- Basic Concepts of Communication

- The Field of Communication Research

MSJ 11511/Spring 2018

What is Communication?
▪ The word ‘communication’ has multiple meanings.
▪ Concepts of ‘communication’ changed over time.
▪ ‘Communication’ has been defined by scholars from
various academic disciplines for over two millennia.
▪ Frank Dance (1967) catalogued 120 definitions
▪ Communication can be defined as a process by which
people arrive at shared meanings through the
interchange of messages.
▪ When people create and manage meanings and share
their understanding of social reality, communication
takes place.
Models for Understanding
Communication Process
Over the years, communication process has been conceptualized as:
▪ Action (Linear Model)
▪ Interaction (Interactional Model)
▪ Transaction (Convergence Model)
Communication as an action Source Receiver
originator of a recipient of a
message message

Message (Content) Noise: distortion

words, sounds, in channel not
actions or intended by the
gestures source

Channel: pathway to communication

Visual (sight) Tactile (touch)

Olfactory Auditory
Linear Model of Communication (Adapted from Shannon & Weaver, 1949.) (smell) (hearing)

Linear models present one-way view of communication that assumes a

message is sent by a source to a receiver through a channel
Linear Model: Criticisms/Limitations

▪ The approach in Linear Model is very limited for several reasons:

▪ Describes communication as unidirectional, that is, it presumes that
there is only one message in the communication process.
▪ It neglects the fact that as a process communication does not have a
definable beginning and ending.
▪ It suggests that communication is simply one person speaking to
another oversimplifies communication process.
▪ It views listeners as passive.
Communication as interaction
Feedback
communication given
to the source by the
receiver to indicate
understanding
(meaning)

Field of Experience
overlap of sender’s and
receiver’s culture,
experiences, and
heredity in
communication
Interactional Model of Communication

▪ Presents communication as the sharing of meaning with feedback that links

source and receiver
Interactional Model

▪ Describes communication as bi-directional that suggests that

communication is ongoing process.
▪ Illustrates that a person can perform the role of either sender or receiver
during an interaction, however, not both roles simultaneously.
▪ Presumes communication can be both intentional and unintentional.
▪ Illustrates how a person’s Filed of Experience, that is, her/his culture,
experiences, and heredity influence his or her ability to communicate with
another.
Interactional Model: Criticisms/Limitations

▪ Illustrates that a person can perform the role of either sender or receiver
during an interaction, but not both roles simultaneously.
▪ Assumes feedback comes after the message is completely delivered.
▪ Doesn’t take into account non-verbal messages during an interaction.
Communication as a transaction

Transactional Model of Communication

▪
Transactional Model

▪ Presents communication as a cooperative process.

▪ Linear model -> meaning is sent
▪ Interaction model -> meaning is achieved through feedback
▪ Transactional model -> meaning is constructed through sharing
▪ Takes into account the influence of past experience in communication.
▪ Recognizes the interdependency of different components in the process.
▪ Presumes that we simultaneously send and receive messages.
▪ Takes into account the influence of non-verbal messages.
▪ Takes into account the mutual/shared field of experience.

Resource: West & Turner Book, Page 11-15

 Types and Forms
of
Human Communication
 Communication

Verbal Non-verbal

Oral Written

Types of communication based on channels

 Forms/Levels of Human Communication Interpersonal Communication.
Communication between
people whose lives mutually
influence one another.

Dyadic Communication.
Communicatio Communication between two
n
persons interacting in order to
reach a mutual understanding.

Organizationa Computer Small Group Communication.

Intrapersonal Interpersonal Mass
Communicatio Communicatio Public l Mediated Communication among three
Communicatio
n n Speaking Communicatio Communicatio or more people interacting to
n
n n (CMC) achieve a shared goal.

Public Speaking. Communication

Dyadic Small Group Impersonal between a speaker and an
Communicatio Communicatio Communication audience that range in size
n n
from several people to
hundreds, thousands, and
even millions.

Intrapersonal Communication. Organizational Communication. Computer Mediated Mass Communication. Communication

Communication with oneself Communication that takes Communication (CMC). in which messages are transmitted
using internal vocalization or place within an organization Communication between to many people simultaneously
reflective thinking. among the members. people via computers through print or electronic media.

Resources: Pearson Book Pp.18~21; DeVito Book Pp. 2~4; Handout

Approach Towards
Communication
This part of the discussion is basically a reading from the book
“Communication Research: Strategies and Sources” by Rubin,
Rubin and Piele (2000). Please, read chapter 1 of the
abovementioned book for more details.
▪ Political scientists, educators, business
executives, linguists, poets, philosophers,
scientists, historians, psychologists, sociologists,
and anthropologists are concerned at least
tangentially with communication in their
specific areas of inquiry.
▪ Communication scholars focus on facets of the
communication process. Ex: how understanding
is (or isn’t) achieved and how messages
influence important personal, societal, and
global outcomes.
▪ To be more precise, Communication researchers
examine:
▪ the processes by which meanings are created
and managed
 Field
of
Communication Research
Communication literature includes a variety of subjects:
1. Communication and technology
2. Group communication
3. Health communication
4. Instructional communication
5. Intercultural communication
6. Interpersonal communication
7. Language and symbolic codes
8. Mass communication
9. Organizational communication
10. Public communication.
Communication and Technology
▪ Computer-mediated communication
▪ Digital information
▪ Emerging technologies
▪ Emerging culture
▪ Internet use and the World Wide Web
▪ New media
▪ Visual communication design
Group Communication
▪ Decision making
▪ Family communication
▪ Group dynamics
▪ Intergenerational communication
▪ Intergroup communication
▪ Leadership
▪ Problem solving
Instructional Communication
▪ Communication pedagogy
▪ Developmental communication
▪ Media effects on children
▪ Teacher–student interaction
Intercultural/International Communication
▪ Adaptation and enculturation
▪ Comparative media systems
▪ Cross-cultural communication
▪ Facework and identity
▪ Individualism–collectivism
▪ (National) developmental communication
Interpersonal Communication
▪ Conflict management
▪ Dyadic communication
▪ Gender and communication
▪ Interpersonal influence
▪ Interpersonal perception
▪ Intrapersonal communication
▪ Relational communication
Language and Symbolic Codes
▪ Conversation and discourse
▪ Linguistics, pragmatics, semiotics
▪ Nonverbal communication
▪ Semantics and sociolinguistics
Mass Communication
▪ Advertising
▪ Broadcasting and telecommunications
▪ Economics of media industries
▪ Film and cinema
▪ Journalism
▪ Media effects
▪ Media ethics
▪ Policy and regulation
▪ Popular culture
▪ Public relations
Organizational Communication
▪ Business and professional Communication
▪ Human communication technology
▪ Negotiation and mediation
▪ Organizational behavior
▪ Socialization and assimilation
▪ Training and development
Public Communication
▪ Argumentation
▪ Debate
▪ Environmental communication
▪ Freedom of speech
▪ Legal communication
▪ Performance studies
▪ Persuasion and attitude change
▪ Political communication
▪ Public address
▪ Rhetorical theory and criticism