Monday 29 October 2012

Introduction to Mass Communication



Contents
•         Introduction
•         What is communication?
•         Definitions of different scholars.
•         Conceptualizing Communication
•         Points of Convergence and Divergence by Katharine Miller
•         Points of convergence and Diversions from definitions of different scholars
•         References


Introduction

The term communication in derived from the Latin word “commnus” that means “common” and is used in reference to community. The word communication itself relates to the same family as it develops a society. Communication is a social interaction through “symbols” and “message”. It does not refer to verbal explicit and intentional transmission of message alone. We can say that communication is a process of giving or exchange information signals or message as by talk gestures or writing.

What is Communication?

Communication is the transfer of information from person to person, creature to creature or point to point. Communication may be in the form of sound transmission for example human speech, the beating of drum, bird calls or the slap of beaver’s tail on the water to warn for an approaching danger. It may also be in the form that requires sight for example writing, pictures, signal flags, gestures or the dance of the honey bee to signify to the other bees in the hive that it has found a source of pollen or it may be in a form that requires the utilization of the other senses.

Communication requires a sender and a receiver, thus the communication can occur across vast distances in time and distance which shares a communication commonality. It is shaped into a process of exchange of information covered over steps and parts.

Nature of communication varies widely and it covers many different opinions, which contradicts with variable steps involved in communication. Information itself can have a lot of different concepts depending on the context and circumstances.

People often mix the concept of information in communication and the medium to transfer it as the same to distinguish between the both we need to understand that information can be words, gestures, drawings, paintings, songs, music, symbols, sounds etc. While the medium allowing the flow of information can be speeches, blogs, emails, microphones, cell phones, forums, newspapers, televisions, radios, internet and just about anything that allows your contact with somebody that may receive information.

Definitions of Communication by Scholars and Authors

Communication is defined by various scholars, authors and educationists differently according to their understanding, perceptions and studies. Following are some definitions for communication.
• “Communication is the verbal interchange of thought or idea” (Hoben, 1954).
• “Communication is the process by which we understand others and in turn endeavor to be understood by them. It is dynamic, constantly changing and shifting in response to the total situation” (Anderson, 1959).
• “Communication: the transmission of information, idea, emotion, skills, etc., by the use of symbols-words, pictures, figures, graphs, etc. It is the act or process of transmission that is usually called communication” (Berelson and Steiner, 1964).
• “Every communication act is viewed as a transmission of information, consisting of discriminative stimuli, from a source to a recipient” (Newcomb, reprinted 1966).
• “In the main, communication has as its central interest those behavioral situations in which a source transmits a message to a receiver(s) with conscious intent to affect the latter’s behaviors” (George A. Miller, 1966).
• “the word communication includes all the procedures by which one mind affects the other” (Clauds Shanon and Warren Weaver)
• “The mechanism through which human relations exists and develop. All the symbols of the mind together with the means of conveying them through space and preserving them in time.” (Charles Colley)
• “The communication process is one of transition from one structured situation-as-a-whole to another, in preferred design” (Sondel, 1956).
• “Communication is the mechanism by which power is exerted” (Schacter, 1951).
• “In the most general sense we have communication whenever one system (source) influences another (destination) by manipulation alternative signals, which can be transmitted over channel connecting them.” (Charles E. O. S. Good)

Conceptualizing Communication

Communication is a part of nature. It is the activity of conveying sets of information that affects others. In order to develop communication you need to have a sender (the source of your information) and a receiver (that accepts the information). Receiver regardless of understanding the intentions of others accepts the information and responds accordingly and variably.

A medium allows you to understand and receive information in a much better way; it enhances your understanding, which is a primary need of human nature. Developing an understanding is a must and only communication allows it to occur. Points of convergence and divergence suggested by Katherine Miller

Points of Convergence:
• Communication is a process.
• Communication is transactional.
• Communication is symbolic.

Points of Divergence:
• Communication is a social activity.
• Communication is intentional.

Points of convergence and diversions from definitions of different scholars

Points of Convergence:

Communication is interactive
Reduces uncertainty
It’s dynamic
It’s a versatile process
It’s proactive
Communication is non-static
It’s grounded in perspectives
It’s symbolic
Communication creates commonness
Transmission
Communication proactive not passive

Points of Divergence:

Understanding
Intentional
Verbal
Constant
Social interaction
Art
Observation
Passive
Transfer of information.



References

Theories of human communication by Little John.
www.shkaminski.com/Classes/Handouts/Definitions%20of%20Communication.htm
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication.
www.people-communicating.com/what-is-communication.html
www.wiki.answers.com/Q/How_is_communication_defined_by_different_scholars_and_communicators


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