What do you understand by the word communication?
The word communication can be defined on various parameters and also on the basis of the study of numerous research scholars. The word has been derived from the latin noun COMUNIS and COMMUNICARE.According to its ancient meaning, Communication implies the passing of ideas,information and attitudes from one person to another. A number of researchers have also put down some definitions of communication.
According to Claud Shannon, "Communication is one mind affecting another." Opinions can be built, expresses and influenced during the process of communication. "It is the mechanism through which human relations exist and develop" is how Charles E. Osgood puts it. It allows people to disperse their opinions and also helps people to give indications of their interests and dislikes in listening to each other, thus, promoting a healthy exchange of ideas and helping individuals in establishing relationships. According to Wilbur Schramm, "Communication is the sharing of experiences on the basis of commonness." Also put by Dennis Mc Quail, "Communication is the process which not only increases commonality, but also requires the elements of commonality for it to happen."
It can, therefore, also be defined as the process of sharing of information, ideas, knowledge and feelings between two or more people with a desired purpose through signs, symbols and gestures. Renowned researcher, Dennis Mc Quail also sees communication in absolutely linear terms. He puts it as "The sending of messages from one person to another, where the messages exchanged could be oral, visual or written." For instance, laws, customs, buildings, dance, books, music are also forms of Communication. Thus communication is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver, with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way by both the sender and the receiver. It is defined as the process by which we assign and convey meanings in an attempt to create shared understanding of situations among individuals. Communication is also a clash of symbols. It covers a multitude of signs but is more than a medium or a message, or even information or persuasion. It also meets a deeper need and serves a higher purpose. The use of communication as a process is developmental to a very large extent and transfers to all areas of life, be it home, school, work, community and beyond.
Communication is not just a societal need. According to Bel Tran, "It is both a natural, individual demand as well as a requirement for social existence to use resources which are common, in order to engage in the sharing of experiences through symbol-mediated interaction." Communication is also a process that involves interaction or exchange among different environments, which may be social, biological,etc.
The process of communication performs numerous functions which are key to the success of many individuals. It helps individuals in the process of dissemination of important information to others and even within an organization or within the nation. It instructs, educates and entertains people through its varied forms. Communication also enables people to develop and influence opinions of themselves and of others and also helps in enhancing persuasion techniques. The process of communication also provides a platform for debates and discussions, so as to enable individuals to clarify certain viewpoints on key issues. It also provides an opportunity for the promotion and preservation of the culture of a nation by various mass media programmes and events. In this way, it also fosters integration as people are able to interact with each other at a mass level. Communication also creates consensus on issues, creativity and understanding amongst people, groups and the society. The process of Communication, therefore, entails socially interacting with people, establishing relationships which help in all sorts of social actions.
Communication is also a process which is multi-disciplinary in action. It involves signs, codes and gestures which go through processes such as encoding and decoding. Transmitting or receiving signs, signals and codes during communication also helps extensively in building social relationships. Communication can, therefore, also be defined as a shared, symbolic environment. It is a social relationship that has been established during the communication process among those individuals who acted as participants. What communication leads to is interaction between various people in the society and in combination with other factors, it also contributes to a sense of integrity and community.
According to another renowned researcher called W.S. Cardon, Communication is also considered a ground for meeting and foundation for a particular community. It is a platform through which people of various diversities can meet and exchange ideas. Hence, communication is not just a matter of isolated entities and discreet messages, but is also a process of mutual participation in a common structure of rhythmic patterns, by all members of a particular community.
Thus, Communications has varied definitions to it, but, on the core, it remains to be a simple process of exchange of ideas, thoughts and information through signals, codes, signs and gestures.
