Communication is that one process that allows one to share one’s ideas, feelings and emotions with others. Imagine our world without communication!!!! The entire universe would come to a standstill without communication. Communication is just not limited to human beings; animals communicate too but in their own designated manner and way. Animals communicate in their own language for the same purpose as humans and that is sharing of feelings.
Communication has allowed us to be in touch with our fellow beings across vast distances of time and space. For being able to communicate there is a need to first understand the basics of communication. Communication can be considered to be complete only when the receiver receives the complete information intended by the sender. In this regard the element of feedback ensures that the message sent is received in the same manner as intended. The process of communication has three vital elements in it: 1. The thought of the message; 2. Encoding the information and 3. Decoding the information. Any communication process would completely fail if any one of the three would be missing.
Sending message involves four different components. These comprise the sender who formulates the message for communication, next in line are the external barriers for eg., noise that may influence the message. The third element involved is encoding the message and lastly sending of the message.
Receiving message also involves four different mechanisms. These consist of the receiver for whom the message is meant; secondly the external barriers as well as internal barriers (internal barriers include the experience level of the receiver, understanding of the terminologies used while communicating the message and their attitude); subsequent to this is decoding the message by making use of intellectual images. Lastly is the way the receivers understand the message. However, this still doesn’t ensure that the message received is correct, it is then when the element of feedback comes into play. Feedback provides essential information about the success of communicating the message.
There are many channels of communication and can be used either individually or in a collective manner in order to communicate effectively. Channel can take many forms. Some of the examples are: discrete or analog, baseband or pass band, multiplexed channel, computer network virtual channel, Simplex communication, duplex communication or half duplex communication channel, Return channel, Uplink or downlink (upstream or downstream channel) and Broadcast channel, unicast channel or multicast channel.
Communication is the basis of life, if I might be allowed to say so. Then comes proper and effective communication which is another subject ane we can discuss that at length some other time.
