There’s more to communication than one might think

Communication is not limited to the action of speaking with others. There are plenty of ways to communicate besides actual face to face conversation. Whether it be email, blogging, social media, phone calls the list could go on forever. There is one key component to them all, which is one person is getting in contact with another to discuss something or communicate a message.

The book Communication written by Denis Mcquail explores all the possible ways of communicating. The author explains to his audience how there are various ways to communicate some are as simple as writing a letter and others are more complex and challenging like trying to decode a hidden message (Mcquail, 57). I know what you’re thinking, “How is decoding a message communication?”. Mcquail goes on to state, “There are skills, activities and techniques associated with the reception of messages: interpreting film, reading words, receiving radio and television” (Mcquail, 57). What Mcquail is pointing out to his audience is that communication is a two-way street. What I mean by that is communication is not just about giving a message. There’s another part of efficient communication which is obtaining and understanding messages and how you interpret them. Without a proper understanding of what someone is trying to communicate with you, communication will lack and nothing will get accomplished.

To better my communication skills, I took what I learned from Mcquail and applied it into my life. I looked to refine my skills on the receiving end of communication. To do so I paid close attention when someone was talking to me or sent me an email; so I could hone in on what the message was they were trying to get across. I found that when talking with others especially if I was tired I often missed out on little comments or statements that could potential change what I took from conversations. This research and practice has opened my eyes to another aspect of communication, that I never really paid attention to before. I will continue to focus on trying to grasp the messages that are communicated to me to avoid miscommunications or wrongful interpretations.

Citations

Mcquail, Denis. (1975) Communication New York, NY. Longman Group Limited Inc