To Define Oneself as a Communicator

To define oneself as a communicator is to understand how the process of communication works. Julia Scherba de Valenzuela best defines communication as, "any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that person's needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states. Communication may be intentional or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes." With this understanding, one can begin to reflect as to how they themselves are a communicator. There are multiple forms of communication consisting of speaking, writing, gesturing and signs. These methods are used to convey a message to another person in the hope of receiving a response back. Personally, the most common form of communication used by myself is speaking while gesturing. I use hand movements to further explain and rationalize what I am trying to communicate. Each situation requires different movements and types of expression in order to demonstrate my emotions. For example, when I am frustrated and annoyed my gestures tend to be of a more flailing nature and it is more difficult to express my feelings through words. Trying to communicate becomes a task and can end up in having to find another way to try make my point. Nevertheless, age can also define how one chooses to communicate with one another. When I have to contact an adult I usually contact them through calling over the phone or emailing to see when they can meet. However when it is a friend of mine, usually, the only form of communication used is texting. The extra effort to make time to see one another is no longer existent and rarely occurs. If there is a conflict between a friend it is usually solved via text or Facebook instead of actually confronting that person, creating a barrier that doesn't allow for face to face talking. No matter where one is, communication is always used to convey and relay messages to one another. Whether it be through speaking or writing, a person will use their skills so they can best convey the message they are trying to send. Being a communicator allows for a better understanding of one another and the message they are trying to send.