1.2 What is communication?

Summary

The script explores the multifaceted nature of communication, defining it as the act of transmitting information encompassing thoughts, ideas, and emotions. It highlights various forms of communication, from non-verbal gestures to media channels like television and the internet, which serve to amplify messages. The 'science of communication' emerges from interdisciplinary studies, with the script introducing the pyramid of communication to illustrate different levels, from societal to intrapersonal, and their connections to fields like sociology, psychology, and cultural anthropology.

Takeaways

• 📣 Communication is the act of transmitting information, encompassing thoughts, ideas, and emotions.
• 💐 Non-verbal gestures, such as giving a bouquet of flowers, are a form of communication that conveys a message.
• 🗣 Adding verbal communication, like a compliment, to a non-verbal act creates a separate act of communication.
• 😳 Emotional responses, such as blushing, also serve as a form of communication.
• 🤝 As social beings, humans communicate constantly using spoken words, non-verbal gestures, signs, and symbols.
• 📡 Media refers to the channels used to communicate, including technical media like television and broader definitions like body language.
• 🔍 Scholars have varying definitions of 'media,' but generally, it involves tools that amplify communication.
• 🔬 The study of communication channels and forms has led to the development of the 'science of communication'.
• 🌐 Different scientific disciplines contribute to the understanding of communication, sharing theories and methods.
• 🏛 The 'pyramid of communication' illustrates different levels of communication and their connection to various scientific disciplines.
• 🌍 Societal communication is aimed at large audiences and is studied by historians, political scientists, and sociologists.
• 🏢 Institutional communication involves organizations like political parties and corporations, falling under sociology and cultural anthropology.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Group communication is characterized by a strong sense of group identity, also within the realm of sociology and cultural anthropology.
• 👥 Interpersonal communication is the interaction between individuals, studied by both sociologists and psychologists.
• 🤯 Intrapersonal communication is self-communication, including internal information processing and is primarily a psychological domain.

Q & A

What is the simplest definition of communication according to the script?

The simplest definition of communication is each act of transmitting information, which includes thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

Can non-verbal actions be considered as forms of communication?

Yes, non-verbal actions such as giving someone a bouquet of flowers or blushing can be considered as forms of communication as they convey certain messages.

What is the role of media in communication?

Media are the channels used to communicate messages. They can be technical, like television and the internet, or more personal, like our hands, voice, and eyes.

What is the broader definition of media according to the script?

The broader definition of media includes not only technical channels but also our hands, voice, and eyes, which are all used to communicate in some way.

How does the script describe the study of communication channels over the years?

The script describes the study of communication channels as being conducted by scientists from different disciplines, with their results forming the basis of the relatively new 'science of communication'.

Why is it useful to be aware of how other disciplines are connected to the study of communication?

It is useful because scholars in other disciplines often study the same communication phenomena, share theories, models, and use the same methods to analyze and describe the field.

What is the 'pyramid of communication' mentioned in the script?

The 'pyramid of communication' is a conceptual model that illustrates different levels of communication and how they are connected to other scientific disciplines.

What are the levels of the 'pyramid of communication' described in the script?

The levels are societal communication, institutional communication, group communication, interpersonal communication, and intrapersonal communication.

Who typically studies societal communication according to the script?

Societal communication is mainly studied by historians, political scientists, and sociologists.

What is intrapersonal communication and which discipline does it lean heavily on?

Intrapersonal communication is the communication you have with yourself, including information processing, thinking, internalizing information, and giving meaning to the world around us. It leans heavily on psychology.

How does the script differentiate between institutional and group communication?

Institutional communication is performed by entities like political parties, organized religions, and large corporations, while group communication involves audiences that feel a high level of group identification, such as a family or a fan club.