Levels of communication

Basically human communication takes place at different levels:

 Extra personal communication 
  Interpersonal communication
  Intrapersonal communication
 Mass communication
 Small group communication
 Public communication

1. Extra personal Communication:

  Communication is a process that takes place with human . entities and non-human entities as
well. When communication is done with non-human entities it is called to be extra personal
communication.The perfect coordination and understanding between human and non—
human entities results to extra personal communication. In this communication one
participant of the communication process uses sign language and the other is verbal.  

For example, the bark of a pet dog when something happens to the master, wagging of the
tail when master shows bone to the pet dog, licking of cheek at the returning of master from
the work field, chirping of birds when a stranger is at the door, Parrot calling the name of the
master in the morning, etc. Some people talk to their plants as well.

2. Interpersonal Communication:

The next form of communication is interpersonal communication; generally it takes place

face-to-face, although it can be mediated. Interpersonal communication is the process
of exchange of information, ideas and feelings between two or more people through verbal
or non-verbal methods. Interpersonal communication is also known as dyadic
communication. Chatting with a friend or having a conference with a professor are
examples. It involves two parties-a sender and a receiver who use common language to
transmit message either through oral communication or written communication.

Some examples of interpersonal skills include:

 Active listening
 Teamwork
 Responsibility
 Dependability
 Leadership
 Motivation
 Flexibility
  Patience
 Empathy

In a work environment, strong interpersonal skills are an asset that can help you navigate
complexity, change and day-to-day tasks.

3. Intrapersonal Communication:

 Intrapersonal communication is all about talking to ourselves. We use phrase like, ‘telling
ourselves the truth’ or ‘admitting the truth to ourselves” reflects human self-awareness. Prefix
‘intra’ means ‘within’ hence intrapersonal communication is ‘self-talk’. It is the active
internal involvement of the individual in symbolic progressing of messages. The internal
thought process keeps on working even at the sleeping hour. There are various example in
our day-to-day life related to intrapersonal communication. Like asking the solution for the
problem, introspecting about any episode in which you should not have done that particular
act, if you are overweight you see and admit it and then decide to plan a diet for you, if you
need to forgive someone, you’ll have to talk to yourself about it first, etc. Daydreaming,
fantasizing, and working out a problem in your head are examples of intrapersonal
communication.

4.  Mass Communication:

 Newspapers, magazines and periodicals, the means of mass conununication. are frequently
used for oral or written communication. Besides, technologies such as the internet, e-mail.
voicemail, faxes, audiotape, teleconferencing, videoconferencing and closed circuit
televisions have increased options for internal and external communication. The process
whereby media organizations produce and transmit messages to large publics and the
process by which those messages are sought, used, understood, and influenced by audience
These fast means help people from all parts of the world to work together. Information is
mainly sent to many people at the same time all over the world as in case of TV , radio
channel etc.
Communication through mass media like books, journals, TV, newspapers etc. For this kind
of communication we require a mediator to transmit information.
 Characteristics
Large reach
This communication reach audience scattered over a wide geographical area.
 Impersonality
Largely impersonal as the participants are unknown to each other.
 Presence of a gatekeeper
Mass communication needs additional persons, institutions to convey message from sender
to receiver.

 To understand mass communication one must first be aware of some of the key
factors that distinguish it from other forms of communication.
 First, is the dependence on a media channel to convey a message to a large audience.
 Second, the audience tends to be distant, diverse, and varies in size depending on the
medium and message.
 Third, mass communication is most often profit driven, and feedback is limited.
  Fourth, because of the impersonal nature of mass communication, participants are not
equally present during the process.

5. Small group communication

When more than two persons exchange their information face to face, it is called small group
communication. It is one type of internal communication. A small group is generally
defined as a group that consists of at least three members and at the maximum around twelve
to fifteen members. A group that has just two members or more than fifteen members would
not come in the category of a small group.

This small group is generally formed to solve a particular problem, make decisions,
determine policies and submit reports. Personnel committee, audit committee, report
committee, grievance committee are the example of small groups. Since it may be an
informal communication, the group may or may not have any assigned leader. Every member
can influence and can be influenced for performing their task. This generally takes place in a
context that mixes interpersonal interactions with social clustering. So, small-group
communication is the process in which information are exchanged among the members
(Three to Fifteen) of the same group to achieve the interdependent goals of the organization.
The lower limit of a small group is three persons. When a group becomes so large that
members cannot interact freely it is no longer a small group. In groups communication
becomes more complex and roles become more formalized. Students working together on a
group project or work teams are examples.

6. Public communication

When a single speaker addresses a large group simultaneously, he or she engages in face-to-
face public communication. Clear organization, careful planning, and a fairly formal style are
hallmarks of public communication. A politician, an evangelist, or a lecturer in a mass-
enrolment course is an example.
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Difference between Acronym, Jargon, Abbreviation and initialism

What is an abbreviation?

An abbreviation is any shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase. That

means abbreviation is the blanket term for all these shortened words we’ve all been using on
social media.  Abbreviations are “hiding” inside the word. Most abbreviations begin with a
capital letter and end with a period. Mister Mr. Avenue Ave. Abbreviations are shortened
forms of words or lengthy phrases. You'll find them in almost every discipline and area of
life, from commonly used abbreviations in names or titles, such as Mr. for Mister or Pres. for
President, to less commonly used abbreviations, such as the short version of the word
abbreviation itself, which is abbr.
There is more than one type of abbreviation.
 An acronym is a new word created from the initial letters of a long name or phrase,
for example, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
 An initialism is where a long phrase is abbreviated to its initial letters but the letters
are pronounced individually, not spoken as a word - for example, FBI (Federal
Bureau of Investigation). An initialism can be considered a type of acronym.
 The U.S. is itself a well-established abbreviation, as are the shortened forms of the 50
states, like NY for New York.
NOTE All acronyms are abbreviations but all abbreviations are not acronyms.

Written and verbal communication often includes these abbreviations:

 approx. – approximately
 appt. – appointment
 apt. – apartment
 Kg – kilogram
 dept. – department
 min. - minute or minimum
 misc. – miscellaneous
 Mr. – Mister
 Mrs. - Mistress (pronounced Missus)
 no. – number
 tel. – telephone
 temp. - temperature or temporary
 vet. - veteran or veterinarian
 vs. – versus
 tsp - teaspoon/teaspoons
 tbs, tbsp - tablespoon/tablespoons
 Ave. – Avenue
 Dr. – Drive
 Ln. – Lane
 Rd. – Road
 St. – Street
 Sun- Sunday
 Mon –Monday
 Jan – January
 Feb- February

What is an acronym?

 For one, acronyms are types of abbreviations.

 Specifically, an acronym is a specific type of abbreviation formed from the first
letters of a multi-word term, name, or phrase, with those letters pronounced together
as one term. 
  OPEC—or the O(rganization of) P(etroleum) E(xporting) C(ountries)—is an
acronym because we pronounce it as one word, oh-pek.
 An acronym is a pronounceable word formed from the first letter (or first few letters)
of each word in a phrase or title. The newly combined letters create a new word that
becomes a part of everyday language.
Some acronyms have become regular words like radar, scuba, and laser.  
 AIDS - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
He tested positive for AIDS. 
 ASAP - As Soon As Possible
We have to get to the hospital ASAP!
 LASER - Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Our cat loves to chase a little red LASER beam.
 PIN - Personal Identification Number
You’ll need your PIN to use your bank card at the ATM. 
 RADAR - Radio Detection and Ranging
The police officer used RADAR to catch them speeding.
 SCUBA - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
We gathered our SCUBA gear and dove into the Atlantic.
 SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely
Create SMART goals for the quarter so you’ll be successful. 
 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
We watched the NASA engineer explain how a launch works. 
 NATO - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Let’s hope NATO always remains intact.
 UNICEF - The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
UNICEF appointed a new chairman of the board.
 RAM - Random Access Memory
How much RAM does your computer have?

What is an initialism?

Initialisms are types of acronyms. They are also created when a phrase is represented by the
first letter of each word that makes it up but they are usually pronounced by saying each letter
of the acronym, like IDK and ATM (not ah-tem).
To complicate the issue, there are hybrid forms—part initialism, part acronym—like CD-
ROM and JPEG—for which one term is as good as the other.

Jargon
 Jargon is the term for specialized or technical language that is only understood by
those who are members of a group or who perform a specific trade.
 For example, the legal profession has many terms that are considered jargon, or
terms that only lawyers and judges use frequently.
 Writers sometimes use jargon to appeal to a specific group, or to embed a hidden
meaning behind their writing that only certain groups would understand. Jargon is
also used as a method of characterization. When characters use jargon it tells us
something about that character and his/her interests and profession.
  Examples of Jargon:

1. I need a script in order to pick up the medicine. (medical jargon for "prescription")
2. I need a nurse to room 12 stat. (medical jargon for "in a hurry")
3. Your objection is overruled. (legal jargon)
4. We need to take data points to determine if there has been a response to the intervention.
(educational jargon)
5. The suspect is headed west on Route 10. All available units, respond. (police jargon)

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