CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNICATION

This is already included in Chapter 1, However, I am posting it separately for the convenience of students and friends searching primarily for this topic. 

Characteristics of Communication

Communication is not static. It has various characteristics. Some of these are enumerated below:

• Two way process: Communication has a sender and a receiver. Communication cannot occur in a vacuum.

• Dynamic in Nature: Communication is never static. It is dynamic. There is an exchange of information between sender and receiver. The process further elaborates when there is a feedback. The receiver after decoding the message gives a feedback, in this process, the receiver now becomes a sender and vice versa.

• Purpose- Communication has a purpose. The purpose could vary from sender to sender. But there is always a purpose.

• Contextual- Communication always happens in a context. The sender and the receiver communicate in a context. Each of them will be influenced by the context that surrounds them.

• Form: Communication can take a form. It could be sharing or a request or order or an expression of anger. Communication could be formal or informal based on the context the communication is occurring.

• Use of signs and symbols: Communication need not only be verbal. Communication can occur through words, actions, signs , symbols, graphs, expressions, etc.

• Scope: Communication not being static, has a scope. It can help a person to deal with a situation.