Final answer:
The speaker in the communication process is the encoder, who is responsible for converting and sending the message to the receiver. The channel is the medium of transmission, and the barrier is anything that hinders communication. Hence, the correct answer is 'c. Encoder'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speaker in the context of a communication process is best described as the encoder. An encoder is someone who converts a message into a communicable form. In the communication model, the encoder is the one who develops and sends the message to the receiver through a channel after carefully encoding it. The speaker constructs the message with the intention that it will be understood by the receiver, who will then decode the message.
Options such as 'channel' and 'barrier' are other elements of the communication process, but they serve different functions. The channel is the medium through which the message is transmitted, while a barrier is anything that obstructs the communication process. The decoder, on the other hand, is the one who interprets or translates the message that was encoded by the speaker.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is c. Encoder.