What Is Communication?

Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means. A woman, labeled "Sender," says, "Your food smells delicious," which is labeled "message." A man, labeled "receiver," says, "Thanks," which is labeled "feedback." He thinks to himself, "She wants to try a bite," which is labeled "interpretation of meaning."" width="1500" height="1000" />

Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks.

Communication is sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means, including speech, or oral communication; writing and graphical representations (such as infographics, maps, and charts); and signs, signals, and behavior. More simply, communication is the creation and exchange of meaning.

Media critic and theorist James Carey defined communication as "a symbolic process whereby reality is produced, maintained, repaired and transformed" in his 1992 book "Communication as Culture," positing that we define our reality via sharing our experience with others.

All creatures on Earth have developed ways to convey their emotions and thoughts to one another. Humans can use words and language to transfer specific meanings, setting them apart from the animal kingdom.

Components of Communication

To break it down, in any communication there is a sender and a receiver, a message, and interpretations of meaning on both ends. The receiver gives feedback to the message's sender, during the message's conveyance and afterward. Feedback signals can be verbal or nonverbal, including nodding in agreement, looking away, sighing, and other gestures.

There's also the context of the message, the environment it's given in, and the potential for interference during its sending or receipt.

If the receiver can see the sender, he or she can obtain not only the message's contents but also nonverbal communication that the sender is giving off, from confidence to nervousness, professionalism to flippancy. If the receiver can hear the sender, he or she can also pick up cues from the sender's tone of voice, such as emphasis and emotion.

Rhetorical Communication: The Written Form

Another thing that sets humans apart from their animal cohabiters is our use of writing as a means of communication, which has been a part of the human experience for more than 5,000 years. In fact, the first essay—coincidentally about speaking effectively—is estimated to be from around 3,000 B.C., originating in Egypt though it wasn't until much later that the general population was considered literate.

Still, James C. McCroskey notes in "An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication" that texts like these "are significant because they establish the historical fact that interest in rhetorical communication is nearly 5,000 years old." In fact, McCroskey posits that most ancient texts were written as instructions for communicating effectively, further emphasizing early civilizations' value of furthering the practice.

Through time this reliance has only grown, especially in the Internet age. Today, written or rhetorical communication is the favored and primary means of talking to one another, whether it's an instant message, a text, a Facebook post, or a tweet.

As Daniel Boorstin observed in "Democracy and Its Discontents," the most important single change "in human consciousness in the last century, and especially in the American consciousness, has been the multiplying of the means and forms of what we call 'communication.'" This is especially true in modern times with the advent of texting, email, and social media as forms of communicating with others. With more means of communication, there are more ways to be misunderstood than ever.

If a message contains just the written word (such as a text or email), the sender needs to be confident in its clarity so that it cannot be misinterpreted. Emails can often come off cold or clipped without that being the intention of the sender, for example, yet it's not considered professional to have emoticons in formal communication to help convey the proper meaning and context.

Before You Open Your Mouth or Hit 'Send'

Consider your audience before preparing your message, whether it's going to be in person one-on-one, in front of an audience, over the phone, or done in writing. Which way will be the most effective? What will you have to do to ensure it's conveyed properly? What do you want to make sure that you don't convey?

If it's important and going to be relayed in a professional context, maybe you'll practice beforehand, prepare slides and graphics, and pick out professional attire so that your appearance or mannerisms don't distract from your message. If you're preparing a written message, proofread it to ensure the recipient's name is spelled correctly, and read it aloud to find dropped words or clunky phrasing before sending it.