The Importance Of The Communication Process, By Sheldon Metcalfe

The text by Sheldon Metcalfe emphasizes the importance of the communication process. The communication process is not a “trial-and-error occurrence.” (Metcalfe 9) If one spends time to understand the process of communication, then one can improve their skills and eventually master communication. The earliest communication models came from Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver, who believed communication consisted of a source, a message, a channel, and a receiver. However, it was criticized for its “lack of flexibility,” (Metcalfe 9) because it represented communication as an activity that does not change or develop. Recent theories are developing the dynamic of communication, as an activity that is changing, growing, and developing. The first part …show more content…
Then, you have to organize the symbols and create an appropriate message that is clear, precise, understandable, and meaningful to you and someone else. For example, the message “I’m applying for the job” organizes the symbols into a structure called the message. Moreover, there needs to be a channel to transport the message. The channels are sensory in nature, conveying messages “through sight, sound, smell, taste and touch” (Metcalfe 10). The individual decides the different combinations of sensory channels that will be used. For example, an interviewer could state the message “I’m applying for the job,” but by using sensory channels, such as presenting a resume, shaking the interviewer’s hand or smiling, the message will be received more strongly and clearly to the receiver. The receiver is “the destination, the goal of the communication” (Metcalfe 11). Then, the receiver has to understand the sender’s message by decoding or changing the symbols into ideas and then giving these ideas …show more content…
For example, the physical and psychological conditions will vary for a business meeting versus a Christmas party. Therefore, it’s important to consider the occasion, environment, space, and time to ensure the communication is effective. However, noise, distractions to communication will always be a factor in communication. External noise is “any interference that can be perceived by the senses in the speech setting” (Metcalfe 13). This noise doesn’t have to refer to sound, it can be something small, such as a cold room during an interview, where the potential employee is focusing on their shivering, rather than listening to the speaker. Therefore, it is important to recognize the external noise, make adjustments, and adapt to the situation accordingly. Furthermore, there is also internal noise, where the speaker is communicating a message, but the receiver is unable to receive the message. It can be due to several reasons, such as an illness or a personal problem. In this situation, the speaker needs to work through the problem like “Is there something wrong?” (Metcalfe 14) and try the message again. Lastly, there is semantic noise, which is a barrier due to environment, nationality, pronunciation, values, or experience. For example, if someone speaks Japanese and doesn’t speak English as well, it may be hard to understand the message they are