Lesson -1

Title: Meaning and concept of communication

Introduction
Meaning
Definition
Characteristics
Introduction:
Communication is universal to all human beings and is central part of life.
In fact it regulates and shapes all human behaviour. The ability to communicate
effectively will determine to a large extent the success of an extension
programme.
Man is a social being and so is engaged in some or the other form of
communication like talking to a person, reading news paper, watching TV or
dreaming and thinking. ll these are different forms of communication. It
means that we are constantly exchanging ideas and thoughts with someone or the
other or within oneself to satisfy our physical, emotional or social needs. !e
should also reali"e that we communicate not only through words, but gestures
expressions, tone etc. It is clear that communication is not merely exchange of
words but is a very complex process. It is an integral part of one#s life and in fact
society cannot service in the absence of communication.
It is therefore important to understand the concepts of communication
like$
!hat is communication%
!hy is it important%
!hat are the elements%
!hat are the different types and models of communication%
!hat are the barriers and how to overcome them%.
Meaning
The word communication originates from the &atin word 'Communis#
which means common. That means we share common thoughts, feelings and
ideas with the person with whom we are communicating with a commonness of
understanding

Look at the situation given here:
(ou came to your course)in)charge for registration of a course. (ou
greeted and said * Mam, may I come in%+ ,words-. .he nodded her head, seems
to be saying * yes, you can+, ,body language- (ou kept your registration form in
front of her for signature ,expression- on which she signed ,written words-. .he
gave her register to you to record your name.
Thus you see that communication is a continuous process of giving and
receiving information and of building up social relationships.
!e make use of speech, writing, printed and pictorial matter, gestures
and expressions and also of technical media like telegraphy, radio, television,
computer etc. for communication.
Definition:
There are numerous definitions of communication. .ome of them are /
Oxford Dictionary: Transfer or conveying meaning.
Colin cherry: Transmission of stimuli
Charles Osgood: It is the mechanism through which human relations exist and
develop. 0ut communication is not only transferring on transmitting of ideas or
thoughts.
Newman and Summer: Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas,
opinions or emotions by two or more persons. Communication is also defined as
intercourse by words, letters, symbols or messages and as a way that one
organi"ation member shares meaning and understanding with another.
Leland Brown: Communication is the transmission and interchange of facts,
ideas, feelings or course of action.
Paul Leagan has comprehensively defined communication as *a process by
which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings or impressions in ways
that each gains a common understanding of the message.+
Characteristics of communication
1aving gone through the various definations we can identify some characteristics
of communication as detailed below
(i) Communication is a two way process: It involves a sender and
receiver. The sender or receiver can be an individual or a group.
(ii) There has to e a message: The message can be information, a directive,
an en2uiry, a feeling, an opinion, an idea or any other.
(iii) Commonness of understanding: Communication can occur only when
there is commonness of understanding between the sender and the receiver. The
commonness includes factors like common culture, common language and
common environment. !ords, phrases, idioms, proverbs, gestures and
expressions are deeply culturised and possess high communicative potential for
people from similar background.
(iv) !odifying the eha"ior of other indi"iduals: The information
transmitted to the receiver receives a response in the form of some change in the
behaviour of the individual.
(v# !ethod of gi"ing information: Information can be given through words
or through other means like signs, gestures, expressions etc.
.o it can be concluded that communication is a process of social
interaction, i.e., in a communication situation to or more individuals
interact. They try to tangibly influence the ideas, attitudes, knowledge and
behaviour of each other. Communication is an e!change of information,
knowledge, ideas or feeling taking palace "eteen to individuals#
$ill in the %lanks
3. The interaction exchange through words, gestures, expressions, tone is
called 444444444444444 ,Communication-
5. The word communication is derived from the &atin word
'444444444444#,communis-
6. The meaning of the word *communis+ is 44444444444444 ,Common-
7. * process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings or
impressions in ways that each gains a common understanding of the
message+ is called 44444444444444444 ,Communication-