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The Communication Process

Communication process though complex can be simplified through communication models. The idea of communication as information processing was firmly established by Claude Shannon, a Bell telephone company research scientist who developed a mathematical theory of signal transmission. His theory focused on solving technical problems with sound transfer instead of the meaning of a message or its effect on the listener.

S – Source

The source or sender is the origin of the message. According to Berlo, the following are factors affecting the source.

• Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively is a skill worth honing. In communication, the way words are said is critical in delivering the right message and ensuring that it is received well. The source should be eloquent in speech. Correct pronunciation, proper use of pauses, and neutral or understandable accent are just some of the variables affecting our communication skills. If one could utilize all these in conversation, then the process of communication can be a complete success.

• Attitude

Attitude is to make or break a person. Talent can only get you far enough, but without the right attitude, you can never get to your destination. The same is true in communication. No matter how well composed your message is, without appropriate attitude, you will never get your information across. For instance, if you intend to persuade people towards a certain cause, your audience must hear that your heart is in the same cause, or else you won’t get your desired effect.

• Knowledge

In communication, the source must be able to display his or her knowledge of the topic of conversation. This does not necessarily mean throwing a lot of information, or using highfaluting words. This simply means delivering the message clearly. Speaking straight to the point, without comprising thoroughness is important to make your audience truly understand your message. Conveying the message with enough information is source’s test of knowledge.

• Social System

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the social system as patterned series of interrelationships existing between individuals, groups, and institutions forming a coherent whole. It is the same set of beliefs religious group share, the social norms accepted in communities, the house rules of a family. Social systems are the world where people having something in common live in.

As a source, it is important to consider the social system of your audience in starting the communication process. This is because people belonging to different social systems receive and process information differently. Even if a source delivers the same message to two people that do not share the social system, it can have two differing interpretations. Consider a source sharing a list of restaurants that serve the best steaks in the country. If he delivers that to a group of meat lovers, he would definitely have their attention and maybe even receive positive feedback. However, a group of vegans might be uninterested or even take offense in the same message.

• Culture

Sources must consider the culture of their audience in communication. In doing so, a source can show respect towards his or her listener’s cultural background.

• M-Message

Message pertains to any information that is passed through communication. Based on Berlo’s model, any message is comprised of the following:

• Content

In communication, the sender of the message must translate his or her thoughts into understandable words or illustrations. This translated information is also known as the content. Since the content of the messages is what a receiver primarily processes in communication, it is considered as the most important ingredient of the message. According to Berlo, content has to be sensible, accurate, crisp, and related to the thought. By ensuring that content meets these guidelines, misunderstanding can be avoided.

• Element

Imagine taking a history class from a professor who is glued to his chair. Now picture him looking down on his notes all the time as he monotonously rambles on and on about dates, revolutions, and heroes. Sound like a snooze fest right? This is because words alone do not make up a good message. A message should be delivered with postures, gestures, movement, and facial expressions. These elements make sure that a message will have an impact on the receiver.

• Treatment

Berlo states that treatment is actually the way one treats his message and how he conveys it to the listeners. It is important to know the message to determine the right way to deliver it. For example, if you are trying to reprimand naughty children, you will not do so by sweet talking to them into obedience, you will do so firmly.

• Structure

Whenever you tell a story, you will always start at the beginning. When you give instructions on fixing a phone, you go through it from the first step down to the last. When you read a novel, you begin with the prolog and end with the epilog. Much like these examples, a message must be delivered with a certain structure. This ensures that the message is received according to the thoughts of the sender.

• Code

The code is the use of all the components in the message. One must be able to use the right content, element, treatment, and structure, according to the thought of the sender. Through using accurate code, distortion of the message can be avoided. For example, if you say “I’m pleased to meet you”with a blank expression, and monotonous tone, your listener might think that you are not truly pleased to meet him. The right code ensures that the receiver has the right message to encode.

• C-Channel

Channel refers to the medium and how the information flows from the sender to the receiver. (Berlo, 1960) According to him, sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing are the primary channels human beings used in communication

Medium pertains to the tools used in communication. It can be

• R-Receiver

Receiver refers to the listener of the message. While the source is in charge with the encoding process of communication, the receiver does the decoding. Decoding is the process where the listener or the receiver processes the message of the message of the source and then responds accordingly.

Berlo further explained that in order to have a smooth conversation between the source and receiver, they should share the same platform, have a good communication skills, exhibit the right attitude, and have same level knowledge. However, this set up rarely if it happens in real life communication.

While Shannon and Berlo’s models are linear in structure, Wilbur Schramm adapted Osgood’s theory to develop a circular communication model.