COMMUNICATION-OVERVIEW

COMMUNICATION

Communication is often considered as an activity only. In reality, it is actually a process. The

process of communication includes transmission of information, ideas, emotions, skills, and knowledge. This is done with the help of symbols, words, pictures, figures, graphs, drawings, and illustrations, etc. Again, "communication" is the process by which we understand and in turn try to be understood by others. It is dynamic, constantly changing and shifting in response to the overall situation. Therefore, "communication" can be described as "the interchange of thoughts or ideas". This is also referred as sharing of meaning.

Again, communication is viewed as creation and transmission of information, consisting of distinctive stimuli, from a source to a recipient. Speaking about the role of communication in everyday life, one can say that communication is a system through which the messages are sent, and feedback received. So it is not a one-way process. Rather it is a two-way process.

Communication is, therefore, the process of transferring a particular information or message from an information source to a desired, definite or a particular destination. This process also involves feedback from the receiver.

NEED OF COMMUNICATION

Man is a social animal. The meaning and importance of this statement needs elaboration. Is the social nature of man by choice or compulsion? What are the requirements for living in a society? What would happen if human beings were to become 'unsocial animals'? Look at the newly born infants, animals, plants and insects. Insects lay eggs and new insects come out of the eggs. The new ones do not require any caring or protection of the mother or other members of the species. In plants whether they reproduce in the vegetative manner or through the process of fertilization, the new saplings are not taken care of by the parent plants. In most cases, the newly born babies are independent. In case of some reptiles and birds when the new ones are born they are protected and fed by the mothers. This dependence of the newborn on the members of the same species increases as we move along the ladder of evolution. 

All mammals are biologically so built that they have well developed mammary glands. A newborn calf needs some care and feeding by the mother cow, but very soon becomes self-dependent. In case of monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas, the dependence of the newborn on the mother is considerable.

Biological Compulsion: Man is at the top of the ladder of evolution and rules the world today.

But what is the condition of the newborn child of the human species. It is totally dependent upon the mother and other members of the human species. This dependence is almost total and it is impossible for a newborn human child to develop into a human being if the social environment is not provided for. Large number of cases has actually been reported where the newborn human child got isolated and lived without coming in touch with any other human being. Such infants developed into animal like creatures. Mogley is one such example. Wolf-boys and wolf-girls are other examples. It has been reported that Akbar also experimented with newborn children by isolating them from human beings but providing all other comforts. The newborn did not learn any language. They did not learn to walk on two legs. Now it can be safely said that the biology of human beings is such that they have to depend upon others. This dependence means that it is a biological necessity for human beings to live in the groups. Society is, therefore, the outcome of the evolution of the human race.

Communication as a Basic Need: Society means living in groups. To live in groups one must

interact with each other and the only tool of interaction is communication. Hence it can be safely summarized that communication is one of the basic needs of human beings that enables them to live in groups. Thus, society and communication are interdependent and the existence of one cannot be perceived without the other. To understand communication we have also to understand society. The study of the society is called sociology. And the process through which we learn to live and co-exist in society is called socialization.

Human Beings have a Biological Need to Live in Society: Man has evolved in such a way that he cannot live by himself. All the basic and secondary needs of man are fulfilled through his associations with others. The need of food, safety, and sex, etc., gives rise to social cooperation. The very existence of human race is dependent upon the biological compulsions of living in groups.

Human Beings have a Social Need to Live in Society: To become an effective member of the

society man has to learn the norms of behavior, expectations, obligations and prestige, etc. This process is called socialization and is carried out through communication with the members in the groups. A man learns to behave as a normal human being only in the company of other human beings through the process of communication.

Human Beings have a Psychological Need to Live in Society: The growth of individual personality is totally dependent upon social living. Mental growth and the psychological need of

belongingness are fulfilled in a social environment. The entire learning process is the process of socialization.

DEFINITIONS

Many scholars have defined communication in their own ways. Scholars from many different fields like sociology, psychology, anthropology, and the field of communication have given hundreds of definitions. But not all scholars agree upon any single definition of communication. One of the reasons of this difficulty of having a single, all-inclusive and comprehensive definition of the term communication is the diversity and complexity of the concept. Communication means 'exchange' to some. It means 'interchange' to others. To still others it means 'sharing'. We all understand what communication is. Most of us take part in the process of communication all the time. We participate as senders of messages and also as receivers of

messages. We also use many media of communication. Then we use communication for achieving success in a variety of objectives. Because of the above reasons, we can describe communication. 

Larry L. Barker & Deborah A. Barker: Communication is a process in which two or more elements of a system interact in order to achieve a desired outcome or goal.

J. P. Legan: It is a process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings, or impressions, in a way that each gain understanding of the message.

Brooker (1949): Communication is any thing that conveys meanings, that carries a message from one person to another.

Weaver (1966):

Communication is the process by which our mind can affect others.

Thayer (1968): Communication is the interchange of thoughts or information to bring about mutual understanding and confidence or good human relations.

L. Brown: Communication is the transmission and interchange of ideas, feelings, or courses of action.

Charles E. Redfield: Communication is the broad field of human interchange of facts and opinions and not the technology of telephony, telegraphy, and the like.

Wilbur Schramm: Communication is the transmission of stimuli.

John Harris: Communication is the establishment of commonness.

Dennis Mcquail: Communication is a process that increases commonality, But it requires commonality for it to occur at all