Definition of Communication Essay Example for Free

Definition of Communication Essay Introduction Whenever we interact with other people, intentional or unintentional, we communicate; because of its abstract nature, the concept of communication is difficult to define. If one remembers Communication Theory as a Field (Craig 1999), we gain insight into the scientific fields of communication, on how diverse the fields of study actually are. With such diversity among theorists’ approaches to communication, it is even harder to get a single definition standing, at least within academia. The devil is in the details; however some argue that it is rather impractical to study a subject that isn’t well defined. A First Look At Communication Theory (Griffin 2012) offers a working definition. (Griffin 2012:6) states â€Å"Communication is the relational process of creating and interpreting messages that elicit a response†. But does this definition of what communication is suffice in the light of what the different theorists argue it is? This will be the main focus of my paper. I find it most reasonable to approach this question with two communication theories with different fundamental approaches to communication. In order to cover both the interpretive and objective theoretical approach, I will discuss the definition in relation to Constructivism and Semiotics. The Definition The definition consists of five parts: messages, creation of Messages, interpretation of Messages, A Relational Process, and Messages that elicits a response (Griffin 2012:6-9). â€Å"Messages are the very core of communication study.† (Griffin 2012:6). The creation of messages is the implication that messages is usually not randomly generated (constructed, invented, planned, crafted, constituted, selected, or adopted (Griffin 2012:7)). A message does not hold a meaning in and of itself; e.g. there is a differentiation between the words and the meaning. Communication is considered a process, because it functions in a contextual sense. In addition, it is a relational phenomenon because it involves two or more participants and affects their connection. And lastly, if a message fails to initiate any reactions, it would be ironic to call it communication according to Griffin. Constructivism Constructivism approaches communication from the psychological perspective, focusing on cognitive competence in interpersonal communication (Griffin 2012:98). The level of interactional competence is determined by the sophistication of the actor’s social perception skills, and their ability to analyze the social situation (the cognitive complexity of an actor (Griffin 2012:99)). The cognitive complexity is reflected in the communication process through the effectiveness of person-centered messages. â€Å"†¦ the capacity to produce highly person-centered messages has been assessed by having participants generate messages in response to standard situations and then coding these messages within hierarchical schemes for the degree of person centeredness manifested. For example, messages seeking to persuade others have been coded for the extent to which the goals and desires of the target are taken into account.† (Brant R. Burleson, Scott E. Caplan 1998:II,B) In a constructivist view, the communication process is more goal-oriented than relational. Constructing the message in a communicational context is in and of itself an intention to get an anticipated or desired reaction. â€Å"The perception and processing of others intentional efforts to convey some internal statemay be viewed as a special case of social perception† (Brant R. Burleson, Scott E. Caplan 1998:II,C). The addressed uses a received message as input in the process of structuring their response. The effectiveness of a response is directly correlated to the message’s goal related structure, and the cognitive complexity and perception skills of both addresser and addressed. Semiology Semiotics is the study of signs; it involves the production and the analysis of socially attributed meaning to an object. The semiologist Roland Barthes focused his research on signs we use in communication (Griffin 2012:332). In Mythologies (Roland Barthes 2009) we see that Barthes’ perspective on communication is broader than the interpersonal level, focusing more on abstract connotations and mythical signs in a cultural context. He argues that reality is converted into speech through human history; therefore there are no eternal meanings (Roland Barthes 2009:132). Concordantly, the meaning of a sign can shift as time progresses, an original sign could become a denotation for something else through the semiotic process. The creation of meaning of signs is then not only an individual process; it is also a conjunction and ongoing process of communication and human history. Barthes offers a semantic explanation, in his example of wrestling, to the reactions of the audience towards the wrestlers (Roland Barthes 2009:11-12). Arguing that, with French wrestling, different connotations around the mythical sign of â€Å"justice† were at interplay. So in the process of interpretation; Meaning can be implicit. Unconsciously perceived as connotative factor(s) to what is consciously noticed, and then reacted upon. Directly applying the points of discussion Extending the commonalities and differences between the two theoretical views, with Griffin’s definition, some points are very clear. Both view messages as the core instrument in communication and see it as a process. Both agree that if no reaction is elicited in any way, then the function of the message initially failed. The circumstances thereof are different in each point of view. However the aspects of messages in each theoretical view are defined in such a fashion; without a response of any kind, it would be a contradiction to refer to them as such (If we, of course, interpret messages that elicit a response to include apathetic responses). On the points of objection, it seems mostly to be a case of â€Å"weighing the words†, when viewed by either theoretical lens. As an example: on the point of a relational process, constructivists might prefer â€Å"goal-oriented† rather than relational. Or from Barthes’ perspective, adding a concept of creating mea ning as a result of communication to the definition. Conclusion The outlined approaches in this paper of constructivism and semiotics, display clear differences in the assumptions, focus-points and explanations of communication. However their general outlook does not, in any significant way, object to Griffin’s working definition. I think this outcome qualifies the definition as sufficient, as a practical tool when studying communication. The evident boundary of my paper however, is the lack of other major theoretical lenses in the subject. Further work needs to be done in order to conduct a more unified definition. References Barthes, R. (2009). Mythologies. London: Vintage Classics. 3-14 and 131-144 Craig, R.T. (1999). Communication theory as a field. Communication Theory, 9, 119-161. Griffin, E. (2011). A First Look at Communication Theory. 8th edition. New York: McGraw Hill. J. C. McCroskey, J. A. Daly, M. M. Martin (Eds.). (1998). Communication and Personality: Trait Perspectives. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton, pp. 233-286, Website: Presshttp://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/wrightr/const/bu98b.htm#II.B.%20CC%20and%20%E2%82%ACMessage%20Production%E2%82%AC

The Country of Liberia :: Africa Profile Geography Anthropology Essays

The Country of Liberia This paper is about a small country on the west coast of Africa called Liberia. It is a country built with the help of The American Colonization Society. It was established to place freed blacks in the days of slavery in the United States in the 1800s. The government was modeled after the United States. Monrovia, the capital and principal, port is named after a president of the united states, James Monroe. This country has historical significance for african Americans. As Africa's oldest republic, established by former black American slaves, Liberia played and important role as a model for African colones seeking independence. HISTORY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's tribal peoples migrated to the area between the 12th and 16th centuries. The Portuguese arrived in 1461 and began a trade in ivory, pepper, and later in slaves. In 1820, the first colonists arrived. Their successful settlement was named Monrovia in 1824. More colonists gradually arrived and established separate colonies. In 1847 the colonies united and Liberia became the first independent republic in black Africa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The new nation faced many problems. Some of them were tribal wars, low exports, and land claimed by other countries. Liberia was able to maintain its independence only with the help of the United States. Following World War II, the modern port, airport, hospitals, hydroelectric station, and other projects, all financed by the United States, were opened. There has been frequent military conflicts and civil wars. In August 1990, forces from several African countries entered Liberia to try and stop the bloody civil wars. The fighting only became worse and the Prospects of a negotiated settlement were dim. LAND AND RESOURCES   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's straight sandy coast is 350 miles long. It is broken by lagoons and mangrove swamps. It gives way to a low rolling plain about 20 miles wide. Further inland, foothills ranging in height from 600 to 1000 feet high are found. They become mountains in the north and east. The highest point in the country is Mt. Wutuvi which rises to 4,531 feet. Land area of the country is 43,000 square miles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's rivers are short and flow parallel to one another from the mountains to the ocean. The largest rivers are the St. Paul, St. John, and Cavalla.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's tropical climate is hot and humid. The usual temperature ranges from 60 degrees to 87 degrees. Annual rainfall, as much as 177 inches at the coast, gradually decreases inland to 96 inches. The rainy season occurs between May and October. A dusty winter wind blows during December.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are 90 different kind of usable wood in Liberia's vast timber resources. Mineral resources include large deposits of iron ore, diamonds, and

Maternal and Paternal Inheritances Essay

Our very existence in this world begins from both maternal and paternal inheritance. Both are very similar in characteristics; however the real difference is only in the gender. The definition of both communicates as; originates either from the mother or the father’s side, motherly or fatherly bonds, received or inherited from ones mother or father, every one of us also has someone in their lives who shows these characteristics but are of no relation. The majority of women have maternal instincts; which is passed down from mother to daughter. It originates from your mother’s side and will be continued to be passed down in generations to come however if a women was not to have children the can still pass on their maternal instincts on to their nieces and nephews, an adopted child, step children, and even their friends children. Maternal refers to the mother and child bonds, these bonds can form at any time in life. They can last for many years but can also be broken very quickly. Motherly is a description of maternal, which can mean caring, accepting, embracing, comforting and this is the tip of the iceberg of characteristics that could be mentioned. It’s not only traits that a mother can pass down it’s teachings like cooking and sewing. Paternal originates from you dads side of the family and can be passed down. Not even man will have children but he can still pass on his paternal instincts to the players on the team that they couch, their nephews, and their friend’s children. The instincts that they can pass on are different than the ones from a female figure. Paternal is also recognized as fatherly. Fatherly can be the knowledge on sports begin passed on and how to play them, and being there for the players. The bond of a father and child is simpler for the son because it can be through watching football every Sunday night, or playing catch in the backyard. On the other hand with the father and daughter bond it may be a bit more complicated because of the different interests between daughters and their fathers. There are many things that you can receive from paternal such as traits like hair color, eye color, body build. They can also pass on their knowledge, wisdom, and their drive to succeed. We all know someone who’s in our life by choice not by force. These people are the non-maternal and non-paternal friends that aren’t related to you in any way but still show and give the maternal and paternal characteristics. These are the people, which may be closer than actual family and that you may relay on the most during the good and bad situations in life. We deal everyday with maternal and paternal situations that have helped us become the person we are today. These may originate from the mother’s or the father’s side, including bonding with either mothers or fathers and we can receive or inherit traits from both sides of the family. There are also many non-family relationships that give us the same traits and characteristics.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells ( Hescs ) - 1627 Words

Introduction Vision loss has raised tremendous attention along with the ageing society. Relevant health expenditure has been invested into the medical field to improve patient’s quality of life, yet the (cure. the invention of iPSC, provide opportunity) MORE! Establishment of iPSC The interest in developing human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a regenerative medicine has been prospering due to its pluripotency and indefinite self-renewal capacity since first discovered in 19981,2. However, the method to harvest hESCs by destroying embryos raised ethical concerns and thus the progress of this therapeutics has been impeded for years. Alternative approach was not achieved until the discover of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by integrating a combination of transcriptional factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) to human fibroblasts through retroviral vectors3,4. The research of iPSCs has grew rapidly since then due to its avoidance of embryo utility as well as its capacity to encapsulate disease phenotype, which is ideal for cell-based disease modelling and drug screening1,4. Furthermore, autologous iPSCs give possibility to non-immunogenic transplantation and thus provide promise to patient-specific therapy1. To realise clinical application of iPSC therapy, several new methods to produce iPSCs were developed using non-integrating approach such as recombinant proteins, Sendai virus, mRNA, and episomes1. The new lines of iPSCs eschew the risk of tumorigenicityShow MoreRelatedEmbryonic Stem Cells Pros And Cons1664 Words   |  7 Pagesone already exists. For years, researchers have been studying the miraculous potential of human embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells, also known as hESC, have the ability to develop into any kind of specialized cells in the human body, ranging from as simple as a skin cell to as complex as a neuron. 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