WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
Definition of communication
People communicate to exchange information through a common system of symbols, signs, or sets of behaviour. According to D.E. McFarland, American expert on business management, “Communication may be broadly defined as the process of meaningful interaction among human beings.
” Communication has an important function, strongly associated with all other human activities: it overcomes the gap between individuals and groups through information. Information is its most vital aspect: it is transmitted, studied, analysed, interpreted and stored. As a result, communication helps people understand, bringing people closer and creating clarity of thoughts and expression.
Purposes of communication
The five major purposes for communication are:
- to share knowledge;
- to imagine unreal situations or stories;
- to influence (e.g. advertising);
- to meet social expectations;
- to express feelings.1
DO
1 Think of a real-life example
for each of these purposes.