ABSTRACT
The definition of communication includes the idea that people engage in interactions within a specific context. When taking a broad perspective, context refers to the diverse categories of communication usually covered in communication courses such as group communication and public speaking. One way to understand the communication process is by looking at a communication model. Models are visual representations of the basic elements of real processes. They provide a practical roadmap to effective communication. Transaction models are more recent and more complete models of the communication process. The message is the idea, thought, or feeling that a communicator wishes to convey to others. It is important to realize that once the message is sent, the sender is no longer in control. One important element of the basic communication process is feedback—the verbal and visual response to a sent message. One of the most often cited differences between cultures is the distinction between individualism and collectivism.
