Communications Test Review Chapter 1 –

Process and Principles

Word Definitions

Communication – the simultaneous sharing and creating of meaning through

human symbolic action

“Communications “– denotes the system for mediated and mass communication

Ethics – an individual’s system of moral principles

Plagiarism – the use of aother person’s information, language or ideas without

citing the originator or making it appear as if the user is the originator

Process – series of actions with no beginning or end that is constantly changing.

Communications is a process because of its constant change.

System – combination of parts interdependently acting to form a whole. If

components of communication malfunction or are absent, communication is
prevented or ineffective.

Interaction – exchange of communication between a reciever and a sender

Transaction – exchange of communication in which the communicators are

simultaneously decoding and encoding

Intentional communication – a message purposely sent to a specific reciever

Unintentional communication – a message not intended to be sent or was not

intended fr the individual who received it

Source – creator of a message. Determines, encodes, sends, percieves reaction.

Encoding – process by which the source translates thoughts or feelings in words,

sound and physical expressions

Message – stimulus produced by the source

Interference – anything that changes the meaning of an intended message.

Four types of interference:

• Internal noise – distractions in your head; thoughts

• External noise – literal noise; surroundings
• Physical noise – temperature, color and lighting
• Semantic noise – gestures and message delivery

Channel – the route by which messages flow between sources and recievers
Reciever – the individual who interprets the message

Decoding – the process of translating a message into the thoughts or feelings that
were communicated

Feedback – the response to a message that the reciever sends to the source

Mass communication – communicating with or to a large number of people

What do employers want?

• Communication skills
• Honesty/integrity
• Teamwork skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Motivation

Components of Ethics:

• Fairness
• Responsibility
• Integrity
• Never condone lying, cheating, plagiarism

Types of communication channels:

• Verbal
• Nonverbal
• Electronic
• Written
• Any type of mutable media (art, film, newspaper)

Types of communication:

• Intrapersonal – the process of understanding information within oneself

• Interpersonal – communication between two people in a relationship – one on
one
• Dyadic – an exchange of info between two people
• Small group – an info exchange between 5-7 people who share a common
goal
• Public – transmission of message from one speaker to many listeners

Communication Myths:

• Communication is a cure-all
• Quantity means quality
• Meaning is in our words and not our actions
• We have a natural ability to communicate
• Communication is reversible