The process of communication is the inter-relationship between several inter-dependent components. It consists of a chain of related actions and reactions which together result in the exchange of information.
In order to understand the process of communication, it is necessary to describe each of these components. A model of the communication process is as follows:
The Process of Communication:
1. Sender:
The sender is the first component of the process of communication. The sender may be a speaker, a writer or any other person. He is the one who has a message and wants it to share it for some purpose.
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2. Ideation:
Ideation is the preliminary step in communication where sender creates an idea to communicate. This idea is the content and the basis of the message to be communicated. Several ideas may generate in the sender’s mind.
The sender must identify, analyse and arrange the ideas sequentially before transmitting them to the receiver.
3. Message:
The message is the heart of communication. It is what the sender wants to convey to the receiver. It may be verbal i.e. written or spoken or non verbal i.e. body language, space language etc.
4. Encoding:
To encode is to put the idea into words. In this step the communicator organises his ideas into a series of symbols or words which will be communicated to the intended receiver. Thus the ideas are converted into words or symbols.
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The words and the symbols should be selected carefully. It should be according to the purpose of communication. It should be understandable and most of all it should be suitable for transmission and reception.
5. Transmission:
Next in the process of communication is the transmission of the message as encoded messages are transmitted through various media and channels of communication channel connects the sender and the receiver.
The channel and media should be selected keeping in mind the requirement of the receiver, the communication to be effective and efficient the channel should be appropriate.
6. Receiver:
Receiver is the person or group for whom the message is meant. He may be a listener, a reader or a viewer. Any neglect on the part of the receiver may make the communication ineffective.
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The receiver is thus the ultimate destination of the message. If the message does not reach the receiver the communication is said to be incomplete.
7. Decoding:
Decoding means translation of symbols encoded by the sender into ideas for understanding. Understanding the message by the receiver is the key to the decoding process.
The message should be accurately reproduced in the receiver’s mind. If the receiver is unable to understand the message correctly the communication is ineffective.
8. Behaviour of the Receiver:
It refers to the response by the receiver of the communication received from the sender. He may like to ignore the message or to store the information received or to perform the task assigned by the sender. This communication is complete as soon as the receiver responds.
9. Feedback:
Feedback indicates the result of communication. It is the key element in the communication and is the only way of judging the effectiveness of communication It enables the sender to know whether his message has been properly interpreted or not.
Systematic use of feedback helps to improve future messages. Feedback, like the message could be oral, written or non verbal. It has to be collected from the receiver.