Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

Sharing with others what we feel and think — whether positive or negative — is thebasis for an open & honest relationship. The only person who knows whether thereceiver’s fantasy is correct, is the sender. Thoughts like ‘I know better (than you)what is wrong with you’ or ‘I know exactly what is happening with you’ … and actingaccordingly (to this fantasy), can effectively damage communication.3. Types of communicationCommunication is a transaction or an interaction between at least two individuals(communicator A: sender/speaker and communicator B: listener/receiver).Communication takes a variety of forms:▶ speaking – verbal and para‐verbal communication▶ body signals – non‐verbal communication▶ listening and interpreting messages.Both people send and receive information simultaneously.Sending information can take the form of non‐verbal messages (body movement,for instance nodding your head or raising your eyebrows) and verbal expression(the words spoken accompanied with para‐verbal signs which means how the wordsare spoken, the tone of voice and the volume).Information is received through all the senses, by interpreting the verbal andnon‐verbal messages and responding accordingly by giving verbal or non‐verbalfeedback to the message received.54 I I . C O M M U N I C AT I O N