Communication: Definition, Functions, Laws and Models

Communication

Communication is a fundamental, two-way process where people interact and exchange messages. It involves a sender transmitting a message and a receiver interpreting it. In this dynamic exchange, individuals share experiences, knowledge, and perceptions, creating a continuous dialogue where roles can reverse—the receiver often becomes a sender and vice versa.

The word “communication” stems from the Latin “communis,” meaning “exchange of experiences” and “tuning between sender and receiver.” It’s also linked to “comunicatio,” derived from the verb “comunicare,” which means to share, impart, or transmit.

In short, communication is a complex, reciprocal process of sharing information and experiences, encompassing everything from the structures and types of text to the core functions, laws, and models of communication itself.

Communication vs. Information: A Key Distinction

While often used interchangeably, communication and information are distinct concepts:

Information refers to a one-way transmission of a message where interaction isn’t necessarily present. This can include various types of content, such as text or images.

Communication, in contrast, requires a two-way interaction between two or more people. Participants exchange messages and respond, fostering dialogue that facilitates the exchange of ideas, emotions, and data.

Consider this: A teacher announcing “no classes tomorrow” is initially information. But if students respond with questions, that’s when communication begins.

Communication vs. Information: Key Differences
Feature	Communication	Information
Directionality	Two-way	One-way
Interaction Required	Yes	No (Optional)
Exchange Includes	Ideas, Emotions, Data	Message Content (e.g., text, images)
Typical Example	A conversation	A news article

Functions of Communication: Why We Connect

Communication serves several vital functions:

Expressive Function: This focuses on conveying emotions, feelings, and personal experiences. You see it in greetings, expressing joy, or sharing personal stories.
Informative Function: This relates to the exchange of facts, knowledge, and data. It’s at play when you ask for directions, share news, or explain a concept.
Persuasive Function: This aims to influence others’ opinions, attitudes, or behaviors. Examples include making an invitation, trying to convince someone of an idea, or negotiating a situation.

Laws and Axioms of Communication

Communication is a complex process governed by underlying principles. According to Michael Birkenbihl (1981), some key laws include:

Basic Law No. 1: Truth is not what A says, but what B understands. This means the receiver’s interpretation can differ from the sender’s intention due to individual beliefs, values, or prejudices. The sender is responsible for ensuring the message is correctly understood, often through feedback.
Basic Law No. 2: When B misinterprets A’s message, A is responsible. This emphasizes the sender’s duty to ensure clarity and accurate reception of the message.

Beyond these laws, communication also operates by axioms:

Axiom No. 1: No-communication is not possible. Even a lack of action or silence is a form of communication, conveying a message.
Axiom No. 2: Every communication involves both a content aspect and a relationship aspect, with the latter conditioning the former. Messages have an objective level (what’s said) and an emotional level (how it’s said, reflecting the relationship). The perception of the message is shaped by both.

Axiom No. 3: Interpersonal communication processes are symmetrical or complementary. This axiom addresses power dynamics and relationships between communicators, highlighting how differences can create semantic, cognitive, and contextual barriers.

Cooperative Principle: The Unspoken Agreement

The cooperative principle in communication is the unspoken agreement that guides effective interaction. When people communicate, there’s a tacit understanding to engage in a meaningful exchange. According to philosopher H.P. Grice (1975), this principle is governed by three general maxims:

Maxim of Quantity: Your contribution should be as informative as required, but no more.

Maxim of Quality: Your contribution must be truthful. Don’t say what you believe is false or lack sufficient evidence for.
Maxim of Relation (Relevance): Your contribution should be relevant to the ongoing conversation. Speakers assume relevance, and interpretations are based on what’s most applicable to the situation.

Communication Models: Understanding the Process

Over time, various communication models have been developed to better understand how communication works, influenced by thinkers like Dell Hymes, Erving Goffman, and Noam Chomsky.

Linear Communication Model

The linear communication model views communication as a one-way process. A sender transmits a message through a channel to a receiver, who decodes it without necessarily responding.

Limitations: This model doesn’t account for complexities like noise interference, feedback, or the receiver’s subjective interpretation. Despite its limitations, it’s still useful for teaching basic communication concepts.

The Communication Competence Model

One competence-based model is the expanded linear model, which incorporates additional competencies, determinations, and restrictions that influence communication. This model helps identify obstacles and challenges, aiding in the development of strategies to overcome them.

Types of Competences:

Linguistic Competence: The ability to effectively produce spoken or written communication in a given language.
Paralinguistic Competence: Nonverbal cues that accompany verbal language, such as gestures, signals, and vocal expressions.

Cultural Competence and Ideological Competence: How messages are encoded and decoded through the cultural and ideological lenses of both the sender and receiver.
Restrictions: Psychological or psychoanalytic barriers that can impact communication.

Textual Linguistics Communication Model

The textual linguistics model emphasizes that communication occurs through texts and within a specific context.

Types of Context:

Linguistic Context: The linguistic expressions available to participants within a conversation and in their immediate physical and sociocultural environment.
Sociocultural Context: The social and cultural conditions that shape the production, structure, and interpretation of a conversation’s functions.

Pragmatic Context: The knowledge of conditions and appropriate ways to use communication based on the sender’s and receiver’s objectives.

Overview

Comprehensive Overview: Text & Communication
Main Topic / Section	Key Focus / What You'll Learn
The Text	Definition, purpose, and fundamental role in conveying meaning.
* Printed Text	Codified signs, importance for reading comprehension.
* Text Structures	Framework for order, coherence, and meaning.
Formal Structure	Introduction, Body, Conclusion framework.
Semantic Structure	Coherence (logic) and Cohesion (linguistic links).
Grammatical Structure	Precise vocabulary, correct syntax, grammar rules.
* Basic Internal Structures	Rhetorical patterns: Fact, Problem-Solution, Thesis-Support.
* Types of Text	Discursive orders: Narrative, Descriptive, Informative, Expository, Argumentative, Instructional.

Communication	Definition, the two-way process of exchanging messages.
* Vs. Information	Difference between one-way transmission and two-way interaction.
* Functions	Expressive, Informative, Persuasive purposes of communication.
* Laws & Axioms	Underlying principles and unstated rules of interaction.
* Cooperative Principle	Grice's Maxims: Quantity, Quality, Relation (Relevance).
* Communication Models	Frameworks for understanding communication dynamics.
Linear Model	One-way sender to receiver process.
Competence Model	Includes linguistic, paralinguistic, cultural aspects.
Textual Linguistics Model	Communication through texts in specific contexts.