Encoding and decoding in communication – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B and D are correct, whereas C is incorrect. A is true because encoding refers to the sender’s work of putting ideas into words, numbers, images or other symbols. B is true as decoding refers to the receiver’s interpretation of those symbols to reconstruct the intended meaning. D is true since when the way the sender encodes differs from how the receiver decodes, misunderstanding can arise. C is false because interpretation depends on the receiver’s decoding skills, not their encoding skills, which relate to message production.

Option A:
Option A includes A and B only and omits D, failing to acknowledge that misalignment between encoding and decoding is a key cause of miscommunication. Although it correctly states the two processes, it does not capture their consequence when they are not aligned. Therefore A and B only is incomplete and cannot be the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B combines A, B and D, covering the nature of encoding and decoding as well as the effect of mismatch between them. It excludes C, which confuses encoding skills with decoding abilities on the receiver’s side. Because it contains all and only the correct statements, A, B and D only is the right answer.

Option C:
Option C lists B and D only and leaves out A, thereby omitting a clear definition of encoding, the complementary process to decoding. While B and D are accurate, the absence of A means that the account of communication processes is partial. Consequently B and D only is not the correct option.

Option D:
Option D brings together A, C and D and wrongly includes C, which misattributes interpretation to encoding skills of the receiver. This mixture of one false statement with two correct ones makes the option logically inconsistent. Hence A, C and D only cannot be chosen.