Topic > A closer look at the communication process

Interaction plays an important role in continuing our daily lives with other people. Communication is the exchange of ideas or information. Communication is the process of spreading information and similar understanding from one individual to another individual or group (Luneberg, 2010). As stated by Luneberg (2010), there are six important stages in the communication process: sending, encoding, transmitting the message, channeling, decoding, and finally receiving (refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1). First, the person sends the message or information. The person who sends the message or information is known as the sender. The sender often refers to someone who plays a significant role in delivering the message or information to other people. During this stage, the sender sends the message or information to other people. Then, the sender will explain the details about the information to other people or the recipient. “The communication process also plays an important role for the organization or professionals such as the journalist, presenter and producer it employs” (McQuail, 2005, p. 55). Meanwhile, “the sender also plays a significant role in society as an advertiser and politician” (McQuail, 2005, p. 55). Furthermore, Luneberg (2010) emphasized that the sender is a person who needs or wants to express an idea or concept to others. Senders are very important in the communication process. However, McQuail (1994) believes that “the communication process is always in control of the sender” (p. 37). According to McQuail (1994), the sender often tries to have an undifferentiated view of the audience that cannot be known in the real world. Therefore, “the role of the sender is important in obtaining the message or information” (p. 37). 37). Finally, the final stage of the communication process is decoding. Decoding is the process of receiving the message accurately and requires our audience. In other words, understand the information we are already sharing with the public. During this process, decoding occurs when you receive the message that was sent. However, Vivian (1997) “the communication skills required to successfully decode a message include the ability to read, listen, or clarify questions when necessary” (p. 367). For this reason, the decoding process is important so that the audience receiving our message can understand it. As Shahnon and Weaver state, “the receiver normally performs the reverse operation performed by the transmitter” (Vivian, 1997, p. 376). As a result, the cycle starts again when the recipient provides feedback to the sender.