Board of Legal Specialization Practice Exam: Prep, Study Guide & Practice Test

In the communication process, the sender is the individual who initiates the communication by conveying a message to another party. This person effectively begins the dialogue by encoding their thoughts, feelings, or information into a format that can be delivered, such as spoken words, written text, or non-verbal cues. The sender plays a crucial role as they determine what content is to be shared, how it is framed, and the method of delivery, which all influence how the message is ultimately received by others.

The person who receives the message is the recipient, while the individual providing feedback is also not classified as the sender because their role occurs after the message has been delivered. The person interpreting the message, often referred to as the decoder, focuses on understanding the content rather than crafting or initiating it. Each of these roles contributes to the overall effectiveness of communication but does not define the sender's distinct function within this process.