Communication

Communication transmits information between living beings and machines through various channels and methods. This fundamental process shapes how we share ideas, feelings, and knowledge across different mediums and species.

Core Concepts

The transmission of information happens through a coding system where a source creates a message for a receiver to decode and understand[1]. For example, when you make a phone call, your voice becomes an electrical signal that travels through wires before transforming back into sound at the other end.

Types of Human Communication

Verbal Exchange

Verbal communication uses language in spoken, written, or signed forms. People express complex ideas through words, grammar, and syntax[1]. A public speaker giving a presentation combines carefully chosen words with proper sentence structure to convey their message effectively.

Non-verbal Signals

Body language, facial expressions, and gestures convey meaning without words[1]. When someone smiles while speaking, their expression reinforces their verbal message. Touch, personal space, and even silence carry powerful meanings in human interaction.

Communication Channels

Modern communication flows through multiple paths:

• Face-to-face conversations combine speech, expressions, and body language
• Digital devices transmit text, voice, and video across vast distances
• Mass media broadcasts reach large audiences simultaneously

Interpersonal Dynamics

People build relationships through both planned and spontaneous exchanges[1]. A job interview represents formal communication, while casual chat between friends shows informal exchange. The relationship between speakers influences their choice of words, tone, and body language.

Intrapersonal Process

We communicate with ourselves through internal dialogue, note-taking, and personal journals[1]. This self-talk helps process emotions, solve problems, and organize thoughts. When you rehearse a speech in your mind, you’re engaging in intrapersonal communication.

Biological Communication

Animals and plants exchange information through chemical, visual, and auditory signals[1]. Bees dance to share food locations, while trees release chemicals to warn nearby plants of threats. This evolutionary adaptation helps species survive and thrive.

Modern Evolution

Technology transforms how we connect[1]. From ancient writing systems to today’s internet, each advance creates new ways to share information. Social media platforms now enable instant global communication, while artificial intelligence introduces new forms of human-machine interaction.

Competence and Effectiveness

Strong communicators adapt their style to different situations and audiences[1]. They understand cultural contexts, choose appropriate channels, and interpret feedback accurately. This skill helps people achieve their goals in both personal and professional settings.

Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki?curid=5177

Communication (Wikipedia)

For other uses, see Communication (disambiguation).

"Communicate" redirects here. For other uses, see Communicate (disambiguation).

Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not only transmits meaning but also creates it. Models of communication are simplified overviews of its main components and their interactions. Many models include the idea that a source uses a coding system to express information in the form of a message. The message is sent through a channel to a receiver who has to decode it to understand it. The main field of inquiry investigating communication is called communication studies.

There are many forms of communication, including human linguistic communication using sounds, sign language, and writing as well as animals exchanging information and attempts to communicate with intelligent extraterrestrial life.

A common way to classify communication is by whether information is exchanged between humans, members of other species, or non-living entities such as computers. For human communication, a central contrast is between verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication involves the exchange of messages in linguistic form, including spoken and written messages as well as sign language. Non-verbal communication happens without the use of a linguistic system, for example, using body language, touch, and facial expressions. Another distinction is between interpersonal communication, which happens between distinct persons, and intrapersonal communication, which is communication with oneself. Communicative competence is the ability to communicate well and applies to the skills of formulating messages and understanding them.

Non-human forms of communication include animal and plant communication. Researchers in this field often refine their definition of communicative behavior by including the criteria that observable responses are present and that the participants benefit from the exchange. Animal communication is used in areas like courtship and mating, parent–offspring relations, navigation, and self-defense. Communication through chemicals is particularly important for the relatively immobile plants. For example, maple trees release so-called volatile organic compounds into the air to warn other plants of a herbivore attack. Most communication takes place between members of the same species. The reason is that its purpose is usually some form of cooperation, which is not as common between different species. Interspecies communication happens mainly in cases of symbiotic relationships. For instance, many flowers use symmetrical shapes and distinctive colors to signal to insects where nectar is located. Humans engage in interspecies communication when interacting with pets and working animals.

Human communication has a long history and how people exchange information has changed over time. These changes were usually triggered by the development of new communication technologies. Examples are the invention of writing systems, the development of mass printing, the use of radio and television, and the invention of the internet. The technological advances also led to new forms of communication, such as the exchange of data between computers.