Return to Sender
A simple model of communication comprises a sender, a message, a channel where the message travels, noise or interference, a receiver, and interpretation and feedback.
The extent of the communication and characteristics of the sender and receiver may be quite different. For instance, communication may take place between individuals, groups, companies, and nations.
How it Works
A simple communication process works like this: The sender communicates the message and the receiver receives and interprets the message. The receiver becomes the sender and responds to the message with feedback.
It’s important to know that it’s actually the "tone" of the message, more than the content of the message, that influences how the receiver interprets the message. It’s the interpretation that influences and determines the nature of the feedback to the original sender. We'll delve into this process more deeply in the next section.
Where and how the process ends depends on the purpose of the communication and the dynamics of the process itself. Even the simplest communication between individuals may be a very complicated process.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-2. What has the greatest influence on how a message is interpreted by the receiver?
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