Communication is the process by which one individual or group conveys information to a second, and how the latter receives and interprets that information. Communication is more than simply an exchange of words: the ideas formulated by the conveyer of information are not necessarily interpreted in the same way by the recipient of that information. Hence, it is possible and quite frequent that said information can become confused or construed in a way unintended by the conveyer
This problem may arise with the conveyance of factual information, such as regarding a train schedule or the making of an appointment, if the listener (receiver) is not paying attention or if he/she cannot understand the grammar or vocabulary employed by the conveyer. It may also arise when information contradicts the body language of the recipient of that information, for communication consists of both verbal and nonverbal elements.
The risk of two parties misunderstanding each other is greatest, however, in two cases: first, if the conveyer says one thing while really meaning another; second, if the ideas being exchanged are very abstract and themselves open to intellectual interpretation, which compounds the difficulty imposed by communication itself.
Your way of identifying common sources of communication problems is very interesting. I've been thinking a lot about problems of interpretation lately, because I'm taking a translation class. It seems like, even beyond your standard "language barrier" problems (Not being acquainted with vocab, grammar, cultural differences in body language, etc), the problem exists that perfect, exact translation between any two languages is just impossible. It sounds like a kind of perfunctory thing to say, and I know translation is achieved with relative success all the time, but I think there is something to be said for the accumulation of gaps between one language and another when translating, and I think that in conversation those gaps can cause the message you send can be "off" in a way that everyone can feel, but no one can quite identify. So I wonder if we'll have that issue when we talk about American culture, and translate English, Columbia-related things into Japanese in our blog. Seems possible.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, there is more to communication than simply listening and speaking. There is a necessary interpretative element to every exchange of information, whether it is strictly factual or opined. Personal biases and preconceived notions can prevent proper conveyance
ReplyDeleteof a message, so I personally think that it's best to be objective when possible or appropriate. If you're discussing an intellectual topic, then things become more complicated.