1.0 The Concept of Communication
1.1 Definition: Communication is a social phenomenon that accounts for exchange of information in the form of ideas, understanding, vision, feelings, etc. within an individual or between individuals. Communication is not human specific; it exists between humans and non- human beings.

1.2 Communication Process
Communication Process According to the Linear Models of Communication
The Linear Models of communication see communication as a one way process. In this process, communication moves from the sender through a channel to the receiver. Following the Linear models communication ends with the receiver after interpreting the message.

Communication Process According to the Interactive Models
The Interactive models recognise the influence of feedback in communication hence they include feedback in their communication process. The Interactive models see communication participants as alternating positions. Following these models, the communication process is not parallel as there is no permanent sender or permanent receiver

Communication Process According to the Transactional Models
According to the Transactional Models, both sender and receiver are simultaneously influencing the message. Transactional models also recognise the influence of nonverbal communication and other variables of communication such as socio-cultural and economic background of the participants, context of communication and experience.

Purposes of Communication
1.3 People communicate for different reasons. Among them are:
i) Socialization: The primary reason why people communicate is to socialise which will help to express themselves: their feelings, aspirations, desires, achievements, etc.
ii) Business: Communication enhances business transactions. Communication helps in buying and selling of goods and services, in advertising and the various ways of doing business.
iii) Integration: Communication unites people of similar and diverse interests and fields. In politics, religion, organisations, institutions of learning, etc. communication becomes a unifying factor.
iv) Education: Communication is pivotal in teaching and learning both in formal and informal sectors.
v) Cultural Function: Communication helps in the transmitting and studying of cultures.
vi) Migration Function: Movement from place to place either across or within borders is possible because of communication.
vii) Communication plays a vital role in management and resolution of conflicts.

1.4 Relationship Between Language and Communication
i) Communication means exchange of information while language is what humans use to exchange information.
ii) Language gives life to communication. Without language, communication will be an abstract phenomenon. Language is used to describe, narrate, argue, and understand all the varied manifestations of communication.
iii) Communication is not limited to humans but language is human specific.
iv) Communication includes both the code and the instrument of communication as well as different platforms of communication, whereas language is the code (verbal and nonverbal) for communication.

1.5 Interference in Communication
Interference is a term used in communication to explain overlapping of communication codes and modes especially when the communication participant wants to use one code. It is a kind of intrusion or noise in communication. In the use of language in communication, interference occurs when Language A intrudes in the use of Language B, and it occurs at different levels of language study: phonological, morphological, syntactical and semantic levels.

Phonological Interference: The interference that involves pronunciation and spelling of words is called phonological interference. Causes of phonological interference are:

• Accent: Accent of Language A interfering in the pronunciation of words in Language B.

• It may also be a case of substitution. A phoneme in Language B which does not exist in Language A may be substituted with a phoneme in Language A that is close in realisation to that of language B.

• Phonological Structure: If the phonological structure of language A differs from that of language B, it may result in phonological interference.

Morphological Interference: Interference of language codes involving word formation is called morphological interference. Causes of morphological interference are:
i) When the process of forming words in Language A differs from that of language B.
ii) When language B is more prestigious, the users of Language A will form the words of language A to sound like those of Language B.
iii) Incompetence in formation of words in the target language which results in using the structure of a known language to form words in the target language.

Syntactic Interference: Syntactic interference is when the sentence structure of Language A interferes in forming the structure of Language B. This may result in transliteration or structural error. Causes of syntactical interference are:
i) Incompetence in the rules of forming sentences in the target language,
ii) When one is communicating with the less literate.
iii) Interlingual transfers. This involves transfers the rules of the first language to the target language.

Other Sources of Interference in Communication
a) Environmental Noise: Noise in the environment such as noise from industrial machines, crying, shouting, communal wars, crises, etc.
b) Technical Noise: This includes dysfunctional communication instruments, wrong manipulation of communication gadgets, etc.
c) Emotional Noise: All psychological disturbances are classified as emotional noise.
d) Religious and Cultural Noise: They include cultural and religious intolerance, lack of knowledge of a particular religion and culture.
e) Language Noise: In addition to incompetence in a language, language noise such as hatred or disregard of a language may interfere in communicating in the target language.

1.6 Code Switching and Code Mixing: Code switching and code mixing involves the use of two languages or dialects.

Code Switching: Code switching involves alternating two codes in a single conversation. That is, starting with Language A and switching over to Language B.

Code Mixing: Code mixing involves combination of two or more codes in words and sentences. Code mixing is intra-sentential or intra-morphological. When it is morphological, one code will form the root or base of the word and another language will form either the prefix or suffix. At intra-sentential level, a mixture of words or phrases may occur.

Causes of Code Switching or Code Mixing

• Incompetence in either of the languages or in the two languages involved.

• Grammatical Interference: When the language user is confused.

• Deliberate attempt by the language user to hide information.

• To avoid third party.