Seven Myths and Realities About the Nature of Communication

1.Myth We communicate only when we consciously and deliberately choose to communicate

Reality: We communicate many times when we are not consciously aware that we are communicating.

2.Myth Words mean the same thing to our listener as they do to us.
Reality: Words do not really have meanings; meaning is dependent on our experiences and perceptions.

3. Myth: We communicate primarily with words.

Reality: The majority of the messages we communicate are based not on words but rather on nonverbal symbols.

4. Myth: Nonverbal communication is the silent language.

Reality: Nonverbal communication is received through all the five senses.

5. Myth: Communication is a oneway activity.

Reality: Communication is a two-way activity.

6. Myth: The message we send is identical to the message received by the listener.
Reality: The message as it is finally received by the listener is never exactly the same as the message we originally sent.

7. Myth: You can never give someone too much information

Reality: There are times when people can be given too much information and thus suffer from an information overload.