Chapter One Notes
Sender/Receiver
The first component of communication is the sender/receiver. It is important to keep in mind that you send and receive messages simultaneously. For example, while you are speaking to someone, you also are receiving nonverbal feedback, enabling you to act as a “transceiver,” both sending and receiving messages.
Encoding
More specifically, senders originate a communication message. An idea comes into mind, and an attempt is made to put this thought into symbols (gestures or words) that the receiver will understand. This process of changing thought into symbols is called encoding.
Decoding
The receiver, who is the destination of the communication message, must assign meaning to the symbols in order to understand the message. This process of assigning meaning to symbols is called decoding. Like encoding, decoding happens so fast, you rarely are aware of its occurrence. As you read and listen, you simply assume you understand what the symbols mean. Each person, sender and receiver, is a product of experiences, feelings, gender, occupation, religion, values, mood, etc. As a result, encoding and decoding are unique for each person. For instance, you could tell a co-worker that your new secretarial job has great benefits and mean you are satisfied because you get a three-week paid vacation. Your co-worker may think that you mean you have family insurance coverage.
Message
The message is the idea, thought, feeling, or opinion to be communicated. Sometimes the message is clear and direct, such as, “Please help me log onto this computer.” Other times the message is unclear, as when a job interviewer says, “We’ll keep your application on file.” Does this comment mean you will be called for the next vacancy, or is this remark a polite way of saying you are not qualified, and you will never hear from the employer again? In addition, at all