Eight Essential Components of Communication
1.Source
The source imagines, creates, and sends the message. In a public speaking situation, the source is the person giving the speech. He or she conveys the message by sharing new information with the audience. The speaker also conveys a message through his or her tone of voice, body language, and choice of clothing.
2.Message
“The message is the stimulus or meaning produced by the source for the receiver or audience.” When you plan to give a speech or write a report, your message may seem to be only the words you choose that will convey your meaning. But that is just the beginning. The words are brought together with grammar and organization.
3.Channel
“The channel is the way in which a message or messages travel between source and receiver.” [6] For example, think of your television. How many channels do you have on your television? Each channel takes up some space, even in a digital world, in the cable or in the signal that brings the message of each channel to your home. Television combines an audio signal you hear with a visual signal you see. Together they convey the message to the receiver or audience.
4.Receiver
“The receiver receives the message from the source, analyzing and interpreting the message in ways both intended and unintended by the source.” To better understand this component, think of a receiver on a football team. The quarterback throws the football to a receiver, who must see and interpret where to catch the ball. The quarterback may intend for the receiver to “catch” his message in one way, but the receiver may see things differently and miss the football altogether.
5.Feedback
When you respond to the source, intentionally or unintentionally, you are giving feedback. Feedback is composed of messages the receiver sends back to the source. Verbal or nonverbal, all these feedback signals allow the source to see how well, how accurately the message was received. Feedback also provides an opportunity for the receiver or audience to ask for clarification, to agree or disagree, or to indicate that the source could make the message more interesting. As the amount of feedback increases, the accuracy of communication also increases.
6.Environment
“The environment is the atmosphere, physical and psychological, where you send and receive messages.” [9] The environment can include the tables, chairs, lighting, and sound equipment that are in the room. The room itself is an example of the environment. The environment can also include factors like formal dress, that may indicate whether a discussion is open and caring or more professional and formal.
7.Context
“The context of the communication interaction involves the setting, scene, and expectations of the individuals involved.” A professional communication context may involve business suits that directly or indirectly influence expectations of language and behavior among the participants.
8.Interference
Interference, also called noise, can come from any source. “Interference is anything that blocks or changes the source’s intended meaning of the message.” For example, if you drove a car to work or school, chances are you were surrounded by noise. Car horns, billboards, or perhaps the radio in your car interrupted your thoughts, or your conversation with a passenger.