Communication is derived from Latin communicare, meaning "to share” or communis, which means “common”
SOME DEFINATIONS OF COMMUNICATION:
Process by which ideas, opinions, feelings, information are conveyed to others through words( written or spoken), body language, gestures or signs.
Communication is the process by which a message or information is exchanged from a sender to a receiver.
”A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior” (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
“Communication is defined as the process of understanding and sharing meaning.” Pearson, J., & Nelson, P. (2000).
An introduction to human communication: Understanding and sharing (p. 6). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
Keith Davis defines communication as the “transfer of information and understanding from one person to another. It is a way of reaching to others with facts, ideas, thoughts and values. It is a bridge of meaning among people so that they can share what they feel and know.”
Communication can be defined as the process through which two or more persons come to exchange ideas and create an understanding among themselves.
The word Communication describes the process of conveying messages (facts, ideas, attitudes and opinions) from one person to another, so that they are understood. (M.W. Cumming)
Communication is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behavior. It is the meaningful exchange of information between two or a group of persons.
Communication is a process of transmitting and receiving verbal and non verbal messages that produce a response.
PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION
Three basic Purposes Behind Communication
1. To Inform
2. To Persuade
3. To Entertain
Process of Communication
Sender/ Source: generator of the message
Message: information, feelings, facts which are generated by the sender to be sent to the receiver. It will include the words along with their organization into the sentences according to the grammatical rules.
Encoding: conversion of idea into a message. Care needs to be taken of the signs, symbols, words used as they must be comprehendible to the receiver.
Channel/media: means/ manner by which encoded messages are sent. It is a way in which a message or messages travel between source and receiver. The medium is the means of communication, such as print, mass, digital for e.g, Oral/written, Spoken channels include face-to-face conversations, speeches, etc. Written channels include---- letters, memos, newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, e-mail, text messages, tweets, and so on. Selection of channel is important to avoid any miscommunication.
Decoding: the message is received by the receiver who has to decode the message. It depends on receiver’s knowledge of subject matter, experience, etc.
Receiver: the person who receives the message that the sender has in its mind.
Feedback: the receiver confirms that he has received the message and understood it well to complete the process of communication.
Feedback is composed of messages the receiver sends back to the source. Verbal or nonverbal, all these feedback signals allow the source to see how well, how accurately (or how poorly and inaccurately) the message was received. As the amount of feedback increases, the accuracy of communication also increases.