Basic Concept Of Communication Science

BASIC CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE A. Definition of Communication Communication is a basic human activity. With communication, humans can relate to each other in everyday life. There is no human being who does not communicate, because every human activity must go through the communication process. Whether with oneself or others, verbal or non-verbal, face to face or using media. The definition of communication according to Rogers (in Cangara) Introduction to Communication Science is: "The process by which an idea is transferred from a source to one or more recipients, with the intention of changing their behavior." (2012:22) Communication is the process of transferring an idea or message from the communicator to the communicant with the aim of changing the recipient's behavior according to the communicator's wishes. The definition was later developed by Rogers with Kincaid (in Cangara) Introduction to Communication Science which states that: Communication is a process in which two or more people exchange information with each other, which in turn will lead to deep mutual understanding. (2012:22). This definition explains that the ultimate goal of communication is not just changing behavior, but furthermore creating mutual understanding between the communicator and the communicant. So that there is harmony between the communicator's goals and the communicant's desires. B. Communication Process The communication process is divided into two stages, namely primary and secondary. According to Effendy in his book Human Relations & Public Relations, it is divided into two stages, namely primary and secondary. 1. Primary Communication Process The primary communication process is the process of conveying one person's thoughts and/or feelings to another person using symbols as a medium. Symbols as primary media in the communication process are language, gestures, signals, colors, and so on which are directly able to "translate" the thoughts and/or feelings of the communicator to the communicant. 2. Secondary Communication Process The secondary communication process is the process of conveying messages by one person to another person using tools or means as a second medium after using symbols as the first medium. A communicator uses a second media in launching his communication because the communicants as his targets are in a relatively far place or are numerous. The second media referred to are letters, telephones, telex, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, films, and others. (2009:11-16). The communication process is how the communicator conveys a message to the communicant, so as to create a common meaning between the communicant and the communicator. This communication process aims to create effective communication (in accordance with the general purpose of communication. The difference between primary and secondary communication lies in the media used. If in primary communication the media are symbols that are exchanged directly so that the communicant is able to translate the thoughts and/or feelings of the communicator at that time, it is different from secondary communication where the media used are substitute tools for primary communication such as text, telephone, and others. C. Communication Function Communication carried out by humans actually has a function. This function is used to achieve the goals or objectives of the communication itself. This communication functions to make it easier for humans to meet their life needs. Effendy in his book Communication Science Theory and Practice mentions the functions of communication including the following: 1. Informing (to inform) 2. Educating (to educate) 3. Entertaining (to entertaint) 4. Influencing (to influence) Informing means channeling information from the communicator to the communicant so that the communicant knows the message being conveyed. Informing, for example, notifying the public of events, ideas or behavior of other people. Educating is providing information, ideas, thoughts or knowledge so that others understand the knowledge conveyed. Entertaining is conveying a message that functions to provide entertainment for others, while influencing is an effort to influence others with the aim of changing behavior according to what is expected by the communicator. D. Communication Barriers Communication does not always run smoothly without obstacles. Sometimes, obstacles also color the course of communication. These obstacles arise due to various factors. Effendy in his book Science, Theory, and Philosophy of Communication explains communication barriers as follows: 1) Interference (noise) There are two types of interference to the course of communication which according to their nature can be classified as mechanical interference and semantic interference. Mechanical interference is interference caused by communication channels or physical noise. For example, double sound interference (interference) on a radio, snaking or changing images on a television screen, unclear letters, missing or reversed letter paths or torn pages in newspapers. While semantic interference is a type of interference related to communication messages whose meaning is damaged. This semantic interference is filtered into the message of terms or concepts contained in the communicator, so there will be more semantic interference in the message. Semantic interference occurs in a sense. 2) Interests Interests or interests will make someone selective in responding to or appreciating messages. People will only pay attention to stimuli that are related to their interests. Interests not only affect our attention but also determine responsiveness. Our feelings, thoughts and behaviors are reactive attitudes to all stimuli that are inconsistent or contradictory to an interest. 3) Latent Motivation Motivation will drive someone to do something that is truly in accordance with their desires, needs and shortcomings. A person's desires, needs and shortcomings are different from other people, from time to time and from place to place, so because their motivations differ in intensity. The more communication is in accordance with a person's motivation, the greater the possibility that the communication will be well received by the parties concerned. Conversely, the communicant will ignore communication that is not in accordance with their motivation. 4) Prejudice Prejudice is one of the most difficult obstacles or barriers to a communication activity because people who have prejudice are already suspicious and oppose the communicator who wants to launch the communication. In prejudice, emotions force us to draw conclusions based on prejudice without using rational thinking. Prejudice can not only occur against a race, as we often hear, but also against religion, political stance, in short a stimulus that in experience has given an unpleasant impression. (2003:45). Noise often occurs if there are obstacles in the use of communication channels that result in the message not being delivered in its entirety, resulting in misperceptions, or inconsistencies in information between the communicator and the communicant. Then, interest barriers are obstacles that come from differences in interests of the communicator. The communicator or communicant will later only pay attention to things that are in accordance with his interests and ignore what he considers unimportant, so that the message is not delivered in its entirety, this is also similar to motivational barriers where the communicant selects the message he wants to receive. Meanwhile, the barrier of prejudice is a barrier that comes from the mind of the communicator. If the communicator has already judged the communicator before communication is carried out, emotions will force the communicator to see the communicator based on what he suspects. In addition to the disorders mentioned above, language is also sometimes an obstacle. Especially for deaf children who have limited understanding of language due to their deafness. Therefore, teachers who are educators in Special Schools must use special approaches and techniques that are understood by deaf children.