya answered the question on March 26, 2019 at 14:04