Macro Functions of Communication That Must Be Preferred

Communication is the process of exchanging messages, ideas, facts, opinions, or feelings. The main role of communication is to inform, persuade, and motivate whether it is for personal purposes or professional.  The term communication is used to signify the process of transferring ideas or receiving them by any means such as word of mouth, telephone, telegram, letter, message, etc. it would not be wrong to say that communication stands for sharing of information, imparting or conveying ideas and knowledge.

According to experts of dissertation writing services, at the personal level, individuals need to maintain effective communications to avoid any hindrance in connecting with other people and transfer the right ideas and thoughts to other people. In an organization, employees need to have effective organizational communication to achieve excellent job performance. It is essential to know that communication cannot take place without two parties – the receiver and the sender. The information which is sent by the sender must be understandable to the receiver. Macro functions of communication are:

• Emotive: It communicates the inner feelings, states, and emotions
• Directive: It seeks to affect the behavior of other people
• Phatic: It opens the channel or check if there is anything wrong
• Poetic: It is related to the essence of the message and has more to do with the aesthetic function of the language
• Referential: It carries information and helps others understand what one is trying to say
• Metalinguistic: It focuses attention on the code of communication 
• Contextual: It creates a particular kind of context that others need to understand while the communication process takes place

Macro functions of communication also include:

Information:

Information is the most significant function of communication. It can be performed in many ways, and it is up to the sender and the receiver to make out which mode of information transfer they prefer. Before providing or passing on information, one has to receive, collect or sift information from various sources, both external and internal. Information can also be collected through various media, verbal or non-verbal, body language or paralanguage, sign language or audio-visual aids, books, journals, newspapers, advertisements, brochures, etc.

Information is very necessary for individuals as well as groups as it enables them to take decisions by identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the data, and considering choices. Education, research, and development also depend on information as no development can take place without receiving or imparting information. In one way or another, everything in the world is dependent on information and its appropriate processing.

Control:

The other very important function of communication is control. It is about creating a system and some guidelines that must be adhered to when communication takes place between two parties, either personally or professionally. Control is also necessary because it gives a code of conduct for communications and ensures a proper channel of communication.  

Motivation:

Motivation is crucial in communication, and it helps people understand what is to be done, how well they are doing, and what they can do to improve performance. Without motivation to achieve goals, nothing can be done either personally or professionally. It is up to individuals as well as businesses to understand how motivation can enhance communication and ensure the desired outcome.

Macro functions of communication deal with the basic and important functions of communication. These functions are much more significant than the micro functions and are more extensive. From narrating to arguing and explaining, the macro functions are more preferred and help people connect in a much better way. The communication process has the following macro communication components that help in better connectivity and understanding:

Message:

The sender encodes meaning into a message that can be transmitted easily. The message represents the meaning the source is trying to convey to the other party.

Encoding:

The purpose of encoding is to provide a form in which ideas and purpose can be expressed as a message and are meaningful enough for the other person to understand. The result of the encoding process is the mes­sage. Encoding involves translating the sender’s intent or ideas into a systematic set of symbols or gestures.

Channel or Medium:

A channel can be described as the carrier of the message. It is the link that connects the source and the receiver. In business or organizations, the channel or medium can be in the form of face-to-face commu­nication, telephone calls, meetings, or other written re­ports, while in a personal capacity, it can be talking on the phone, video, or audio calls or letters. 

Receiver:

A receiver is an individual who can sense or perceive the sender’s message accurately and get its meaning too. There may be one or many receivers to one message depending on how it is being conveyed and for whom it is meant. If the message does not reach the receiver, communication is not complete, and its purpose is also lost.

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Decoding:

It is the process by with the help of which the receiver interprets the message and translates it into meaningful information. Decoding is a two-step process:

• The receiver must first perceive the message
• The receiver must then interpret it to know what it is all about

It is necessary to keep in mind that the decoding process is affected by several factors such as the receiver’s need, status, experience, situational factors, etc. The right purpose of communication is only achieved when both the parties are satisfied; the sender has sent the message right, and the receiver has perceived it as it should have been.

Communication Noise:

When we talk about the macro function of communication, noise is sometimes also taken as one of the factors that can highlight, disturb or distort the intended message. Noise can occur in each of the elements of communications, and while sometimes it helps to get the message across in the right environment, at other times it can prove to be a hindrance and even lead to miscommunication. 

It is significant to realize all the possibilities of noise and make sure it does not limit the communication process.  Macro functions of communication are the basic skills and elements that make communication easy and effective. Understanding the preferred macro functions, can help in better communication and serve a useful purpose in many ways.