Eng 2053: Report Writing

Lecture Notes: Overview

This is, for all practical purposes, a course about one thing: Communication. The definition of communication is very broad, and very ambiguous. Some possible definitions are listed below.

Communication:

1. The verbal interchange of thought or idea
2. The process by which we understand others and in turn endeavor to be understood by them. It is dynamic, constantly changing and shifting in response to the total situation.
3. The process of conducting the attention of another person for the purpose of replicating memories.
4. The mechanism by which power is exerted.
5. Arises out of the need to reduce uncertainty.--All definitions from Frank E. X. Dance, "The Concept of Communication," Journal of Communication 20 (1970).

One of the easiest ways to visualize communication is through the SMCR model. This model holds that communication begins with the Speaker. This is the person who creates the Message. The message is the information or thoughts that the Speaker wishes to communicate. The speaker chooses a means of transmitting the Message. This means is known as the Channel. Possible channels include, speaking, sign language, writing, semaphore, Morse code, broadcast over a radio station....the list is endless. The goal is to get the Message into the mind of the Receiver.

Realize that the speaker takes his or her thoughts and converts them into symbols. This is called encoding. When the Receiver coverts the symbols back into mental images, this is called decoding.

This model also includes :

• Feedback, which is the sender returning messages to the speaker (usually non-verbal).
• Noise, which is anything that disrupts the flow of communication. This may include physical noise (gun shots) psychological noise (thinking about your big date) or contextual noise (where you're so bothered by the setting that you can't listen).

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