Nature of Characteristics of Communication

General communication differs from business communication. It has some special characteristics. The characteristics of communication are as follows :

1. Two or more person: It involves at lest two person.

a) Sender: Who has a message to communicate.

b) Receiver: Who gets the message and coverts the message into thoughts.

2. Message: It are facts, ideas, opinions, information or emotion that are transmitted to the receiver. It occurs for transmission of message only. If there is no message then there will be no communication.

3. Verbal or non-verbal: Verbal communication means written or spoken language or worlds. Where as non-verbal communication means facial expression, gestural expression etc. These two can occur jointly or separately depending on the situation or environment.

4. Two way process: It is a two way process. At least two person are needed for successful communication. Sender sends message and receiver receives the message and thereafter makes feedback.

5. Formal or Informal : It can be formal or informal. Example of formal communication is: meeting, seminar, news bulletin etc. Example of informal communication is: conversation with friend with friend and peers, gossiping, grapevine etc.

6. Upward, Downward or Horizontal: It may flow up and down and also from side to side. Upward communication starts from lower level and is transmitted to upper level of an organization. And Downward communication is just opposite to upward communication. Where as horizontal communication occurs within the same level.

7. Process of Exchange: Message or information is exchange through some sequential steps, sender send message using a media to the receiver and receiver receives the message and makes feedback to the sender.

8. Regular Activity: The purpose of communication is regularly to create mutual understanding, trust, credibility and implementation of decisions quickly. So it is an unending process.

9. Different Media: There are different channels of communication such as:

a) Electronic media: Telephone, Telex, Fax, Internet etc.

b) Print Media: Newspaper, Books, Journals etc.

c) Audio-Visual Media: Television, Cinema or movie.

d) Audio Media: Radio, wireless and cell phone.

10. Feedback: The sender of message wants feedback or response from the receiver.

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