Types of Communication-2 Chapter 3

Inter-personal Communication and 

Intra-personal Communication

There are different types of Communication. These are often categorized differently by different scholars. We will discuss different types of Communication in this blog. Since this chapter is a long one, I have split it into different volumes to help students. This will be a series called Types of Communication-1,2,3,4,5

1. Verbal Communication and Non- Verbal Communication
2. Inter-personal Communication and Intra-personal Communication
3. Small Group Communication and Public Communication
4. Mass-Line Communication and Mass Communication
5. Formal Communication and Informal Communication

We have already discussed 'Verbal Communication and Non- Verbal Communication' in my post titled Types of Communication-1 Chapter 3. 

We now proceed to discuss 'Inter-personal Communication and Intra-personal Communication'.

Inter-personal Communication

Interpersonal Communication is a term that is basically attributed to a face to face communication between two persons. It is communication or a dialogue which is direct and personal and unmediated by media technology. In Inter-personal Communication the feedback is immediate. Context plays an important role in Interpersonal communication. The cultural, environmental and situational context all play a very important role in the process of Interpersonal Communication.

Keval J Kumar highlights three stages of Inter-personal communication in his book, 'Mass Communication in India.' he says,

1. The phatic stage: The phatic stage occurs when ritualised greetings are exchanged. They are only a formalised manner of showing interest and attention. The phatic stage then is patterned according to social and cultural norms and rituals.
2. The personal stage: The second stage, called the personal stage, introduces a more personal element into the conversation. During this period, persons lower their social guard a little and are prepared to take some risk in exposing themselves and their feelings. They may be willing to talk about personal matters such as one’s profession, the family, health problems and the like. Professional discussions rarely go beyond this stage. 
3. The intimate stage: This stage is reserved for friends and relatives as there is a degree of intimacy depending upon the closeness of the relationship. Interpersonal communication achieves its highest form in this mode, and words seem inadequate."

Intra-personal communication

In Intra-personal communication, the sender and the receiver is the same. When one tries to reflect, interpret a map, or do self- talk, it is called Intra-personal communication. Luis Kumpiluvelil sdb says, "Thus, transmission of information takes place through the nerve impulses in the brain rather than the sound in the air or written words on a page."

Intra-personal Communication includes interpreting maps, texts, signs and symbols, the stomach growling when hungry or upset, self talk, reading aloud, writing one’s thoughts or observations, day-dreaming or nocturnal dreaming, reflecting, contemplating and meditating.

Intra-personal communication can be understood as ‘communication within oneself’ or as ‘talking within the individual self or with the self’ (David). Activities such as thinking, calculating, planning, imagining, recollecting and also unconscious activities can be included as the process of intra-personal communication (David Gill and Bridget Adams, 1988:82).

'Intra-personal communication is the origin of all the other forms of communication. The mind is always in communication with internal messages, in processing them constantly before they are expressed outwardly in Public. The self-concept of a person is formed through Intra-personal communication.' (Introduction to communication and media studies, Edited by John Joshva Raja and Samson Prabhakar)

Keval J. Kumar, in his book, 'Mass Communication in India,' says that It ‘is individual reflection, contemplation and meditation. Transcendental meditation for instance is an example of such communication. Conversing with the divine, with spirits and ancestors, may be termed ‘trans-personal’ Communication. This is a vital experience in the religious and monastic life, and in ashrams and places of prayer.

We will discuss 'Small Group Communication and Public Communication' in my next post which is titled Types of Communication-3 , Chapter 3

P.S: The Books and Online materials have been mentioned for the convenience of the students. You may read them online, or read the books available on the mentioned authors from your library for further study or buy the same online.