12 Part 1 Basic Communication ProcessesAs we illustrate throughout this book, when-
ever you communicate with others, you influence
them in some way. Equally important, you are
influenced by others. What you say to a person is
influenced by what he or she says to you, and vice
versa. In the end, every conversation or interac-
tion you have changes you (and the other person),
even if only in some small way, as it adds to your
life experiences.Assessing Communicative Value
To understand communication more fully, you
assess the quality, or communicative value, of
your communication. You do this by examining how well the communication
demonstrates the six characteristics discussed earlier. If the symbols are well cho-
sen, the code shared, and the messages sent as intended, the interaction has high
communicative value, and misunderstandings are less likely.
For example, recall the coffee purchase described at the beginning of this
section. The woman and the street vendor share a clear, if unwritten, code: in
New York City, “regular” coffee means coffee with milk and two sugars. The
code has a cultural meaning unique to New York. Even within the city, it is
somewhat specialized, limited to street vendors and delicatessens. Had she said
the same word to the counterperson at a Seattle’s Best coffee shop on the West
Coast—or even at the Starbucks just down the street—she might have received
a perplexed stare in reply. See Table 1.1 for a more detailed breakdown of this
transaction.CHARLIE SHEEN’S
OFFENSIVE behavior not
only damaged his own career
but also impacted everyone
else involved in Two and a
Half Men. CBS/Photofest
TABLE 1.1
COMMUNICATION
CHARACTERISTICS:
ANATOMY OF A
COFFEE SALE
Approaching the study of
communication through
its characteristics will help
you evaluate behaviors you
encounter in terms of their
communicative value. As
you can see, the simple
coffee sale described in the
text is clearly communica-
tive, meeting all six criteria.
Characteristic
Communication is
symbolic.
Communication
requires a shared
code.
Communication is
linked to culture.
Communication need
not be intentional.Communication
occurs through
various channels.
Communication is
transactional.Behavior
Both parties speak English.Both parties understand the meaning of
“regular.” Both parties understand the smile
and nod greeting.
Both parties are New Yorkers.The woman knows the meanings of her words
and gestures; they are not ambiguous to the
street vendor.
This example uses the spoken word, gestures,
and eye contact.The woman understands the message she is
giving, and the man understands the message
he is receiving.