Participate in a Workplace Communication, Part 2

INFORMATION SHEET No. 1

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?

The word “communication” came from the Latin word “communis” which means commonness.  When people communicate with one another, the establish commonness; they share a commonality.  Dictionaries define the process as “the giving and receiving of communication signals or messages by talk, writing, gestures and signals.”

·         Herman M. Weisman

“Communication is a process through which two or more human beings share each other’s thoughts, ideas, feelings, insights, and information and exchange meanings.”

·         Hitachi advertisement

“Communication is not simply sending message…It is creating understanding swiftly, clearly and precisely.”

·         Herta A Murphy and Herbert W Hildebrandt

“Communication is the lifeblood of every organization”

·         Charles R. Wright

“Communication is the basis of all social existence.

Forms of communication

There are many forms of communication according to theories.  However, we will only concentrate our studies on the two forms of communication.  These are the verbal communication (or written and oral communication) and the non-verbal communication

Commonly, when people hear of verbal communication the connotation is that, it is oral.  Verbal communication is such which engages the use of words – whether written or spoken.  What then is the difference between oral and written communication.

Written communication is such communication done through writing.  Letters and correspondence , written news and articles from magazines, newspapers and the likes, books and other reading materials, literary pieces such as essays, short stories and the likes, song and poetries, billboard materials, bulletins and any other written forms comprise this kind.

On the other hand, oral communication uses spoken words.  Thus, speeches-whether formal or informal, discourses like debate, argumentation and open forum, dialogues and monologues, poetry readings, drama presentation, singing or just common talks, all of these fall under the category of oral communication.

One form of communication, which is not often mentioned but is commonly used, is the third category.  It falls under the non-\verbal communication.  It is neither written nor uttered but it is such an effective means of communication.  This is the Sign communication or the Sign Language. It uses the aids of the hands, the fingers, the eyes, and other body mechanism as in the form of gestures.  Sometime, it simply aids the oral communication in getting the idea across but in some cases, it is the only means of having an understanding with each other.

Sign communication can be of two forms – the overt and covert. When we talk of overt signs, we pertain to the signs, symbols or signals which are visible and easily read.  These are also referred to as the macro symbols.  On the other hand, covert signs are such signs, symbols and signal which are not easily seen.  These are otherwise known as the micro symbols.

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