Communication: We explain what communication is, its types, functions, elements and characteristics. Also, what the means of communication are.
What is communication?
Communication is the transmission of information between two or more individuals. All living beings present some form of communication, whether chemical signals, sounds or gestures. However, the ability to transmit complex meanings through language distinguishes human communication from other forms of animal communication.
As a phenomenon common to all living beings, communication is also addressed from the biological sciences. In this case, it is a fundamental function in the development of life at its different levels, from the cellular level to the levels of individuals, populations and biological communities. Keep getting this Industrial Revolution information too!
Human beings learned to replicate the natural process of communication through technology: computer systems, for example, can communicate with each other automatically.
The use of technology has led to an expansion of the concept of communication, including technical aspects. Thus, for example, communication is understood to include, in addition to the exchange of information, the transmission of data, the connection of devices and reciprocal control between the components of a device.
Communication is the subject of study of numerous disciplines, such as linguistics, anthropology, sociology and psychology, among others.
Characteristics of communication
Broadly speaking, communication is characterized by:
Presence of a sender and a receiver. For communication to occur, there must be someone who directs a message to another. In turn, if no one receives the message, communication does not take place. Keep getting this Paleozoic Era information too!
Exchange of information
In all communication, the parties involved give and receive knowledge, experiences, feelings and, in general, some type of meaning.
Mediation
Communication can be established directly and immediately, that is, face to face, or indirectly and deferred, that is, through means such as letters, email or voice messages, among others.
Feedback
Throughout the communication process, the roles of the receiver and the sender are usually exchanged.
Search for a response
Although it can have very varied purposes, communication almost always has the objective of provoking a desired response in the interlocutor or interlocutors.
Irreversibility
Once something has been communicated, it is not possible to eliminate it: there is no “going back” in communication.
Irrepeatability
A communicative act is unique and unrepeatable. Although a message can be said more than once, the circumstances in which it is transmitted are never the same.
Importance of communication
There is no way of life that does not communicate in one way or another. It is, therefore, a fundamental process of existence.
Without communication, there would be no society, knowledge or culture. To the extent that it allows the exchange of ideas and access to different points of view, communication:
- Prevents misunderstandings and helps resolve conflicts.
- Fosters creativity.
- Allows for the establishment of rules of coexistence to organize social life.
- Provides information that guides people in making decisions.
- Transmits traditions and cultural values.
Communication plays a central role in any organization, whether it is a company, an academic institution or a government agency. Among other reasons, this is because communication:
- Drives the exchange of knowledge and innovation.
- Promotes team building.
- Improves performance and the work environment.
- Contributes to managing crises through dialogue and the acceptance of different opinions.
Furthermore, thanks to technology, mechanisms have been designed to amplify or modulate communication, overcoming large spatial and even temporal distances.
Types of communication
Communication can be classified according to the mechanisms it uses to transmit the message, into:
Verbal communication
This is communication that occurs through words, that is, through linguistic signs. It can be oral or written.
Oral communication
This is communication that occurs through spoken words, either face to face or through some auditory means, such as the telephone, voice messages or radio.
Written communication
This is communication that occurs through the written word and any other written code (for example, a pictogram). Unlike oral communication, which can be immediate (for example, in a telephone or face-to-face conversation), written communication is always delayed in time and space. In addition, it is long-lasting, unlike much oral communication, which is ephemeral.
Nonverbal communication
This is communication that does not depend on words to convey its message, but on gestures, movements or sounds. Animal communication is in this category, as is the so-called “body language” of human beings.
Biochemical communication
These are forms of communication that depend on the transmission and reception of chemical signals, just as it occurs within our own organism. Obviously, this type of communication is also a non-verbal form.
Communication can also be classified taking into account the participants or actors involved. In this case, a distinction is made between interpersonal, group or mass communication.
Interpersonal communication
This is communication established between two or more people. Traditionally, people are physically close, so that each participant can use their senses in the communication exchange. It involves the use of verbal and non-verbal forms of communication.
Group communication
This is communication established within a particular group; typically, that group is the family.
Mass communication
This is communication established between a single transmitter and a large number of receivers (an audience), using technology as a communication channel (press, radio, internet, etc.).
Elements of communication
In communication, a series of elements or factors can be distinguished. These elements are inherent to the communication process, and if one of them is missing, communication does not occur.
The elements of communication are:
Sender
This is the person who initiates the communicative act, through the production and transmission of a message. For example: a speaker, a radio announcer or an animal that growls.
Receiver or addressee
This is the person who captures the message and is able to decode it, understand it, and thus recompose the message. For example: someone who listens to another person speak directly or through the radio, or an animal that perceives the growl of another.
Message
This is the information itself that is transmitted, whatever its type. For example: a request for help, a radio advertisement or a warning from one animal to another that it is crossing into foreign territory.
Code
This is the system of signs and rules used to prepare the message. Language, whether oral or written, is the main code used by human beings, but it is not the only one. Examples of other types of code are traffic signs, gestures that express shared meanings, or musical sounds.
Channel
The communication channel is the physical medium used to transmit the message. It refers to both the natural phenomenon (air, light, sound) and the technological device used (paper, radio, television).
Context
It is the situation or set of circumstances in which communication occurs and which influence the production of the message and its reception and interpretation. For example, depending on the context, a message such as “I will come and get you” can be a promise or a threat.
Functions of communication
Communication has various functions. These functions are not mutually exclusive: on the contrary, they frequently overlap or superimpose. Some of them are:
Informative function
When its main purpose is to share more or less objective information, that is, to describe an aspect of reality or to point out an element of the real world.
Formative function
When the aim is to influence the receiver for pedagogical or teaching purposes, to transmit habits, ideas or convictions.
Persuasive function
When the aim is to convince the interlocutor to adopt a point of view or to carry out some type of determined action.
Expressive function
When the communication is focused on the transmission of subjective impressions, feelings or emotions.
Aesthetic function
When the aim is to communicate a message that provokes an aesthetic pleasure, as occurs with poetry and, in general, art.
Social integration function
When the primary objective of communication is to establish a link with another or other individuals.
Communication barriers
Communication barriers are those events, conditions or determinants that, instead of favouring the realisation of communication, hinder or prevent it, sabotaging the effectiveness of the transmission of the message. They can be of different types and depend on different communicative elements. For example:
Barriers of the sender
They prevent the sender from encoding or transmitting the message in the most appropriate way, or they hinder the very beginning of the communicative act. For example: speech defects.
Barriers of the receiver
They prevent the receiver from correctly capturing the message sent. For example: ignorance or lack of interest in the subject of the message.
Barriers of the channel
They are inherent to the physical medium through which the message is transmitted. For example: environmental noise, interruptions or failures in a telephone communication.
Organizational communication
Organizational communication, also known as corporate communication, is the set of forms of communication in different types of organizations: companies, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, etc.
Within the framework of an organization, communication is understood in a broad sense, not only as the transmission of messages between a sender and a receiver, but as a complex process of constructing meanings, exchanges of experiences and agreements on work and coexistence rules.
Different types of organizational communication are recognized. Depending on the area in which it is developed, organizational communication is classified as:
Internal communication
This is established between members of the organization, whether of equal or different hierarchy. According to the flow or direction of communication, internal communication is classified, in turn, as descending, ascending or horizontal.
Descending communication
This is issued by high levels to the rest of the organization. Instructions and orders for the execution of tasks are part of this type of communication. It also includes communication of the organizational culture.
Upward communication
This is communication that flows from the lower levels of the organization to the higher ones. Examples of this type of communication are the projects or reports that employees send to their superiors.
Horizontal communication
This is communication that is established between members of the same hierarchical level, whether they are from the same area or from different areas. It is used in work meetings, notes, debates.
External communication
This is communication that is intended for people who do not belong to the organization (clients, suppliers, competitors, government agencies, etc.). Depending on the recipient, it is classified as:
Commercial communication
This includes communication directed at clients and suppliers, which is articulated in advertising campaigns and product or service presentation strategies.
Public communication
This is oriented towards the relationship between organizations and governments and non-state public bodies. It includes presentations made to comply with laws and regulations.
Finally, organizational communication is also classified, according to its register or degree of formality, into:
Formal communication
This is the communication issued by the organization through manuals, protocols, communications and also through advertising. It is usually carefully prepared.
Informal communication
This is the communication established in the daily interactions of the members of the organization. It is, therefore, a type of internal communication.
Media
In general terms, the media are the instruments or technological devices used for communication. Among the elements that intervene in the communication process (sender, receiver, channel, code, message) they constitute a type of channel.
There are interpersonal and mass communication media.
Interpersonal communication media
These are those that allow interaction between a receiver and one or more receivers. In practice, they function as extensions of direct, face-to-face communication. The telephone, postal mail, email and chat are examples of interpersonal communication media.
Mass media
These are those in which a sender sends a message to a large number of receivers. Unlike interpersonal media, communication is typically carried out in a unidirectional manner, from the sender to the receivers (although the emergence of the Internet has modified this circuit, making the receiver an active subject). Examples of mass media include newspapers, cinema, television, etc. Keep getting this Field Diary information too!
Communication Sciences
The study of the different aspects of human communication is known as Communication Sciences. It is an interdisciplinary area in which concepts and theories from sociology, semiotics, psychology, anthropology and linguistics, among other disciplines, converge.
Based on the contributions received, Communication Sciences build their own tools for analyzing the communicative phenomenon.
The field of application of Communication Sciences includes, among other areas, journalism, business communication, advertising and marketing, institutional communication and political communication.
Since communication is present in all spheres of human activity, in recent years studies and practices related to Communication Sciences have expanded to numerous fields, such as medicine, economics, the armed forces, the Internet and the communication of scientific knowledge.
