COMMUNICATION

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.