What is Communication?

Before the famous Facebook, Youtube, Twitter...

Before the iPhone, Android, tablet computer...

Before there was advanced technology...

There was a much simpler time for people to talk.

But first, what the heck is communication?

It can be said the concept of Communication has been around for ages. We were taught to communicate to beings by the time we were able to walk on our two tiny feet. The language we adapted from verbal conversations, texts from a book or handwritten letters – these elements that make up Communication helps us function to normality of life and culture that surrounds us.

Various definitions can define the terminology of Communication; in its simplest form, as defined by Harold Lasswell (1948), Communication is a transmission of messages between a source and a receiver. Communication can be identified by the five common W's Lasswell notes: Who? What? Which? Whom? What effect? (Baran, 2016).

Model of Communication - Osgood and Schramm. (Baran, 2016)

The functioning aspect of communication is made up of a required response from an entity, hence, a sharing means for communication must take place. When interpersonal communication takes place for instance, the entity must decode the message the messenger is telling them and give them feedback. From there, an infinite loop between the two occurs as shown above in the figure of Osgood and Schramm's Model of Communication.

Today, we are used to the concept of mass communication – a process of creating shared meaning to a much larger audience through mass media. Between the original source and a larger volume of receivers more than one input of feedback is used in this process, meaning there is more variations of the interpreted original message (Baran, 2016). Where do we see such an example today? Take a close look at your current social media accounts. Look at Facebook for instance – you may be surprised by the number of conversations on a single post you made, and the number of comments that branch off of each comment your friend makes. To show as an example, here is a post from my Facebook where I posted a video and earned multiple feedback from friends.

 

With multiple people taking part of a single source, you have a tree full of mass communication happening. It's beautiful isn't it?

It is amazing to see how communication has changed over the course of years, that even the Communications industry had to adapt to these changes...

Resource:
Baran, S. (2016). Communication, Media & Society, (9th Ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/1259879895/