Communication Skills

1. Introduction

Communication is a process by which two or more people exchange ideas, opinions, facts, feelings or expressions in a way that each gain a common understanding of the message being communicated. In fact, we cannot imagine life without communication; since it is an in-built function helping us in our day-to-day activities. In this chapter, various aspects of communication have been dealt with, the details of which are given as below:

Communication process is a continuous and life-long process. It is a dynamic, constantly moving, ever-changing and on-going process.

Basic purpose of communication= Creation of MEANING

1.2 Meaning

Meaning exists in the mind of the PEOPLE, but not in the WORDS! In fact, communication vehicles (viz. words, symbols signs) don’t have meaning in/of themselves, but people have meaning for them!! Moreover, MEANINGS aren’t TRANSMITTABLE in nature!!

1.2.1 Types of meaning

DENOTATIVE

STRUCTURAL

CONTEXTUAL

CONNOTATIVE

1.2.1.1 Denotative meaning

Word-Object relationship

Sign-Object relationship (e.g. +,-,×,  , /, ( ), etc.)

  DICTIONARY/DESCRIPTIVE MEANING (exception: Exact meaning of the word

APPLE / MANGO cannot be understood in totality, when English-to-English dictionary

will be consulted, unless it’s accompanied by the picture!)

1.2.1.2 Structural meaning

(SIGN-SIGN Relationship)

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Communication Skills

1.2.1.3 Contextual meaning

e.g. MENTAL ABILITY TEST(S) of BANKS(s). X Y Z = Mango is fruit.

I E Y = I eat Mango. Y = Mango

Different MEANING in different CONTEXT e.g. (Sanction; Lie; Right; Cook; Labour;

Address ; General ; Bear; Dear; Left; Light; Bat; Pen; Well, etc.)

1.2.1.4 Connotative meaning

PERSON-oriented in nature (e.g. WORDS like GOOD, BEAUTIFUL, PLEASANT, etc.)

e.g. she is a Beautiful Women! (It’s a JUDGEMENT. Judgments are sentences emphasizing this meaning. )

CONNOTATION is more PERSONAL, and it varies more among PEOPLE!!

e. g. The term “MY MOTHER” has the CONNOTATIVE MEANING based on SUM TOTAL of all of our PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES (with):-

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Communication Skills

Our OWN mothers

Other PEOPLE’S mothers, and

All of the situations in which we have used or heard the word MOTHER.

It is, however, impossible for people to agree completely & unanimously on the CONNOTATIVE MEANING of any word/ term!

1.3 Purpose(S) of Communication

To inform (an appeal to MIND); viz. EDUCATION

To Persuade (an appeal to SOUL/ Emotions); viz. PROPAGANDA

To Entertain; viz. Entertainment programmes.

We are constantly trying to understand ourselves & other people (plus, things) around us through communication! Hence, one can realize that how important it is to try to understand as much as possible about the communication process in which one is totally involved now (presently) & will be for the rest of (one’s) life!!

1.4 Significance of Communication

1.5 Ingredients of Communication

1.6 Dimensions of communication

1.7 Nature of communication

It’s a process.

Dynamic; on-going; ever-changing; continuous act.

(No beginning, end, or fixed sequence of events.)

  One can’t really “freeze” COMMUNICATION at any point of time!

It employs many means

It takes place by many means, at many levels, with many people, in many ways, for many reasons. It involves interdependence

It’s a two way process, where constant reversal of role(s) is there. (Level of interdependence varies from situation to situation.)

Communication Skills

Individuals’ capabilities of organization and converting raw sensory data into functionally consumable or processable units of information.

It takes place at many Levels

(Intrapersonal- Communication takes place within an individual; Interpersonal- Between or among persons;

Intra-organization- Communication takes place within an organization; and Inter- organization- Communication takes place between or among organizations).

Communication FIDELITY varies from one communication situation to another

Fidelity is the faithful performance of all the element of communication process. Perfect communication is very rare and effectiveness of communication varies with situation.