GED 101:

Communication I
Unit 1: The Communication Process
Week 1: 16th - 20th September 2024

Prepared by Lecturer: Ms. Delisa Marshall

 Objectives

01 02 03 04
Define the term Explain the process of Identify the elements in Examine the relationships
‘communication’ Communication the Communication in the process
Process
Key Concepts
▪Elements of the Process: ▪Describing the Process
▪ Sender/encoder ▪ Conceptualization
▪ Message
▪ Encoding
▪ Medium
▪ Channel ▪ Channel Selection/Selecting Channels
▪ Receiver/Decoder ▪ Decoding/Interpretation
▪ Feedback
What is Communication ?
What is Communication ?
Communication

Humans communicate to share thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences.

This sharing of information can be done in two forms:
1. Verbally
2. Non-Verbally
Have you ever heard this terms before ?
What do they mean ?/ How does one communicate verbally and/or non-verbally ?
 Ponder on these discussion
questions:
Communication
•How did you learn language ?
•How would someone who grew up
without human contact/interaction
communicate ?
The Communication Process
 It is important to know that communication is a process; meaning it has series of
actions or steps that must be carried out in specific order to arrive at a desired
outcome and for it to be effective.
Think of communication as following instructions or recipes, where if you miss a
step the outcome is/can be altered.
The
Communication
Process If the steps of the process are followed correctly, it results in effective
communication, if not communication is then said to be ineffective.

When communication is successful or effective it facilitates positive results;

meaning understanding and clarity. Ineffective communication often leads to
misunderstandings and confusion.
The Communication Process
The communication process is made up of seven key elements:
1. Sender/Encoder
2. Medium
3. Channel Message
4. Receiver/Decoder
5. Feedback
6. Noise
7. Context
The Communication Process Model
The Communication Process Model
The Communication Process Model
The Elements in the Communication
Process
1. The Sender or Encoder: This is the person or entity from which the message or
information flows.
2. Medium & Channel (The Message): The sender must establish or use some means of
communicating this message (getting it to the intended audience). It may be by
electronic means, printed media, face to face communication etc.
3. The Receiver or Decoder: The message must go to someone or have an intended target.
This person or entity receives and interprets the message sent.
The Elements in the Communication
Process
4. Feedback or Response: This completes the communication process, it is an important element of the
process that is sometimes forgotten. Feedback communicates to the sender whether or not the
process/message was successful or not. Feedback can be negative or positive but is valued
nonetheless.
5. Noise: This is anything that affects/hinders the effectiveness of the process. Anything that hinders
the understanding/receiving/interpretation of the message.
6. Context: this is two fold situation. The context can be situational; where the interaction is taking
place and what it is about. It can also be social; who is involved in the interaction and their
relationship to each other.
The Elements in the Communication
Process
 Activity
Read the following advertisement and answer the following questions
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College will be opening applications for full time and part-time
students for the 2025-2026 academic year. Interested parties are asked to visit the college's website at svgcc.vc for
additional information on available programmes and entry requirements. The deadline for applications is the 30th
November 2024.
1. Who is the sender of the message ?
2. Who is the receiver/intended audience ?
3. What is the purpose of the message ?
4. What type of medium/channel can be used to communicate this information ?
 Activity
Read the following advertisement and answer the following questions
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment is urging the public to be vigilant, and protect themselves
against the Dengue Virus. The ministry is encouraging persons to discard of garbage and improperly stored water
containers on their premises and to wear repellant and long protective clothing to fight against dengue. If you or your
family develop any symptoms of dengue please contact your nearest health centre as soon as possible.
1. Who is the sender of the message ?
2. Who is the receiver/intended audience ?
3. What is the purpose of the message ?
4. What type of medium/channel can be used to communicate this information ?
the Process of Communication
How does it work ?
How the Process Works

Describing the process:

1. Conceptualization and Encoding
2. Selecting Medium and Channel
3. Decoding and Interpretation
4. Feedback
a. Response
 How the Process Works
1. Conceptualization and Encoding: The process of communication begins with an idea that someone wants to
convey; this is known as conceptualization. An idea cannot just be conveyed as a thought (we are not mind
readers) it must be put into a form that other can understand. The idea must be encoded or given a format in
words, pictures or actions. Encoding is therefore representing the idea in a way that enables it to be conveyed.
It is important that ideas or information be properly encoded to ensure its effectiveness. The purpose of your message
also depends on the way it is encoded.
Encoding the information is also dependent on your intended audience or receiver.
Eg. Think of wanting to buy a pair of shoes and you want communicate this message to friend via WhatsApp
 How the Process Works
2. Selecting medium/channel: Once you have encoded the message you should ensure that the medium or channel chosen is
one that will enhance the opportunity for the receiver to receive the message accurately.
The selection of an appropriate medium or channel is dependent on:
1. The type of message
2. The number of receivers
3. The immediacy of the anticipated response
The medium can be a document typed or handwritten or an email, an image, spoken. The channel can be through the internet,
telephone, radio/television/newspaper, traditional mail.
Using the example of wanting to buy a new pair of shoes, why would you choose to communicate with your friend via WhatsApp
versus telephone.
 How the Process Works
3. Decoding and Interpretation: Decoding is just as important as
conceptualizing and encoding, it requires the receiver to ask him or herself
‘what does the message mean ?’. The decoding stage requires the receiver
to interpret the message received. The receiver uses past experiences,
language, perception and opinions to help them decipher the message and
interpret the meaning.
This is why the factoring in who you are sending the message to is important
in the conceptualizing and encoding stage, to minimize confusion in the
decoding stage.
 How the Process Works

4. Feedback or Response: This is the response you give to initial message that was sent, feedback is
important as it conveys if further information is needed to bring clarity or that the message was
understood as is. Feedback does not always need to be verbal, the lack of feedback or a response is
also feedback as it sends the ‘message’ that the receiver is uninterested in the message, never received
the message or that the receiver does not like the message.