The English word
‘communication’ is derived from the Latin noun ‘communis’ and the Latin verb
‘communicare’ which means ‘to make common’, and so the idea of commonality is
frequently stressed in talking about communication. Terms closely related to
communication and with similar etymological origins include community,
communion, commonality, communalism and communism. The Sanskrit term
“sadharanikaran” comes closest to the sense of ‘common’ or ‘commonness’ usually
associated with communication. Sadharanikaran is a social process which can be
achieved only among ‘sahridayas’, people with a capacity to receive messages.
This is an innate ability acquired through culture, adaptation or learning. The
focus here is not on the sender but the receiver of the message. Moreover,
communication according to this Sanskrit concept is a relationship based on
common and mutual understanding and feeling, for sahridaya literally means ‘of
one and the same heart’.
‘Communication’ (together
with its twin ‘information’) is perhaps one of the most loosely defined terms
in contemporary media, cultural and organizational studies. Perhaps it is
because the term encompasses a multitude of experiences, actions and events, as
well as a whole variety of happenings and meanings, and technologies. Thus, a
conference or a meeting or even a procession or get-together is a ‘communication
event’, newspapers, radio, video and television are ‘communication media’,
phones, computers, satellites and the internet are ‘communication
technologies’, and journalists, advertisers, public relations personnel, and
even camera crew and news-readers are ‘communication professionals.’
Interaction, interchange,
transaction, dialogue, sharing, communion and commonness are the ideas that
crop up in any attempt to define the term ‘communication’. According to Denis McQuail, “communication is a process which increases commonality, but also
requires elements of commonality for it to occur at all.” Newman and Summer describe
communication as “an exchange of facts,
ideas, opinions, emotions by two or more persons.” On the other hand, Peter Little says that “Communication is the process by which
information is transmitted between individuals and/or organization so that an
understanding response results.”
The definitions of
communication, as the saying goes, are dime a dozen, depending upon one’s perception
and point of view, like: “sharing of
experience on the basis of commonness” (Wilbur Schramm); “one mind
affecting another” (Claud Shannon);
“the transfer or conveying of meaning”
(Oxford Dictionary).
So basically, communication
is the dynamic process of sending and receiving information. It is the vehicle
through which we develop, maintain and improve human relationships and thus,
build a foundation of healthy organisational behaviour and sociology of work. Ashley
Montagu and Floyd Matson go a step further in this regard. In
their view ‘human communication’, as the saying goes, is a clash of symbols, and it covers a multitude of signs. But it is
more than media and message, information and persuasion; it also meets a deeper
need and serves a higher purpose. Whether clear or garbled, tumultuous or
silent, deliberate or fatally inadvertent, communication is the ground of
meeting and the foundation of the community. It is, in short, the essential
human connection.
Now, if we try to put some
light upon the functions of communication; we shall find that the primary
function of communication is to inform, educate, entertain and influence people
to help them work smoothly. It has a secondary function to perform as well,
through debates and discussions, cultural promotion and integration, it fosters
creativity and understanding among people, groups, and societies so that they
live in peace and harmony. There are certain elements of the entire
communication process, such as source, message, channel, receiver and feedback.
Communication has been
classified into several types: in terms of verbal and non-verbal; the
technological and non-technological; the mediated and non-mediated, the
participatory and the non-participatory, and so on. Some of the levels of
communication are-
Intra-personal Communication: It
is individual reflection, contemplation and meditation. Basically,
intrapersonal communication means talking, listening and relating to oneself.
This helps us conceptualizing and formulating our thoughts and ideas before one
actually indulges in overt communication.
Interpersonal/Face-to-face
communication: It
refers to a dialogue or a conversation without the intervention of another
person or a machine like the telephone or a two-way radio or television set-up.
It is personal, direct, and intimate, allowing for maximum interaction and
exchange in word and gesture. Indeed, it is the highest, the most perfect form
of communication that two persons can attain. It is more persuasive and
influential than any other type of communication, for it involves the interplay
of words and gestures, the warmth of human closeness and in fact all the five
senses. It is also possible to influence the other person and persuade him or
her to accept your point of view as it has an emotional appeal.
Group
Communication: It
is an extension of interpersonal communication, which provides with an
opportunity for people to come together and discuss topics of common interest.
It serves many goals like collective decision-making, self expression,
increasing one’s effect, elevating one’s status, relaxation etc.
Public Communication: In this sort of communication, there is one speaker at one moment and the rest is audience. And, the size of audience becomes larger.
Mass
Communication: It
is that mechanical device that multiplies messages and takes it to a large
number of people simultaneously. It is a particular kind of communication in
which the nature of audience and the feedback is different from the
interpersonal communication. Here the recipients or for that matter the
audience is large, heterogeneous and anonymous in character. And, feedback for
instance is slow and weak as it is not direct.
Last but not the least, lets
know about the essential 7 C’s of communication process. Credibility: It means that the communicated message should be worth
believing.
Context: The
communication should always be in relation to the context of the work being
executed.
Content: It
should be reliable to gain support and appreciation of the masses.
Clarity: It
should be sans any errors, confusing or manipulated text, slangs, jargons etc.
Consistency
and Continuity: The message should be drafted in a firm
manner, and not in a haphazard way.
Channel: It
refers to the various mediums used in communication, which should be apt in
accordance to the receivers.
Capability: The
sender must assure the ability of the audience to interpret the message
correctly.
