Interpersonal Communication (Essay Sample)

Interpersonal Communication Article
 
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Introduction
Interpersonal communication involves a face-to-face communication between two parties who exchange feelings, messages and information. The two participants, who are in interdependent, are the sender and receiver of a message. Interpersonal communication has a strong feedback element because of its immediacy and primacy. Moreover, this communication is improved when the parties involved are in a long-term meaningful relationship. Additionally, it is characterized by both the verbal and non-verbal elements of communication. This communication is concerned with how a message is conveyed as well as the non-verbal communication passed through gestures, facial expressions, voice tone and body language (Speech Communication Association, University of South Florida. Dept. of Communication, 2000).
Interpersonal communication is used to discover, help and influence as well as share information between the participants. It can be can be categorized into: dyadic communication where only two individuals are involved; group communication, which involves three or more people; public communication that involves a big group with one-way style of producing minimal feedback.
Aspects of Interpersonal Communication
There are several aspects of interpersonal communication (IPC) and this includes:
IPC is a process of continuous adjustment
In IPC, the participants may share a common system signals like the language being utilized. If there is a difference in language systems, then communication is bound to be hindered. Individuals might have differing vocabulary as well as different non-verbal communication, and this implies that they must learn other people’s signals to pursue effective communication. Participants may share their own system of signals to smoothen communication.
IPC communications contain relationship dimensions and content
A message has both relationship and content aspects. In a communication, the content may be similar but the relationship may differ. On the other hand, the content may differ but the relationship may remain the same. One of the communication parties must recognize the relationship that exists between the two for smooth communication to take place. A boss, for instance, should learn to interact with his or her servant to bring out significance of good relationship between the two parties (Speech Communication Association, University of South Florida. Dept. of Communication, 2000)).
IPC is a transactional process
IPC is a continuous process, which is circular in nature, and there exists alternations between a speaker and listener. It is an ongoing process, which has no clear starting and ending point. Moreover, its elements are interdependent. The sender, receiver, message and feedback integrally relate to one another and a change in one affects the others. As a result of interdependency, there is no repetition of actions or reactions but there only exists mutual interaction among components.
More so, in IPC, each communicator act and react as a whole, and reactions are based on our knowledge, experiences and feelings.
Communication is irreversible
We ought to be careful when we engage in communication since IPC is an irreversible process and once the message has been communicated it can never be withdrawn. In as much as we can attempt to soften the effects of the message that has been communicated, it is difficult to reverse the whole thing. Moreover, one should be careful while making commitment messages.
IPC is inevitable
IPC cannot be avoided completely since silence ...