📚 UGC NET Paper 1 Unit 4 Topic 1: Communication (Meaning, Types, Characteristics)
🔍 Essential for NET Aspirants! Master the fundamentals of communication - the process of exchanging ideas through verbal, non-verbal, and written means. Covers 7C's principles, 5 communication models, 10+ types, and barriers with real-world examples. 🎯
💡 Quick Summary: Communication is a two-way process of creating shared meaning through symbols. Key elements: sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback. Classified by purpose (formal/informal), direction (upward/downward), and medium (verbal/non-verbal). Effective communication is clear, concise, and context-appropriate.
1. Meaning & Definition
Communication derives from Latin 'communicare' (to share). It's the lifeblood of human interaction and organizational functioning.
Scholarly Definitions:
- Keith Davis: "The transfer of information and understanding from one person to another"
- Wilbur Schramm: "Process of establishing commonness between sender and receiver"
- Rogers & Shoemaker: "Exchange of meanings through symbols"
Shannon-Weaver Model (1949):
- Information Source: Creates message
- Transmitter: Encodes message
- Channel: Medium (voice, text)
- Receiver: Decodes message
- Destination: Final recipient
- Noise: Barriers distorting message
2. Types of Communication
Classified by mode, purpose, and organizational structure:
| Classification | Types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| By Mode |
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| By Direction |
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| By Formality |
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🔹 Special Types
- Metacommunication: Contextual cues about how to interpret messages (e.g., sarcasm tone)
- Paralinguistic: Vocal elements beyond words (pitch, volume, pauses)
- Proxemic: Space usage (intimate: 0-18", personal: 18"-4', social: 4'-12', public: >12')
3. Characteristics of Effective Communication
The 7C's Framework (Cutlip & Center):
- Clear: Unambiguous language
- Concise: Free from redundancy
- Concrete: Specific details
- Correct: Factually accurate
- Coherent: Logical flow
- Complete: All necessary information
- Courteous: Respectful tone
🔹 Additional Features
- Process Nature: Dynamic and continuous
- Irreversible: Cannot be "uncommunicated"
- Contextual: Culture/time influences meaning
- Purposeful: Goal-oriented (inform, persuade, entertain)
Albert Mehrabian's 7-38-55 Rule:
- 7%: Verbal (words)
- 38%: Paralinguistic (tone)
- 55%: Body language (facial expressions, gestures)
4. Communication Barriers
| Barrier Type | Examples | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Noise, distance, tech failure | Use redundant channels, noise-canceling tech |
| Psychological | Prejudice, defensiveness, information overload | Active listening, empathy building |
| Semantic | Jargon, ambiguous words, language differences | Audience analysis, simple language |
| Organizational | Hierarchy, status differences | Open-door policies, flatter structures |
🔥 Most Repeated UGC NET Questions:
- Which model introduced "noise" as a concept? (Ans: Shannon-Weaver)
- What percentage of emotional meaning comes from body language? (Ans: 55%)
- Which is NOT one of the 7C's? (Ans: Creative*)
- Grapevine communication is what type? (Ans: Informal)
- Upward communication flows from? (Ans: Subordinate to superior)
*Though creativity helps, it's not part of the original 7C's
📝 Improving Communication Effectiveness
- Active Listening: Paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions
- Audience Adaptation: Tailor message to receivers' needs (Aristotle's Rhetoric: ethos, pathos, logos)
- Feedback Mechanisms: Surveys, Q&A sessions, read receipts
- Channel Selection: Rich media (face-to-face) for complex messages
📌 Exam Tip: Memorize key numbers:
- 7C's of communication
- 7-38-55 rule percentages
- 5 elements in Shannon-Weaver model
🚀 Conclusion
Effective communication is vital for:
- Academic Success: Thesis writing, presentations
- Professional Growth: Interviews, teamwork
- Social Harmony: Conflict resolution, relationships
💡 Pro Strategy: Create a mind map linking communication types with workplace examples for quick recall!
