Page 63 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

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Channels of Communication | 51

When language becomes a barrier to the creation of meaning rather than
a tool for its facilitation, it is again a language failure. Language is a sys-
tem of symbols. Its success depends upon the skills of the communicator in
using those symbols. Languages are situation-specific, but, at the same time,
person-specific as well. In any communication situation, the communica-
tors (senders and receivers) are more or less skilled in the use of language.
The objective of all communication must continue to be understanding, and
language can be considered effective only to the extent to which it facilitates
understanding. Language is designed to help a communicator, create mean-
ing in the mind of the receiver. This creation of meaning can also be called
understanding. If the communicator has created the desired and appropriate
meaning in the receiver’s mind, one can then say that understanding has
been achieved and proper use of language has contributed to the effective-
ness of communication.

WRITING AND PRINTING

Man extends himself through media. Writing made it possible for man to
transmit his message to his people without direct contact. It also allowed
man to record his history, works of art, and knowledge for the present and
future generations. The Chinese gave the world paper to replace expensive
Egyptian parchment. In 1450 John Gutenberg, by printing his book, enabled
man to communicate with more people than ever before in the history of
communications.
Speech is transitory. Writing gives permanence to communication, pre-
serves the record, and makes it accessible. Without writing there can be little
organization and permanence of knowledge. Pictorial and phonetic writing
ensured that complete records of incidents, of history, of folklore, wisdom
and sayings, of legal forms, thought, and opinions could be preserved.

VISUAL AND AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA

Through the visual media, man can share with others any language or image
form he wishes by reproducing it via a printed and/or photographic process.
The visual media has made it possible for people all over the globe to receive
new and valuable information through books, magazines, newspapers, pho-
tographs, and other visual material. With the advent of the Internet, visual
medial facilities like e-mail and chatting has been made available.
Any meaningful sound can be converted into electrical or light waves
and transmitted instantly in the audio communication media. Man can now
talk to his neighbor on a telephone, send voicemail via the Internet, listen to

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