Communication
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Communication is the process of exchanging information usually via a common system of symbols. "Communications" is the academic discipline which studies communication.
Defining communication
There is no single definition of communication which satisfies everyone. In 1970, Frank Dance identified 126 published definitions. [1] To some people "communication" implies different, and sometimes conflicting, concepts. On the one hand, it means to have a thoughtful exchange of views, via a meaningful dialogue between two humans; however, it can also refer to a simple message transmitted without thought or appeals for feedback. With this latter definition, machines and "lower" animals can be said to communicate.
The Latin root word of "communication" is comunicare, which has three possible meanings
1. "to make common", which is probably derived from either 2 or 3
2. cum + munus, i.e. having gifts to share in a mutual donation.
3. cum + munire, i.e. building together a defense, like the walls of a city
Commonly recognized components of communication include the channel, context, environment, feedback, interference, message, receiver, and source.
Forms of Communication
- Animal communications
- Interpersonal communications
- Intrapersonal communications
- Nonverbal communications
- Speech communications
- Telecommunications
- Computer-mediated communications
Forms and components of Human communication
Humans communicate in order to share knowledge and experiences. Common forms of human communication include sign language, speaking, writing, gestures, and broadcasting. Communication can be interactive, transactive, intentional, or unintentional; it can also be verbal or nonverbal. In addition, communication can be intrapersonal or interpersonal.
Communication technology
In telecommunications, the first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast occurred on July 25th 1920.
(see also: semaphore, telegraphy, telephony, radioteletype, global telephone network - also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network, communications satellites, ethernet, and the internet - a network of computer networks).
As the technology evolved, communication protocol also had to evolve; for example, Thomas Edison had to discover that hello was the least ambiguous greeting by voice over a distance; previous greetings such as hail tended to be lost or garbled in the transmission.
As regards human communication these diverse fields can be divided into those which cultivate a thoughtful exchange between a small number of people (debate, talk radio, e-mail, personal letters) on the one hand; and those which disseminate broadly a simple message (Public relations, television, cinema).
Our indebtedness to the Romans in the field of communication does not end with the root "communicare". They devised what might be described as the first real mail or postal system in order to control the empire from Rome by gathering knowledge about events in faroff places.
As the Romans well knew, communication is as much about taking in towards the centre as it is about putting out towards the extremes; thus peace is a side-effect of communication: starting, for example, when the August 30th 1963 communication hotline between U.S. and Soviet leaders went into operation.
In virtual management an important issue is computer-mediated communication.
The view people take to communication is changing, as new technologies change the way they communicate and organize. This new trend in communication, decentralized personal networking, is termed smartmobbing.
Communication barriers
Anxiety associated with communication is known as communication apprehension. Such anxiety tends to be influenced by one's self-concept. Besides apprehension, communication can be impaired via bypassing, indiscrimination, and polarization.
References
[1] Dance, Frank. "The 'concept' of communication. Journal of Communication, 20, 201-210 (1970).
Related topics
- information theory
- journalism
- linguistics
- postal service
- mass media
- rhetorical criticism
- social software
- neuro-linguistic programming
- communication basic topics
- vocalization
- media studies
External links