Meaning, Nature and Characteristics of Communication

The word communication comes from the Latin communis ("common") and communicare ("to share, to make common"). Communication is the process of sharing information, ideas, thoughts, feelings and meaning between two or more persons (or entities) so that a common understanding is created. The key idea is shared meaning: if the receiver does not understand what the sender intended, communication is incomplete even though a message was sent.

A widely used working definition: communication is a two-way, dynamic process of exchanging messages through a medium so that the sender and receiver develop mutual understanding. In teaching, the aim is not only transmission of information but also change in knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the learner.

• Process, not an event: it is continuous and has no fixed beginning or end.

• Two-way (interactive): feedback completes the cycle. One-way communication (lecture, broadcast) is incomplete without feedback.

• Dynamic and transactional: both parties send and receive at the same time and change each other.

• Symbolic: words, gestures, images and sounds are symbols that stand for ideas; meaning lives in people, not in words.

• Irreversible: once a message is sent it cannot be taken back; you can only correct or clarify it.

• Unavoidable: "One cannot not communicate" (Watzlawick): even silence or absence sends a message.

• Purposeful / goal-oriented: it has an intention (inform, persuade, entertain, educate, instruct).

• Contextual: physical, social, cultural, psychological and temporal context shape meaning.

• Involves both content and relationship: the way something is said conveys the relationship between speakers.

• Can be intentional or unintentional, verbal or non-verbal, formal or informal.

• Informative: passing facts and knowledge.

• Educative / instructive: teaching and training.

• Persuasive / motivational: changing opinions and behaviour (advertising, propaganda, counselling).

• Expressive / emotive: sharing feelings.

• Integrative / social: building relationships and group unity.

• Control / regulatory: guiding conduct through rules and instructions.

• Entertainment (especially in mass communication).

• Clarity: clear, simple language and a single main idea.

• Conciseness: brief and to the point, without wasteful words.

• Correctness: accurate facts, grammar and tone.

• Completeness: all required information is provided.

• Courtesy: respectful, polite, positive tone.

• Consideration: a receiver-oriented approach ("you" attitude).

• Concreteness: specific facts and figures instead of vague statements.

(Some books add Coherence and Credibility. If an MCQ gives the 7 Cs, the list above is the standard one.)

Think of communication as passing a parcel and checking that it arrived undamaged. Sending is only half the job. If a teacher says "Photosynthesis is how plants make food using sunlight" and students can later explain it in their own words, communication happened. If students only heard sounds but understood nothing, then only transmission happened, not communication. Transmission is not the same as communication; shared understanding is what completes it.

Why "two-way" matters: compare the blue ticks on a messaging app with an actual reply. Blue ticks only tell you the message was delivered. A reply tells you it was understood. That reply is feedback, and feedback is what makes communication a cycle instead of a one-way street.

• Process: it never "stops". A classroom conversation continues through looks, silence and later questions.

• Symbolic: the word "tree" is not a tree; it is a symbol agreed upon by speakers of a language. Different languages use different symbols for the same thing, which is why misunderstandings arise.

• Irreversible: once you say something harsh in anger, saying "sorry" does not erase it. You can only repair, not delete.

• Unavoidable: a student sitting with folded arms and a blank face is saying "I am bored or upset" without a single word. You cannot not communicate.

• Contextual: "Fine." can mean agreement, anger or sadness depending on tone, relationship and situation.

• Transactional: in a real conversation both people talk, listen and react at the same moment, and both change during the exchange.

• Purposeful: even small talk has a purpose (building friendship). Exam wording: "communication is goal-oriented".

• Informative: the news bulletin or a notice board circular.

• Educative: a lecture, a tutorial video.

• Persuasive: an advertisement or an election speech.

• Expressive: telling a friend you are anxious about results.

• Integrative: a farewell party that strengthens team bonding.

• Control: college rules, traffic signs, exam instructions.

• Entertainment: films, songs, reels.

• Poor message: "Send the thing soon." (unclear, vague, incomplete, no courtesy)

• Better message: "Please submit your Unit 2 assignment on the college portal by 5 pm on Friday. Thank you."

What changed: it is clear (what is wanted), concise (no extra words), concrete (a date and time), complete (where and when), correct (accurate), courteous (please and thank you) and considerate (written from the reader's point of view, so they know exactly what to do).

Exam cue: "you attitude" means consideration; "specific facts and figures" means concreteness; "saying only what is needed" means conciseness.