Elements of Communication (Scott McLean, 2005)

• 1. Source - the one who thinks about, creates, and sends the message to be shared. The source should be able to think not only about the message to be sent but also of how to properly craft it in order for the receiving end to understand it properly.
• 2. Message - the stimulus produced by the source. This stimulus contains meanings that the receiver will interpret. The message is a central element of communication because it is created strategically based on a common language that the source and the receiver understand depending on the environment and context. The message should also be appropriate to the channel to be used. The feedback is also based on the message sent.
• 3. Channel - the medium through which a message travels between the source and the receiver. This can be through face-to-face delivery or through the use of traditional and new media. The channel should be equally understandable to the source and the receiver.
• 4. Receiver - the one who accepts the message sent by the source through a channel. The source crafts the message based on the target receiver, but the receiver is also expected to have an open mind in interpreting the message received.
• 5. Feedback - a form of message, but it is created by the receiver in response to the message of the source. It can be intentional or unintentional, but it is important that it is received by the source. A message from the receiver that is not necessarily sent back to the source is an effect of the message but is not necessarily the feedback. It is through feedback that the voice of the receiver (who, in essence, becomes the source) is heard.
• 6. Environment - the setting where messages are sent and received. This can be the atmosphere and physical setting, which is the visual layout and the objects found in the environment. It can also refer to physical factors that can indicate the nature of communication expected between the source and the receiver.
• 7. Context - the conditions under which the interaction occurs. It also sets the expectations of and from the participants based on the environment and the purpose of interaction. It is through context that roles are identified and assigned, the kind of message to be created is characterized, and the communication is facilitated.
• 8. Interference - refers to anything that blocks the message of the source or changes how it will be perceived by the receiver. Interference is more commonly referred to as "noise".