Which statement about interpreting messages is true?

• A. The sender's thoughts have no impact on message reception.
• B. The message is only about words; nonverbal cues do not matter.
• C. The believability of communication depends on both what is said and how the speaker sounds or looks.
• D. Communication is solely about transmitting data.

Answer: (C)

Interpreting messages relies on both what is said and how it’s delivered. The believability and meaning of communication come from a combination of content and delivery cues—the words themselves and the speaker’s tone, voice, facial expressions, and overall presentation. When the message aligns with how it’s spoken and shown, others are more likely to trust and understand it.

That’s why the statement about believability depending on both what is said and how the speaker sounds or looks is the best choice. If you focus only on the words, you miss the impact of nonverbal signals that often carry as much or more meaning as the actual words. Consistent signals—like a confident tone, steady eye contact, and expressive facial cues—raise credibility; conflicting signals can create doubt or misinterpretation.

Choices that say the sender’s thoughts don’t affect reception, or that nonverbal cues don’t matter, or that communication is just transmitting data ignore how people actually interpret messages in real life, where tone, appearance, and context shape understanding and trust.