The Basics of Communication Theory

Summary

This script delves into the intricacies of communication, highlighting George Bernard Shaw's quote about the illusion of successful communication. It defines communication as a process of encoding and decoding messages, emphasizing that it's a learned skill with cross-cultural nuances. The five principles of communication are explored, including the inevitability of communication and its irreversible nature. The script also introduces the Ogden and Richards' triangle of meaning and discusses three types of noise that can disrupt communication. Finally, it outlines the Communication Elements model and the five levels of communication, setting the stage for future discussions on effective communication strategies.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages, involving encoding and decoding by the sender and receiver, respectively.
• 💬 George Bernard Shaw's quote highlights the illusion of communication, emphasizing that having a conversation does not guarantee effective communication.
• 🔄 Communication is irreversible; once a message is sent, it cannot be taken back, even if the relationship can be repaired.
• 🚫 You cannot not communicate; even silence or absence sends a message to others.
• 📚 Communication is learned and can be improved through understanding and practice, unlike the misconception that talking equates to communicating.
• 🌐 Communication is cross-cultural, with both similarities and differences in behaviors across various cultures.
• 🔍 Ogden and Richards' triangle of meaning involves the interpreter, symbol, and reference, showing how meaning can vary between individuals.
• 🔊 Noise in communication refers to distractions that hinder effective interaction and comes in three forms: physical, physiological, and psychological.
• 🌐 The Communication Elements model illustrates the complex process of encoding, decoding, and feedback within a communication channel, influenced by the environment and noise.
• 🔑 There are five levels of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication, each requiring different strategies.
• 🛠 Understanding the principles and models of communication can help in developing strategies to combat miscommunication and improve the effectiveness of interactions.

Q & A

What is the main problem in communication according to George Bernard Shaw?

The main problem in communication, as stated by George Bernard Shaw, is the illusion that it has taken place, meaning that just because a conversation occurs, it doesn't necessarily mean that effective communication has happened.

What does Randy Fugis define communication as?

Randy Fugis defines communication as the process of sending and receiving messages, which involves encoding a message by the sender and decoding it by the receiver.

What are the five principles of communication mentioned in the script?

The five principles are: 1) You cannot not communicate; 2) Communication is irreversible; 3) Communication is learned; 4) Communication is cross-cultural; 5) Communication is a process.

Why is communication considered irreversible?

Communication is irreversible because once a message is sent, it exists regardless of any subsequent actions. It's like the saying 'we can forgive but we can never forget'; the initial communication always remains.

How does the script explain the concept of encoding and decoding in communication?

The script explains that encoding is the process by which the sender turns their thoughts into words or messages, while decoding is when the receiver interprets those words and creates meaning from them.

What are the three types of noise that can disrupt communication?

The three types of noise are physical noise, which includes environmental distractions; physiological noise, which involves distractions within the bodies of the communicators; and psychological noise, which refers to distractions within the minds of the communicators.

What is Ogden and Richards' triangle of meaning and how does it relate to communication?

Ogden and Richards' triangle of meaning consists of three variables that occur during communication: the Interpreter (speaker or listener), the symbol (words or signs), and the reference (the meaning assigned to the symbol). It helps to understand how meaning is constructed and can differ based on the Interpreter.

Can you provide an example of how the reference can change depending on the Interpreter?

The example given is the word 'dog'. For the speaker, 'dog' might have a positive reference, as they have two beloved pet dogs. However, for the speaker's father, 'dog' has a negative reference due to issues with a neighbor's dog and a general dislike for dogs.

What is the Communication Elements model and how does it incorporate the various aspects of communication discussed in the script?

The Communication Elements model is a comprehensive representation of the communication process, including the speaker and listener, the encoding and decoding of messages, the channel of communication, the environment, and the three types of noise that can disrupt communication.

What are the five basic levels of communication outlined in the script?

The five basic levels of communication are intrapersonal (with oneself), interpersonal (with another person), group (with three or more people towards a common goal), public (a speaker to an audience), and mass (a speaker to a large audience through a medium like TV or the internet).

How does the script suggest that communication breakdowns can occur?

The script suggests that communication breakdowns can occur due to various factors such as misunderstandings in encoding and decoding messages, the presence of different types of noise, and the complexity of the communication process itself.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ The Illusion of Communication

This paragraph introduces the concept of communication by referencing a quote from George Bernard Shaw, highlighting the illusion that communication has occurred even when it hasn't. The speaker defines communication as the process of sending and receiving messages, using a simple model of a sender and receiver to illustrate encoding and decoding of messages. The paragraph also introduces five principles of communication: the inevitability of communication, its irreversibility, the need for learning effective communication, its cross-cultural nature, and its status as an ongoing process prone to miscommunication.

05:01

📚 Principles and Noise in Communication

The second paragraph delves deeper into the principles of communication, emphasizing that one cannot not communicate and that communication is irreversible. It also discusses how communication is learned and varies cross-culturally. The paragraph introduces the concept of 'noise' in communication, which refers to distractions that can impede the communication process. Three types of noise are described: physical noise from the environment, physiological noise from the communicators' bodies, and psychological noise from their minds. The speaker suggests that while one cannot control all variables, being aware and planning for potential distractions can improve communication.

10:02

🔍 Understanding Communication Models and Types

The final paragraph synthesizes the discussion by introducing Ogden and Richards' triangle of meaning, which includes the interpreter, symbol, and reference as key elements in the communication process. It uses the example of the word 'dog' to illustrate how the same symbol can have different references for different interpreters. The paragraph also outlines the Communication Elements model, which encompasses the speaker, listener, message, channel, environment, and noise. Lastly, it identifies five levels of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication, setting the stage for future discussions on strategies tailored to these types.

Keywords

💡Communication

Communication is defined in the script as the process of sending and receiving messages, which is central to the video's theme. It is the act of conveying meaning from one entity to another, whether through words, actions, or other mediums. The script illustrates this with the example of a sender encoding a message and a receiver decoding it, emphasizing that effective communication is not just about having a conversation but ensuring that the message is understood as intended.

💡Illusion of Communication

The 'illusion of communication' refers to the mistaken belief that communication has occurred when, in fact, the message may not have been properly understood or received. This concept is highlighted by the quote from George Bernard Shaw and is a key point in the video, suggesting that even when people are talking, true communication might not be happening if the message is not effectively decoded by the receiver.

💡Encode

To 'encode' in the context of the video means to translate a thought or idea into a message that can be sent to another person. It is part of the communication process where the sender turns their thoughts into words or actions that can be understood by the receiver. The script uses the stick figures to visually represent this concept, showing the sender turning an idea into a message that is sent to the receiver.

💡Decode

Decoding is the process of interpreting and understanding the message received, as explained in the script. It is the receiver's role to take the encoded message from the sender and make sense of it, creating meaning from the words or actions. The script emphasizes the importance of this step in ensuring that communication is effective and that the intended message is understood.

💡Feedback

Feedback in communication is the response or reaction from the receiver to the sender, which can be both verbal and nonverbal. The script mentions that the receiver encodes their feedback and sends it back to the sender, which is crucial for ongoing communication and for the sender to know if their message was understood correctly.

💡Principles of Communication

The script outlines five principles of communication that help to understand the dynamics of the communication process. These include the inevitability of communication, the irreversibility of messages once sent, the learned nature of communication, its cross-cultural aspects, and the processual nature of communication involving various variables and potential for miscommunication.

💡Ogden and Richards Triangle of Meaning

This concept from the script represents a model of communication developed by two scholars, Ogden and Richards. It includes three variables: the Interpreter (speaker or listener), the symbol (words or signs used to convey meaning), and the reference (the personal meaning assigned to the symbol). The script uses this model to explain how the same symbol can have different references for different interpreters, affecting the communication process.

💡Noise

In the context of the video, 'noise' refers to any distraction that can interfere with the communication process, not just sound but also physical, physiological, and psychological distractions. The script explains that these types of noise can hinder effective communication by diverting attention or causing misinterpretation of messages.

💡Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication, as described in the script, is the exchange of messages between two people. It is one of the five basic levels of communication discussed in the video, highlighting the direct interaction between individuals, which is essential for understanding the dynamics of one-on-one conversations.

💡Group Communication

Group communication is identified in the script as the level of communication involving three or more people working towards a common goal. This type of communication is distinguished by the collaborative nature of the interaction and the need for effective coordination among multiple participants.

💡Public Communication

Public communication, according to the script, occurs when a speaker or a small group of speakers address a larger audience. This form of communication is characterized by a more formal setting and often involves a platform or event where the speaker shares information or ideas with many listeners.

💡Mass Communication

Mass communication is the final level of communication detailed in the script, where a speaker or group of speakers communicate to a vast audience through mediums like TV, radio, newspapers, or the internet. This type of communication is characterized by its wide reach and the use of mass media to disseminate messages.

Highlights

The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place, according to George Bernard Shaw.

Communication is defined as the process of sending and receiving messages, involving encoding and decoding.

The communication process includes a sender, a receiver, and feedback with both verbal and nonverbal encoding.

Five principles of communication: You cannot not communicate, communication is irreversible, learned, cross-cultural, and a process.

Communication is not just talking; it's a deeper process that can be improved and learned.

Cross-cultural communication involves understanding different behaviors and norms across cultures.

Ogden and Richards' triangle of meaning includes the Interpreter, the symbol, and the reference in communication.

The meaning of a symbol can change depending on the Interpreter, as demonstrated with the word 'dog'.

Noise in communication refers to distractions, not just sound, but also physical, physiological, and psychological factors.

Physical noise includes environmental factors that can distract from the communication process.

Physiological noise stems from distractions within the bodies of the communicators, like hunger or tiredness.

Psychological noise involves mental distractions that can hinder effective communication.

The Communication Elements model illustrates the dynamic process of encoding, decoding, and feedback in communication.

Intrapersonal communication is the level of communication with oneself.

Interpersonal communication involves direct communication between two people.

Group communication occurs with three or more people working towards a common goal.

Public communication is a speaker addressing an audience, while mass communication reaches a wide audience through media.

Strategies for effective communication will be explored in future discussions, tailored to different types of communication.

The transcript emphasizes the complexity of the communication process and the potential for miscommunication.

Transcripts

today we're going to start out with a

quote by the Irish playwright George

Bernard Shaw who said the single biggest

problem in communication was the

illusion that it has taken place now

this quote is perfect for setting up a

discussion about the communication

process just because you're having a

conversation with someone doesn't mean

that communication is actually happening

so today we're going to take a look at

the reason why by covering the

definition of communication the process

of communication and the types of

communication let's start out with the

definition of communication it's always

a great way to define things so we can

understand what we're dealing with Randy

fugis is the author of The Natural

speaker which is the textbook that I

didn't require you guys to buy and he

defines communication as the process of

sending and receiving messages now that

makes sense right if we're having two

people talking one is sending a message

and the other is receiving it if we had

to draw a picture of this it would look

something like

this so here you can see we have our two

entities our two little stick figures of

the sender and the receiver now the

sender has something that they want to

say a message an idea in their brain but

in order to get it out of their brain

they have to encode that message into

words they then send that message over

to the receiver who hears all of those

words takes all that in and they decode

that message message meaning they create

meaning from those words now the

receiver is also going to give that

sender some feedback so they are going

to encode their feedback both verbally

and nonverbally and send that back there

across over to the sender and they're

going to obviously keep encoding and

decoding messages back and

forth now I want to look at five

principles of communication that can

help us understand what exactly it is so

first of all you cannot not communicate

you are constantly communicating

something to the people around you

whether you realize it or not for

example if you were sitting in the back

of a classroom you may not say a word

that entire class period but you are

still sending messages to the

instructor now let's take that a step

further let's pretend you're not even in

the classroom your absence could

potentially be sending some messages to

the instructor as well so literally you

cannot not communicate the second

principle is that communication is

irreversible once it's out there it's

out there once you send that text

message once you post on Twitter once

you say something out loud to a family

member or friend that communication is

out there it's kind of like that saying

we can forgive but we can never forget

that's sort of what this principle is

talking about let's say for example you

blow up at somebody at work and you

really hurt their feelings well you

could obviously apologize and you can

communicate to repair that relationship

but that initial communication is still

sitting out there the third principle is

that communication is learned a lot of

people think that just because we can

talk means we can communicate and that's

really not the case communication is a

much deeper and more richer process than

just simply talking and because

communication is learned we can improve

we can learn how to do it more

effectively likewise communication is

also cross-cultural meaning there are

certain behaviors that are similar

across different cultures but there's

also some that are very different across

different cultures for example eye

contact is a really important thing in

the United States in communicating with

people nonverbally however there are

other cultures where eye contact is seen

as a sign of disrespect and the last

principle is that communication is a

process so it is a process that has a

lot of different VAR variables and

moving parts that work together and

sometimes that process works and

understanding is created other times

that process breaks down and that's

where miscommunication can happen so we

can understand what communication is but

how does it work that leads us to the

process of communication starting with

Ogden and Richard's triangle of meaning

two communication Scholars Ogden and

Richards they came up with these three

variables that are occurring during

communication

The Interpreter the symbol and the

reference Now The Interpreter is just

the speaker or The Listener a symbol is

something that we attach meaning to like

a word and a reference is the meaning

that we assign to that symbol so let's

take a look at an example if you assign

me htd as The Interpreter and you give

me the symbol of the word dog the

reference for me is very positive I have

two dogs Brooks and Lila you can see

them right there they're so precious and

they are my little fur babies so the

reference or the meaning of the symbol

dog for me is very positive now let's

take a look at where this gets tricky if

we take that interpreter and we change

it to my dad and we keep the same symbol

of the word dog it changes the reference

for him for him it's a very negative

reference he thinks of dog poop and the

ongoing War he has with his neighbor's

dog crapping in his yard he also is not

a dog person he can't stand my dogs he

thinks that they shed everywhere and

that they're annoying and so the

reference for him is a very negative

meaning so you can see that the symbol

did not change the symbol stayed the

same but the reference changed depending

on The Interpreter so the reference is

always going to depend on Who The

Interpreter is along with that I want to

talk about three types of noise now when

I talk about noise in this class I'm not

talking about sound noise I'm talking

about distractions that can take away

from the communication and there are

three types of noise that can take away

from our interactions with one another

the first is actual physical noise now

physical noise are distractions that

occur in the actual physical environment

so this can be a lot of things if you

are in a classroom for example the setup

of that room the lighting the sounds

that may be going on out in the hallway

all of that could be very distracting

but it goes just beyond sound it's

visual things that can be distracting

such as posters on the wall or maybe

it's very hot in that room and the

temperature can be a distraction even

time of day can be a physical noise as

well certain times of the day it's

easier to pay attention than

others next you have physiological noise

and physiological noise are distractions

in the bodies of the communicators the

bodies of the speaker and The Listener

so if you have a head heada it can be

really hard to speak in front of an

audience or if you're really tired it

can be really hard to listen or if

you're hungry or if even if you have to

use the bathroom all of that can be a

distraction from the communication and

an example of physiological

noise lastly we have psychological noise

and psychological noise are distractions

in the minds of the

communicators and so if you have to work

later on that day and you're sitting in

my classroom and you're thinking of all

the things that you have to do that is

an example of psychological noise or if

you are thinking about a fight that you

had with somebody the night before and

you're still worried about it still on

your mind that can take away from the

communication as well now think about

these three types of noise physical

distractions in the environment

physiological distractions in the body

and psychological distractions in the

mind can you really control all of

these not really these there're a lot of

variables that you simply have no

control over like for example I can't

control whether or not you guys got

enough sleep the night before or I can't

control the things that are going on in

your life but I can think ahead and plan

ahead for these types of situations and

adjust my presentation and my

communication based off of

that so if we take Ogden and Richard's

triangle of meaning if we take that

definition of encoding and decoding

messages and we take all these types of

noise and we try to make a big model of

it this is what we would come up with

the communication Elements model so you

see here we still have our speaker and

our listener the speaker has a message

that they want to get across so they

first encode that message both verbally

and non-verbally and they send that

message across the channel to The

Listener now the channel is that outer

pink circle that you see kind of

wrapping up the entire model the channel

is just the way that the message is

being sent what type of medium you're

using to communicate such as

face-to-face communication or text or

email or social media or TV or whatever

it may be so the listener receives that

message and then they decode it and then

they encode their feedback and send that

back across the channel to the speaker

and so we keep going back and forth back

and forth and coding and decoding

messages in their Center area there we

see the environment so the environment

is a very detailed description of the

speaking situation that includes the

physical environment the time of day the

type of occasion whether it's formal or

informal and you really start to analyze

this situation where this communication

is taking place and then lastly we have

these three lightning bolts to represent

the three types of noise so we see now

how difficult our job is as a

communicator now we want to switch gears

and look at the different types of

communication so that we can figure out

some strategies to combat this and there

are five basic levels of communication

the first level is intrapersonal

communication and intrapersonal

communication is with just one person

just

yourself next we have interpersonal

communication and interpersonal

communication is with two

people the third level is group

communication and group communication is

with three or more people but you are

communicating towards some type of

common

goal the four level is Public

Communication Public Communication is

when you have a speaker or maybe a

couple of speakers and they are

communicating to an audience and lastly

there's mass communication mass

communication is when you have a speaker

or a couple of speakers and they're

communicating to a huge wide audience

but they're doing it through some type

of medium like say TV or radio or

newspaper or even social media and the

internet so we've taken a look at the

definition of communication what

actually it is this process of sending

and receiving or encoding and decoding

messages we've also taken a look at the

process of communication and all the

variables that come into play with the

Ogden Richards triangle of meaning and

the types of noise and how that fits

into the communication Elements model

and lastly we identified the types of

communication and in the future we're

going to look at specific strategies

that are going to be appropriate for

some types over other types and so

because of this we can see how easy it

is for that communication process to

break down so like George Bernard Shaw

was saying sometimes we think we're

communicating but it's all Just an

Illusion