Components of Communication

By: Khairul Zhafri Zuhairi

Communication is process of exchanging verbal and non verbal messages. Verbal means through word and non verbal means in form of smiles, sighs and so on. Communication requires sender, a message, receiver, feedback and channel or medium. Below is the simple model of communication process :

One component of communication is the people which is the one who sending the message and the one who receiving the message. The sender or encoder is the person who send the message and makes a symbol of the message in a term of graphic or visual ads. It is to convey the message and produce the required respond from the receiver. Encoding means the process of putting sequence of character such as number, letter or certain symbols into a specialized format that easily can transmit to the receiver.

Next, the receiver or decoder is the person whom the message is targeted to. The receiver will interpreted the message that they received from the sender. Decoding is the process that reversely from encoding. It is transforming information from one format into another. It is too an interpretation of the message transmitted.

The message is one of the communication component. It is the idea that the sender want to send to the receiver. The message is an idea or sign that will get respond from the receiver. The message or the main idea must be clear to make sure the receiver decoded the message clearly.

Next, channel is one of communication component. Channel means the medium used to exchange or transmit the message from the sender to the receiver. Channel is an important component in communication and it must correctly choose to make sure the message is successfully received by the receiver. Or else, the message might not be conveyed to the targeted recipient.

The channel choices of communication is depending on the features of the communication. For example, written medium can be used in a small group of people. For an oral medium, we can used it when spontaneous respond or feedback is need from the receiver. It is to make sure there is no misunderstanding and the message are transmitted clearly.

The other component in communication is feedback. Feedback is the main and important component of communication process as it is the process which need the receiver to give a respond to the sender. It is to make sure whether the message is analyze successfully or unsuccessfully. It is help the sender confirming the correct interpretation of message by the decoder. The feedback can be in the form of verbal such as through words or non verbal which means in form of sighs and smiles. It is also can be in written form such as memos and reports.