Let’s Chat: The communication process
By Linda Tooth on July 12, 2023.
Are you a great communicator? Many of us believe we are. Did you know human communication is a process made up of many parts. Perception and self-awareness, verbal and nonverbal, listening and responding, and diversity (the ability to adapt to each unique individual) are all parts of this process. When I started teaching communications to post-secondary students, I had no idea the impact it would have on me. I tell my students at the very beginning of each semester that nonverbal accounts for a large part of our communication in today’s world. According to Dr. Mehrabian, the 7-38-55 rule applies. That means that 7% of our message is verbal, meaning what we say. The next 38% of our message is vocal (tone), meaning how we sound. Lastly, 55% of our message is visual, meaning how we look. I recently posted a video on social media that went viral. Yes, I am the person behind the Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) movement to help control the ever growing feral or community cat population in the city of Medicine Hat. My anger at the lack of knowledge or understanding by certain city council members and the conditions these cats are living in led to me creating videos and unknowingly at the time, sharing them with the world. What did my message do? It got people talking not only in this area but also worldwide and that is what communication is all about. As I am writing this my phone is lighting up like Clark Griswold’s house in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. People are reaching out regarding the agenda for the Public Services Committee that is meeting on Monday, July 10 at 8 a.m. Urban Wildlife Management Bylaw No. 4789 will be discussed. They are now proposing to fine individuals who are feeding feral cats on public land or land owned by another person. I am shaking my head at the logic behind this. Who is responsible for creating these documents? Did you know that a first offence for feeding feral cats or feral rabbits on public land, or land owned by another person, will get you a $500 fine and a second offence will get you a $1,500 fine? Rest assured animal lovers, this is not over for me. I will follow this through with written, verbal and video messages. Someone must speak up for those who do not have a voice. Linda Tooth is a communications instructor at Medicine Hat College 11-10
