Unbosom thoughts of DevComm

Bagtong, Stephanie Kate

Activity 6

Make a list of the noise that you must deal with everyday at home and at work. Take a quick walk around your office or work to help you decide how you will answer. AFTER YOU HAVE MADE YOUR LIST, continue with the module.

Comments. How was your foray into the world of noise? Let me guess the items you have on your list: ringing telephones; vehicle sounds; loud TV or radio; shouting/laughing people; rooms that are too hot or too cold; crying children; regionalism; stereotyping; and negative attitudes.

You probably have entries on your list that I never even considered. Why? Well, perhaps the things that you do and I consider noise are different.

For example, if I’m waiting for a long distance phone call, the ringing of the phone would not be noise to me. Instead, it would be a signal for me that communication with someone important is about to begin. But for you and your team brainstorming for an important communication campaign, the ringing phone would be disruptive. For you, the ringing phone would be noise.

Some communicators would say that the items on my list all contribute to a breakdown in communication. In other words, because of these or because of noise, the message cannot be delivered properly.