Features of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is defined as selective, systemic, individual, processual transaction that allow people to reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings.

·      Selective: We do not communicate intimately with everyone; we select to communicate with liberty with our family, husband, boyfriend etc. In short we reserve our rights to communicate warmly based on our relationship with that person.

·      Systemic: Interpersonal communication is systemic because we talk differently based on the context of our relationship. For example we talk informally with our friends, but talk respectfully with our parents. We cannot talk openly in front of our children on censored topics. Thus systemic communication differs based on situation, time, culture, personal histories, people involved.

·      Individual: We communicate individually based on the I-THOU relationship we share with others. The communication between employer and employee will vary from the communication between romantic relationships.

·      Processual: Interpersonal communication is an ongoing, continuous process. This means communication evolves as relationship develops. We maintain distance in a new relationship with friends, but get comfy and share secrets with time and acquaintance.

·      Transactional: Interpersonal communication is transactional because communication is dynamic process wherein we get immediate feedback verbally or nonverbally on our say.

·      Personal Knowledge: Interpersonal communication involves listening, making the meaning of the person in communication and understanding where he is coming from. That is how great relationships are fostered based on faith, belief and understanding.

Meaning Created: This is the heart of Interpersonal communication because unless there is a shared meaning in the communication no two people can share their ideas and exchange information. 

I-IT to I-YOU COMMUNICATION

I-IT COMMUNICATION: Is the communication that happens on superficial level. I-IT communication often times does not acknowledge the presence of the person with whom we communicate but seems like talking to an object.

I-YOU COMMUNICATION: Is the communication that goes one level up in comparison to I-IT communication as we acknowledge the presence of the person

EXAMPLE: I always go to a small Asian Indian grocery store in Santa Clara for buying my weekly groceries. The woman at the counter is very helpful in finding stuff at the crowded shelves, but I never actually noticed her name or spoke to her with eye contact. One day I forgot the yogurt and milk carton at the counter and realized only after coming home. I called the grocery store and the owner asked me the name of the person at the check out counter. I forgot but described the lady by saying I have seen her at the store for past 3 years. The owner asked me to comeback with the receipt and get my stuff. When I went next day to pickup my stuff, the counter woman walked to me and introduced herself with her name and told me that she actually tried calling me after I left the store, but I did not hear her. Thus my relationship with the woman changed from I-IT to I-YOU after that incident. Now whenever I walk into the store, I greet her and talk to her. In fact she gives me tips on deal of the day and helps me find rare Indian groceries in the store.

Linear versus Interactive model of communication

LINEAR MODEL OF COMMUNICATION: Is the first model of communication, which describes communication as a one-way process. In Linear Model the sender sends messages to the receiver based on questions like Who? Says what? In what channel? To whom? and With what effect? The accounts of receiver’s passive feedback in the form of nodding, smiling, or facial expression of excitement or boredom are not considered. Similarly, the possibility of active verbal feedback is also ruled out in the linear model of communication.

INTERACTIVE MODEL OF COMMUNICATION:  Is the model of communication that focuses on feedback. When the sender sends messages the receiver responds to it. The more sender and receiver interact in the process of communication the better they understand each other. Although interactive model of communication is an improvised version of linear model of communication, it still portrays communication in the form of sender and receiver by neglecting the fact that communication is a dynamic process in which sender and receiver can interchange their positions.

EXAMPLE: I come from Asia where typical classroom norms suggest that a teacher speaks and students listen similar to a linear model of communication. However, I have experienced in the US that classroom teaching is based on interactive model of communication.

My Introduction

Hi,

My name is Suchitra Varma. I am graduating in Spring 2013. Taking upper division communication classes at SJSU have opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. Although communication sounds simple part of our day to day life, there are lot of diverse fields in specialty of communication studies. I enjoyed taking the conflict Management class with professor Perez in Spring 2012.

I chose communication major because although I have an engineering background, I was always involved in communication related work. As a teacher for technical subjects I was communicating with my students, and as a telemarketing officer I was convincingly selling financial products to my customers. Also on personal front I believe as a wife I am surviving in a marriage because of effective communication. So I decided to sharpen my communication skills with a proper education and raise it to another level.

I am looking forward to an exciting semester this fall unraveling the mysteries of Interpersonal Communication. I welcome you all to the class and hope to work with you on interesting projects.