What is Communication?

Summary

This video explores the complex concept of communication, offering a comprehensive definition and examining its key components: transmission, sharing, and creation. The video breaks down three influential models of communication: the linear information transfer model by Shannon and Weaver, the transactional model by Barnlund focused on shared meaning, and the constitutive model by Craig, which views communication as a creative process that shapes our social reality. It also highlights various areas of study within communication, such as rhetoric, interpersonal, organizational, and health communication. The video encourages viewers to reflect on their own understanding of communication.

Takeaways

• 😀 Defining communication is challenging due to its broad usage and varied interpretations, similar to words like 'culture' or 'community'.
• 😀 The Latin origin of 'communication' comes from 'communicare', meaning 'to share' or 'make something common'.
• 😀 Communication can be understood as the process by which people transmit information, share verbal and nonverbal messages, and create meaning together.
• 😀 Shannon and Weaver's 1948 model of communication emphasizes information transmission, but lacks the concept of feedback and is limited to one-way communication.
• 😀 The Shannon-Weaver model focuses on how messages are transmitted through a channel, potentially encountering noise that may distort the message.
• 😀 Barnlund's 1962 transactional model of communication sees it as a dynamic, ongoing process where senders and receivers exchange messages simultaneously, aiming to share meaning.
• 😀 Barnlund’s model emphasizes that meaning exists not in words, but in the minds of individuals, meaning is interpreted and decoded uniquely by each person.
• 😀 Robert Craig’s constitutive view of communication suggests that communication is the primary force in creating our social reality and shaping meaning through our interactions.
• 😀 Communication, according to the constitutive approach, isn't just about sharing pre-existing ideas, but generating new meaning through social interaction.
• 😀 Communication studies various areas such as rhetoric (persuasion), interpersonal communication (relationships), organizational communication (workplace dynamics), and health communication (impacting patient outcomes).
• 😀 While defining communication with one universal definition is difficult, understanding its various models and perspectives provides a broader understanding of its role in human interaction.

Q & A

What makes defining communication difficult?

Defining communication is difficult because it is a common term with varied meanings. Different people, depending on their perspective, may define it in different ways. The term is as complex as words like 'culture' or 'community,' which also have multiple interpretations.

What was Frank Dance's perspective on communication in 1970?

Frank Dance described communication as one of the most overworked terms in the English language. His statement from 1970 still holds true, as the term remains difficult to pin down and is used in many contexts with different meanings.

What is the basic definition of communication provided in the video?

The basic definition of communication in the video is the process by which people transmit information, share verbal and nonverbal messages, and create meaning with each other.

What is the Shannon-Weaver Model of communication, and how does it work?

The Shannon-Weaver Model, developed in 1948, views communication as a linear process where a sender transmits a message through a channel to a receiver. The model highlights that noise could affect the transmission, but it does not include feedback, making it limited to one-way communication.

Why is the Shannon-Weaver Model called the 'information transfer model'?

The Shannon-Weaver Model is often called the 'information transfer model' because it emphasizes the transmission of messages from sender to receiver, viewing communication as the transfer of information, without considering interactive feedback or the creation of meaning.

How does Barnlund’s Transactional Model of communication differ from Shannon-Weaver’s?

Barnlund's Transactional Model views communication as a dynamic, continuous, and circular process, where senders and receivers exchange roles simultaneously. Unlike Shannon-Weaver, Barnlund emphasizes that meaning is co-created through interaction, and feedback is integral to the process.

What is the key concept in Barnlund's view of communication?

The key concept in Barnlund's view of communication is the idea that meaning is not contained in words themselves but is co-created by the participants. Both verbal and nonverbal cues and feedback contribute to the ongoing exchange of meaning.

What does Robert Craig mean by communication being a 'constitutive' process?

Robert Craig argues that communication is a 'constitutive' process, meaning that it creates or constitutes our social reality. Rather than simply transmitting pre-existing meaning, communication is the primary process through which we generate and shape meaning together, continuously.

How does the constitutive approach to communication challenge earlier models?

The constitutive approach challenges earlier models by suggesting that meaning is not pre-existing in the words or minds of individuals. Instead, meaning is generated through interaction, making communication a creative and generative force in shaping our social world.

What are some key areas of study in the field of communication?

Key areas of study in communication include rhetoric (focusing on persuasive speaking), interpersonal communication (examining one-on-one interactions), organizational communication (studying communication within workplaces), and health communication (investigating how communication affects healthcare outcomes). These areas help us understand how communication influences various aspects of society.