Study Guide: Eng103- Speech and Written Communication

1) What is communication?
- Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place to another.
- The act of conveying information for the purpose of creating a shared understanding.

2) Elements of Communication
a) Source- the person attempting to share information. Qualifications necessary for a source are
an origin of information and an ability to transmit this information through a channel, or a
receiver.

b) Message- the message is simply the information you want to communicate.

c) Encoding- the process of assembling the message into a representative design with the
objective of ensuring that the receiver can comprehend it. People who are great communicators
are great encoders; they know how to present their message in a way that their audience
(receivers) can easily understand.

d) Channel- an encoded message is conveyed by the source through a channel. There are
numerous channel categories: verbal, non-verbal, personal, non-personal, etc. A channel could
be the paper on which words are written, or the Internet acting in the client-server model that is
allowing you to read these words right now.

e) Decoding- once received, the message is decoded; that is, the signs and symbols are
interpreted. Decoding occurs through listening, reading, or watching that television show.

f) Receiver- to whom the message is being delivered. A good communicator takes the receivers
preconceptions and frames of reference into consideration; how they will react, where common
ground is shared, their sense of humor, their moral conduct, etc.

g) Feedback- reaction or response.

h) Context- is simply the environment in which your message is being delivered.















3) Models of Communication
a) Linear Model
-views communication as a one-way or linear process in which the speaker speaks and
the listener listens.

Laswells model:



Shannon and Weavers Model:














b) Interactive Model













c) Transaction Model








4) Why do we need to communicate?

a) We communicate to persuade: It means that we want someone to do something and this
desire of ours is communicated.

b) We communicate in order to give or provide information.

c) We communicate seeking information.

d) We communicate to express our emotions like courage or fear, joy or sorrow, satisfaction or
disappointment with appropriate gestures and words.