Final Paper
Joseph Ransford
COM 321: Communication Theory (BCB 1238A)
Nichole Vasser
10/22/12

The cornerstone of any relationship is the ability to communicate well. Communication is so important in any relationship, whether it be professional, personal, or intimate. It allows us to share our thoughts, interests, and concerns among each other. Strong communication is based on the way we listen and talk. We can all learn how to improve the way we communicate but it takes more than words to form a strong relationship. So many times the signals we are sending are not those that are intended. When this happens we can lose the trust of others and sometimes we can lose those relationships altogether. When we communicate with those around us most of what we say is without speaking. Whether it be our hand gestures, our tone of voice, or our facial motions, they are all means of communication. More times than not when we cannot put our feelings into words it comes out as body language and can easily be misconstrued. Understanding and realizing that we may be sending these non-verbal signals is the beginning to better communication. It is important that we take into consideration the effects that they may have on the people around us and our relationships that we have with them. Self-awareness and an understanding of the cues you may be sending are paired with the cues others send and receive. There are all different types of communication that people will use throughout their life. The most important type of communication is interpersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is different from other forms of communication in that there are few participants involved, the participants are in close proximity to each other, there are many sensory channels used, and feedback is immediate. Interpersonal communication is the information received from