Interpersonal Communication: Communication Basics

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Linear vs. Transactional Model of Communication.

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Linear: More mechanical, was intended for electronic media, One sender and one receiver. The transactional model expands the linear model to better capture communication as a uniquely human process. Transactional Communication: Uses the word communicator instead of sender and receiver. The term communicator reflects that people send and receive messages simultaneously (like both persons are communicating always at the same time, even if one of the persons is not talking, the person not talking gives a nonverbal message back simultaneous to the person speaking) and not in a unidirectional or back and forth manner as suggested by the linear model.

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Sender

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The person creating the message.

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Encode

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A thought (or thoughts) that is converted into a symbols, usually words.

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Message

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The information being transmitted.

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Channel

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The medium through which the message passes.

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Receiver

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The person attending the message

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Decode

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To make sense of the message

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Noise

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Distractions that disrupt transmission.

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Environment(context)

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A transactional model also shows that communicators often occupy different environments-fields of experience that affect how they understand others' behavior. In communication terminology, environment refers not only to a physical location but also to the personal experiences and cultural background that participants bring to a conversation. (In example: Person A might belong to one ethnic group and person B to another. "A" might be rich and B poor. "A" might be rushed and B have nowhere to go. "A" might have lived a long, eventful life and B might be young and inexperienced. "A" might be passionately concerned with the subject and B indifferent to it.) (In my words the perspective of the person)

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Intention

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Intention is an agent's specific purpose in performing an action or series of actions, the end or goal that is aimed at. (Source: Wikipedia)

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Interpretation

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The process of attaching meaning to sense data; synonymous with decoding(vocabulary word).

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Quantitative Interactions

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Includes an interaction between two people, usually face to face. Communication hardly seems personal (or interpersonal) (Example: A routine transaction between a salesclerk and customer.)

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Qualitative Interactions

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When people treat one another as unique individuals regardless of the context in which the interaction occurs or the number of people involved.

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Interpersonal communication

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Involves the quality of the communication.

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The first feature of interpersonal communication: Uniqueness.

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The first feature of interpersonal communication is uniqueness. Two people may have unique rules in a relationship and not by social rules (such as laughing politely at others, not dominating the conversation).

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The second feature of interpersonal communication: Irreplaceability.

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Because interpersonal relationships are unique, they cannot be replaced. This explains why we usually feel so sad when a close friendship or love affair goes away.

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The third feature of interpersonal communication: Interdependence.

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The fate of the partners are connected. The other person's life affects you. Interdependence goes beyond a level of joined fates. In interpersonal relationships, our very identity depends on the nature of our interaction with others. (A leader needs followers)

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The fourth feature of interpersonal communication: Disclosure.

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The amount of disclosure is more than impersonal communication. Interpersonal relationships are more comfortable with sharing thoughts and feelings.

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The fifth feature of interpersonal communication: Intrinsic Reward.

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The time you spend in a qualitative interpersonal relationship is more beneficial than the tangent materials involved. The time with that person is personally rewarding.