Communication Process Model

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Table of Contents

Sender and receiver of the message in communication
Misunderstandings in communication
Message
Channel of communication
Conclusion
References

Communication can be referred to as the process by which messages get sent and received. I happened to experience two misunderstandings, one in college and another in the work place. In one of the misunderstandings, a secretary showed thumbs up sign to a colleague who had just acquired a job promotion from the assistant manager to the manager (Heath, 1983). The colleague was embarrassed as she thought that the worker was passing over an obscenity.

The secretary however explained the implication of the gesture to her colleague. She did this through stating the dangers of misunderstandings, followed by a brief but clear explanation of the same (Griffin, 1998). She however sounded sorry and empathetic about her feelings when she received the message (Hall, 1969), but remained confident that she knew that the sign had no ill meaning whatsoever (Morris, Collette, Marsh, & O’Shaughnessy, 1980).

Sender and receiver of the message in communication

In this conversation, the secretary took the position of the sender whereby she originated the message and sent it to her colleague, who was the receiver. The message in the conversation was a gesture of goodwill and congratulations for the new position attained after the promotion. The channel used in the conversation was light waves, which helped the receiver decode the message through interpretation.

Misunderstandings in communication

The misunderstanding that occurred in this case was the idea that the receiver of the message thought that her colleague was being jealous and hence the insult. This was because the two ladies came from different cultural backgrounds and attached different meanings to given sign languages. This could be avoided by coming up with a common language in the work place.

Another case of misunderstanding that I experienced was in a school set up where students received advice from one of the teachers after rampant cases of drug abuse. The sender of the message in this case was the teacher who passed on the message to the recipients. The students on the other hand, were the recipients of the message.

Message

The message put across by the teacher in this case was a piece of advice and counseling about the effects that drugs had on their health and life in general. The teacher began with a startling opening where he gave statistics of students who dropped out of school and lived reckless lives as a result of drug and substance abuse. (Heath, 1983). He also gave statistics of students and celebrities who had lost their lives to the same.

Channel of communication

The channel for communication used in this case was sound and light waves where the students listened to what the teacher was saying and observed his actions. This helped them interpret the message more clearly and effectively. The misunderstanding came about when the teacher said that he admired the strength that the students had in looking for trouble.

The students misinterpreted the message put across by the teacher, by thinking that he was also a victim of drugs. This caused trouble in the school whereby the students undertook a demonstration that lead to firing of the teacher. To avoid such instances teachers and other administrators should enhance clarity in their speech.

Conclusion

Effective communication is of great importance. For this to be maintained, it is necessary for people to appreciate each other based on their cultural backgrounds (Rogers, & Steinhart, 1999). People should also make use of gestures and signs that do not contradict the meaning of their messages. Use of body language and gestures should be discouraged in the work place and other formal institutions. This helps in reducing cases of cultural discrimination and enhances harmony and unity.

References

Griffin, J. (1998). How to say it at work: Putting yourself across with power words, phrases, body language and communication secrets. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall Press.

Hall, E. T. (1969). Listening behaviors: Some cultural differences. Phi Delta Kappa, 50, 379–380.

Heath, S. B. (1983). Ways with words. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Morris, D., Collette, P., Marsh, P., & O’Shaughnessy, M. (1980). Gestures, their origins and distributions. New York: Stein and Day.

Rogers, E. M., & Steinhart, T. M. (1999). Intercultural communication. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.

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