What is communication
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Understanding Communication: Definitions and Key Concepts
Defining Communication: A Complex Task
Communication is a multifaceted concept that has been challenging to define comprehensively. Various scholars have attempted to encapsulate its essence, but many definitions either become too restrictive or overly inclusive. For instance, Wilson (1975) describes communication as the alteration of behavior probability patterns in another organism, which can be adaptive to one or both participants. This quantitative approach, rooted in information theory, allows for objective investigation but also includes interactions like predator-prey dynamics, which are not typically considered communication.
Communication as Rule-Governed Activity
Another perspective emphasizes the role of consensually shared rules in communication. This view posits that communication involves transmitting structure or information, but not all information extraction experiences qualify as communication. Essential to this process is the mutual consideration of individuals, who develop and utilize rules to guide the encoding and decoding of messages. These rules are social constructs, subject to change and recreation, and they integrate insights from various disciplines such as transaction, coorientation, symbolic action, and cybernetics.
Psychological Perspective on Communication
From a psychological standpoint, communication is seen as the process by which an individual transmits stimuli to another to modify the receiver's behavior. This definition underscores the inseparability of process, message, and effects, highlighting that the communicator can also be the receiver, modifying their own behavior through self-communication.
Conceptual Components of Communication
An examination of numerous definitions reveals 15 main themes, with three critical points of conceptual division impacting theory construction in communication. These points necessitate further conceptual clarification to enhance understanding and application in communication theory.
Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is defined as the interaction between individuals involving the exchange of information with cognitive or affective-evaluative character. This form of communication includes language, emotional tone, facial expressions, postures, body movements, gaze, gestures, and distance. Non-verbal communication encompasses actions and gestures devoid of verbal meaning, including paralinguistic and extralinguistic means.
Various Forms and Channels of Communication
Communication can take multiple forms, such as signals, gestures, speech, letters, telex, telephone, Morse code, fax, television, and radio. It also includes the mass media, which spreads news, ideas, propaganda, advertising, and entertainment to large audiences. Additionally, computerized and electronic means have revolutionized communication, enabling sophisticated data transmission for various purposes.
Achieving Reciprocal Understanding
Effective communication involves more than just sending messages; it requires achieving a fully reciprocal understanding between participants. This process involves the sender encoding thoughts or intentions into words and the receiver decoding them accurately. The clarity of the message depends on the sender's effort in preparing and polishing their communication.
Communication as a Skill
Communication is an acquired skill that involves speaking, listening, and understanding verbal and non-verbal meanings. It is a process of generating, transmitting, and interpreting ideas, facts, opinions, and feelings. Effective communication is essential for distributing information to those who need it, making it a reciprocal exchange between individuals.
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication is the informal exchange of information between two or more people, characterized by personally negotiated rules, increased information exchange, and deeper levels of knowledge. It involves cultural, sociological, and psychological level rules that guide interactions based on the relationship and familiarity between communicators.
Oral and Written Communication
Oral and written communication are the most common forms, used daily in various settings such as meetings, lectures, and exams. Each word in these forms must have a specific purpose to avoid misunderstandings. Communication is defined as the process of sending and receiving messages through a medium, summarized as WOVEN: Written, Oral, Verbal, Electronic, and Non-Verbal.
Conclusion
Communication is a complex, multifaceted process involving the exchange of information through various means and channels. It requires mutual understanding, rule-governed interactions, and the development of skills to be effective. Understanding its different aspects and definitions helps in appreciating the depth and breadth of this essential human activity.
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