Types/forms of communication

Types/Forms of Communication

Intra-personal Communication

It involves one person or individual as he or she talk to himself or herself. This is an unconscious act of all living human beings. We all think and consider different plans and problems of daily life in our minds. We discuss matter with ourselves before we open them to others or before we write them down.

Intra-personal communication is such a part of our everyday lives that we seldom give it much attention. I But everyone would agree that it is the basic kind of communication. Everything first starts from the human mind and then comes out for discussion, debate or any other purpose in interpersonal group or mass communication.

Inter-personal Communication:

            Inter-personal Communication involves two persons ---- one individual talking, discussing or arguing with another individual. A one to one speaking situation may take many forms. It may be casual conversation between two friends. The purpose may be giving information, getting information, persuading, problem solving, counseling or just chatting.

                This method is widely used in extension work. It has been found very effective in dealing with poor farmers who are generally illetrate and have small land holdings. Such farmers don’t have exposure and/or access to other modes of communication.  However this method is time consuming.

 Inter-personal Communication provides an opportunity to farmers and extension workers to know each other. It is highly effective when dealing with illiterate farmers. In an Inter-personal Communication both the senders and the receiver can recheck the information through feedback, thus make sure that the listeners comprehend the information.

 Group Communication:

Group Communication Involves an individual talking to a group of people or group discussion problems with one another.  An extension agent talking or delivering lecture to a group of farmers by the proper use of a new technology.

 In extension work, Group Communication is more frequently used than any other method. In group communication, the extension worker can reach more farmers in a short time. A widely used method of group discussion is the demonstration method.

Mass communication:

Mass communication involves the communicator with a large number of people. The word “mass” actually means the “public”. Mass communication media include radio, t.v., newspapers, magazines, audio and video cassettes, mobile AV vans, motion pictures, slides etc.

One limitation of inter-personal and group communication is that they cannot reach maximum needy people/ farmers in a very short time.   The mass media on the other hand are used to disseminate information to a very large numbers of farmers. Mass media are also very effective when emergent news about the attack of different diseases or bad weather has sent to the farmers.