In interpersonal communication, what is the role of the receiver?

• A. The recipient of the message
• B. The source of the message
• C. The channel used to convey the message
• D. The context of the conversation

Answer: (A)

In interpersonal communication, the receiver is the person who receives and interprets the message. After the sender encodes and transmits the message through a channel, the receiver decodes the symbols, uses their own experiences and attention, and determines meaning and intent. The receiver also provides feedback, which lets the sender know how the message was understood and guides any necessary clarification. The other parts—who encodes and sends the message (the source), the means used to convey it (the channel), and the surrounding circumstances (the context)—influence how the message is delivered and interpreted, but they are not the receiver’s role. So the best answer is that the receiver is the recipient of the message.