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4
LECTURE ONE
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY

DEFINITION OF THEORY
People act on theories, often without realizing it in their everyday lives.
“Theories are nets cast to catch what we call the „world” (Karl Popper)
A theory :
• is the product of human development and discussion;
 is an attempt to make sense of things;
 is a human construction--symbolic way we represent phenomena;
 an account of what something is, how it operates;
 a set of useful tools for seeing new and useful things, a systematic way of “looking.”
 Theories vary in terms of how they were generated, the kind of research used, the
style in which they are presented and the aspect of communication they address.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

Numerous research studies estimate that humans spend 75 percent of the time
engaged in communication. We take part in various routine conversations, contribute to
discussions, write letters, read articles, participate in interviews, and address small groups
and large audiences. Communication is indispensably associated with physical well-being,
definition of self, and social needs.
The term “communication” is fairly common. We refer to TV, radio, and newspapers
as communication media. The fax and computer are called communication devices.
Telecommunication technologies are widely used in the process of learning and teaching. It
is invariably emphasized that communication skills are of vital importance to managers.
Communication breakdowns can have negative consequences for political leaders,
teachers, social workers, and interpreters. In today’s global business environment effective
communication promotes harmony and smoothes contradictions. Communication is often
taken for granted, though in fact it is a complex activity. Unhappy children, broken
relationships, distressed employees, and complaining customers prove that quantity and
frequency of communication are definitely no measure of how effectively people
communicate with each other. Quantity is no guarantee of quality. Failure to understand
this complexity often leads to problems with communication.

DEFINITION of COMMUNICATION
The term “communication” is derived from the Latin word “commutis”, meaning
“common”. Thus, communication can be defined as the transmission of common
understanding through the use of symbols. In other words, unless there is a common
understanding resulting from the exchange of information symbols, there is no
communication.
There are many valid definitions and explanations of the term communication. For
example:
1. "Communication is sharing information or providing entertainment by speaking, writing,
or other methods" (WB)
2. "Speech communication is the process by which information, meanings, and feelings
are shared by persons through the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages".