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‘Communication’ is perhaps one of the most hyped words in contemporary culture. It encompasses a multitude of experiences, actions and events, as well as a whole variety of happenings and meanings, and technologies too. The word communication comes from the Latin word ‘communis’ meaning common. When we communicate we are trying to establish commonness with someone. That is why we are trying to share information, an idea or an attitude.
According to sociologist Charles Cooley in his work ‘Social Organization’ summarizes communication as the mechanism by which all human relations exist and develop – all the symbols of the mind together with the means of conveying them through space and preserving them in time. Well this social take on the concept of communication is a potent background to explain its functional aspect. Consequently interpersonal communication becomes a very significant process.
Interpersonal communication is a dialogue or conversation without the intervention of another person or a machine (like a phone, radio or TV set). It is direct and face-to-face and therefore has a personal and intimate touch. It is the most perfect form of communication that two people can attain. It is more persuasive and influential than any other type of communication.
Technically speaking, interpersonal communication is divided into three stages. The initial exploratory stage of communication determines the course conversation will take. It is an utterance like ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ or any other greeting gesture and is called the phatic stage. The phatic stage is therefore a warming up time during which ritualized greetings are exchanged. This stage is patterned according to the social and cultural norms and rituals. The second stage is the personal stage and introduces the element of intimacy in a conversation. The social guard is lowered a little in this stage. If either of the communicators is hesitant to enter this stage, the conversation would stop at the phatic stage or continue to be very formal. In fact, formality is centric to business communication. The third stage is the intimate stage and is generally reserved for friends or those very close. The innermost thoughts and feelings are revealed at this stage. It is a stage when social barriers fall and we are at ease. Interpersonal communication achieves its highest form in this mode and words seem inadequate. This stage is reserved for individuals who have established a deep union, one based on love, respect and understanding.
Interpersonal communication can also be explained through the aid of some communication theories. In fact, Aristotle’s Rhetoric explains communication to be made up of three elements: the speaker, speech and listener. The aim of rhetoric is the search for all possible means of persuasion. Therefore rhetoric is a subtle base for interpersonal communication. Aristotle had however used it in the context of public speaking. But it can in some ways be applied to the context of interpersonal communication.
Most of the communication theorists including Laswell, Shannon-Weaver, Osgood, Scramm, Newcomb, Westley and Mc Lean among others have tried to explain communication from diverse perspectives. Though their explanations vary form the interpersonal to the group and mass communication contexts; the universal context of connecting to the other side is observed everywhere.
Laswell’s formula is the simplest explanation of a communication process. It talks about the sender and receiver who are inseparable from the context of interpersonal communication. However the mention of a channel makes the explanation take a tangent towards other broader versions of communication. Shannon and Weaver’ mathematical theory of signals and transmitters offers a near-perfect logic to the concepts of empathy and understanding in the interpersonal context. Similarly, Osgood and Schramm offer a deeper understanding of the entire communication process by citing the role of encoding, interpretation and decoding as the divisive elements for sending and receiving of messages. All these theories are connected by a common desire to create an effect. In fact, Newcomb offers a broad-based view of communication by including the social environment as a part and parcel of the overall communication process. The social environment is a precursor as well as a deterrent in any communication process.
To sum up interpersonal communication cannot be successful or complete without accommodating the individual personalities of the participants and reaching a common ground to proceed further.
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