Elements of Communication

1. Elements of Communication

2. Elements of Communication • 6 Elements of Communication 1. Verbal messages 2. Nonverbal messages 3. Perception 4. Channel 5. Feedback 6. Context

3. Elements of Communication1. Verbal Messages • Verbal messages are spoken words you use when communicating

4. Elements of Communication1a. Verbal Messages • Most children begin to use words by the time they are 10-14 months old • Words do not have the same meaning for everyone • Also words change their meanings over time…can you think of an example? • Communicators need to know how to select the most exact words to get their messages across accurately

5. Elements of Communication1b. Verbal Messages • Differences in meaning: • Not all words mean the same thing to all people • Interact: With a small group of 3 or 4 people list the possible meanings of the following words or phrases See you later Hot Expensive Free What a day! Bad She is bad. Party Tall What’s on Friday night?

6. Elements of Communication1c. Verbal Messages • Denotative meaning of words • The definition of a word found in a dictionary • Connotative meaning of words • An emotional or personal response to a word • For example: home-denotative meaning is one’s place of residence ----home-connotative meaning is security • Everyone’s connotative meaning for words will be different

7. Elements of Communication2. Nonverbal Messages • Nonverbal messages are messages expressed without words • a. Appearance • b. Facial expression & eye contact • c. Posture • d. Gestures • e. Voice

8. 2a. Appearance • If you needed to ask someone for directions, who would you ask first? • An old man in dirty clothes • A cute teenage boy or girl • A woman with an infant • Or a woman in a sari

9. 2a. Appearance • Clothes, body size, hairstyle, makeup, and decorations such as jewelry or slogan buttons all send messages about how a person sees herself or himself • You probably make quick first judgments about others based on appearance • So that means that others make first judgments about you based on your appearance

10. 2b. Facial Expression & Eye Contact • Smiles or frowns tell others a great deal about how a person is feeling • A person’s face often reveals rather quickly that a person is angry, happy, frustrated, or nervous • What is a look that tells you not to bother your parent? • Most people believe the eyes are the most expressive part of the body • Eyes show feelings that might be hidden otherwise • You can learn a lot from a person’s willingness or unwillingness to look at you

11. 2c. Posture & Walk • Posture refers to your body’s position as you sit, stand or walk • The way you sit or stand communicates a great deal about your mood or feelings • If you are slouching, you create a very different image than if you are standing or sitting up straight

12. 2c. Posture & Walk • Posture can also send other messages • Models are taught to “walk tall” to make good impressions • Persons interviewing for jobs are taught to stand and sit up straight because they will seem more confident • Interviewers usually notice people’s posture while they talk with them about their qualifications

13. 2c. Posture & Walk • The way you walk also sends nonverbal messages to others • When you watch people walking slowly & dragging their feet, you might decide they are reluctant to get to where they are going • When you see people walking briskly, you may conclude they are anxious to get somewhere

14. 2d. Gestures • The way people move their arms, hands, and fingers plays a part in communication • Most good speakers use gestures to help make a point • Besides large gestures, people use hand signals to communicate • Think of the different meanings of the peace sign, the OK sign, or crossed fingers • Can you think of other gestures that are used to send a message?

15. 2e. Voice • A person’s voice, that is, not what is said but how it is said, conveys important messages • Voice includes • Pitch-how high or low the tone of voice is • Rate-how quickly or slowly something is said • Vocal quality-the tone or sound of a voice • Volume-the loudness or softness of a voice

16. Elements of Communication3. Perception • The process of giving meaning to information you learn through your five senses: taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell provide you with information about the world

17. Elements of Communication4. Channels of Communication • In communication terms, the channel is the means by which a message is transmitted

18. Examples • Television • E-mail • What are some other channels of communication?

19. Elements of Communication4a. Channels of Communication • People tend to place greater importance on 1 channel than on another • Example: if you are talking on the phone and watching tv, you tend to place greater importance on only 1 of those. You can’t truly focus on both

20. Elements of Communication4b. Channels of Communication • When a person has trouble understanding a message, there is said to be noise in the channel • Noise is anything that interferes with a listener’s ability to receive a message • Could be outside the person (tv, radio, hard chair) • Could be inside the person (a headache, worries, boredom) • Sometimes you can control the noise (turn down music and sometimes you can’t)

21. Elements of Communication5. Feedback • Positive and Negative Feedback • Positive feedback tells you that you’re doing fine (a smile, nod of the head, all indicate that you are getting through as you intended) • Negative feedback tells you there is a problem to deal with or lets you know the listener does not agree with your ideas • It is important to recognize whether a listener is confused or whether a listener is disagreeing • Communication goes smoothly when speakers & listeners pay attention to feedback

22. Elements of Communication6. Context • Finally, all these essential elements of communication come together within a context • Context is the setting and people that surround the message • Setting involves time, place, and occasion • You may say something at a certain place or time that you wouldn’t say at another place • The people in the setting influence what is said and what is not said • The way you see the setting and the other people involved will affect how you handle certain topics