All of us are social being and cannot live in isolation. We are a part of larger society. We are dependent on each other to meet our personal, social, financial, professional, academic, and other needs. We talk to each other for this purpose and convey messages. This process is called communication.

Communication occurs wherever life exists. Everybody communicates whether intentionally or unintentionally. An infant cries to demand water or milk. An adult

communicates to meet his/her requirements. Even a person keeps on communicating on deathbed. It is an essential activity throughout. However communication is an integral part of all the human activities whether it is day to day functioning, education, profession or business; but it is first and foremost a social activity. It is one of the essential conditions of social interaction. Mainly it is a natural activity of all human beings which is carried out to convey feelings, emotions, ideas, thoughts or information to others through words, signs, signals, symbols or body movements.

The word communication has its roots in the Latin word Communis which means 'common'. It is a process through which one conveys information, facts, ideas, opinions and emotions through words, signs, symbols or body movements to establish commonness with others. Keith Davis, in his book, Human Behaviour at Work, defines, "Communication is the transfer of information and understanding from one person to another person."

Communication takes place when someone transfers information, knowledge or understanding to the other. Minimum two parties are involved in the process: one

transmits a message, and the other receives the message and understands its meaning. Either one or both of them can be a human being, non-human being, or non-living thing. For example, a person can convey a message to an animal, and the animal can also convey its feeling to a human being. In the similar way, a poster can also convey a message.

From the above description, you may take communication as a one sided transmission of a piece of information, knowledge, ideas, feelings or thoughts from a person to another person or a group, but it cannot be confined to such one way transmission. It is a two sided affair. It not only involves sending of messages, but also includes their receiving. Hence, communication can be called the process of sharing or exchange of feelings,

emotions, ideas or information. Both the sender and the receiver equally participate in the process. Sender conveys a message to the receiver and the receiver, in turn, conveys feedback to the sender. It is an informational intercourse through words, signals, or set

of signs and symbols which is carried out to bring about mutual understanding.

Communication can be classified as:

Communication can include the transmission of information, opinions, feelings, thoughts and emotions to a person or a group of persons. The sender transmits a message through words, signs, signals, symbols or body movements; and the receiver receives the message and interprets the intended meaning. When sender communicates a message without expecting or getting feedback, the communication is termed as One-way Communication.

Feedback is totally absent in this kind of communication. Listening of a recorded song is an example of one-way communication. Receiver has no chance of feedback in the process. It can be verbal (oral or written), non-verbal (without use of words), formal, or informal.

Communication involves the sending of a message and receiving of feedback from the receiver. Both the sender and the receiver equally contribute in the process. The sender transmits a message, and receiver conveys feedback of the message to the sender. Both of them play reversible and reciprocal roles in the process. In case of feedback, the receiver acts as a sender, and the sender becomes receiver. When both the sender and the receiver

actively participate in the process, the communication is termed as Two-way Communication. This kind of communication is also referred to as Transactional

Communication because the exchange of message and feedback takes place between the sender and the receiver. Giving instructions to the students and receiving their acceptance is an example of two-way communication. Like one-way communication, it can also be verbal, non-verbal, formal or informal.

Communication has a significant role in everyday life. It helps in building favorable relations. We converse with our friends, family members, relatives, teachers, and others. Most of the time we share information through speech, writing, or other set of signs and symbols, but sometimes we communicate through body movements. We meet our personal, emotional, social, educational, financial, professional, cultural, and other needs

through communication. It is an important component for success in one's personal as well as professional life.

Communication plays a major role not only in personal relations, but also in professional life. Information is shared, disseminated and distributed within and outside the organization(s). It has manifold importance to business establishments. No organization can survive without effective communication network. Communication helps in shaping the organizational goals by putting forth the objectives to be achieved, and helps the employees to share the common goal(s). It not only facilitates business goals, but also connects the organization to the external people, like customers, suppliers, government, civic agencies, banks and other financial institutions.

Today the world has turned into a global village. Businesses have crossed the boundaries. Companies carry out their business in multiple countries. They need to receive orders and make contact with customers. It is not possible without effective communication. Moreover, they have turned into multinational companies. They have their units and offices in different countries. They need to coordinate with the employees as well as other

people, which is not possible without communication.

From the above discussion, it is evident that communication plays an important role in all spheres of life whether it is society, education, profession, business, or so. The importance cannot be realized within a particular field only, rather it is the key to success in all walks of life.

Communication is the process of transmitting and receiving message(s). It is social interaction where at least two interacting parties involved. Human being can be one of the parties and other can be a human being, non-human being or non-living thing. One party communicates the message and the other receives and understands intended meaning of the message. It involves the selection, production and transmission of signs and symbols in such a way that the receiver can perceive the meaning of the communicated message. The process consists of the following elements:

Sender or transmitter is the source of message and transmits it for a specific purpose. The process starts when an idea occurs in sender's mind which s/he wants to convey to the other party in order to achieve some objective. At first, s/he formulates a clear idea about the message. Her/his logical faculty and mental attitude shape the message. S/he encodes the idea, and translates it into transmittable symbols. S/he decides the symbols,

medium, time and channel to send the message. The process starts with the sender and ends with her/him by the comprehension of feedback. S/he can be a speaker, a writer, or an actor. For example, the teacher, teaching in the class, is the sender of message. The sender initiates the process and communicates the message, hence is also known as communicator. The sender can also be a non-human being or non-living thing.

Message is the idea, emotion, opinion or information that is to be transmitted by the sender. It can be verbal (oral or written) or non-verbal (without use of words). It exists in sender's mind. The most important characteristic of message is that it is well organized, structured, shaped and selective. For example, the subject matter, taught by the teacher, is message. Communication is impossible without the existence of message. The message needs to be well-crafted, complete, clear and unambiguous.

Encoding is the activity of converting data or information into codes. It is the process of translating the message into symbols which can be in the form of words, actions, signs, signals, pictures or audio-visuals. It takes place in sender's mind. The sender puts his ideas or facts into words, symbols, pictures or gestures to make them understand. The symbols are selected by the sender according to the type of message and receiver's ability

to understand and interpret them correctly. It is a method of providing a structured message by the use of shared course of communication (medium) which can be verbal or non-verbal. For example, the teacher prepares the topic to teach in the class, and decides the way of teaching whether through lecture or visuals. S/he reads the lesson, and translates the symbols into her/his mind.

Channel is the imaginary path through which the message passes. It connects the sender and the receiver. Air and sight are some of important channels of communication. Sender selects the channel keeping the receiver in mind. Choice also depends on the type of

message as well as relationship between the sender and the receiver. If both have informal relations, sender chooses informal channel; but in case of organizational communication, s/he chooses formal channel. Similarity, if the message is informal in nature, s/he may choose informal channel; but in case of formal message, s/he may choose formal channel.

There is a difference between the channel and the medium. Channel is the path through which message passes whereas medium is the carrier of message. For example, in oral communication, air is the channel while voice is the medium. Similarly, letter is the medium

while postal or courier service is the channel. Medium plays an important role in the delivery of message. Inappropriate medium can mar the very purpose of communication.

Receiver is the party to whom the message is directed. Receiver can be a human being, non-human being, or non-living thing. The main function of receiver is to receive the message, decode and understand its intended meaning, and convey feedback. Receiver is the destination of the message. S/he/it remains at receiving end of the communication, receives and decodes the symbols, signals or words; and draws meaning of the communicated message. That's why s/he is also known as 'decoder'. S/he can be a reader, a listener, or a viewer. For example, student(s) is the receiver in the class. The process of communication is incomplete without the availability of receiver.

Decoding means 'giving meaningful interpretation to the message'. It is opposite to encoding. It is an act of translating the codes into their ordinary meaning. It is performed by the receiver, and takes place in her/his mind. It helps the receiver to interpret meaning from the message. It is a mental process by which the receiver draws meaning from the communicated words, signs, signals, symbols or pictures. S/he translates the symbols

into meaningful information to the best of his ability. For example, students listen to the lecture, and draw meaning of the communicated words, signs, signals and symbols.

The reaction, response or reply of the receiver is known as feedback. It is receiver's response to the message. It confirms the receipt of message. It is directed toward the

sender and completes the communication cycle. Response of students to the teacher will be called feedback.

Feedback is an important component of communication process. Both the sender and the receiver play reversible and reciprocal roles in the process. Receiver acts as a sender and sender becomes receiver in case of feedback.

Feedback can be used as a tool to measure the effectiveness of communication. The sender can determine the success or failure of her/his communication on the basis of received

feedback. S/he can evaluate the outcome of her/his communication through feedback whether the message has been received by the receiver in the intended way or some correction(s) is required in the message or the way of communication. It also allows the receiver to ask questions in order to clear his/her doubts as well as develop confidence.

Understanding is the end result of communication, but it does not imply agreement all the time. If receiver does not understand the message, s/he gives her/his feedback in negative; on the other hand, if receiver comprehends the message, s/he gives affirmative feedback. Hence feedback can be affirmative as well as negative. Feedback can also be verbal ( spoken or writer) or non verbal, in the form of smiles, sighs, nods, etc.

Feedback has following advantages: