FOUNDATIONS OF LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION THEORY

1. The essence of language communication theory

2. Communication theory as a methodological basis for studying language
communication
3. The nature and structure of communication

Task 1. What is the essence of language communication theory as a field?

What does it deal with?
Definition Object Subject Tasks

a direction in human natural human language 1.Studying the

contemporary language communicative nature, types and
linguistics aimed activity in forms of human
at studying real life situations communication
regularities, 2.Modelling
components and communicative
factors of human situations and
language analyzing their
communicative components
activity 3.Distinguishing
and describing
units of language
communication
4.Formulating the
laws of the
language code
organization in
communication
5.Characterizing
different spheres
of human
communication
6.Searching for
optimal models of
human
communication

Task 2. What is the relationship between language communication theory,

communication science and other branches of linguistics?
As it is known, language communication theory is a part of communication
science and linguistics because its topic of study requires knowledge in the field
of linguistics as well as in communication science. Therefore, language
communication theory is closely related to such branches of linguistics as
pragmatics, sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics, cognitive linguistics and
psycholinguistics.

Task 3. Who were the first to use the term “communication theory”? When was
that? Who are known as the founders of communication theory as a science?
The first to use the term “communication theory” were technicians and
mathematicians. It first appeared in electrical engineering and referred to
mathematical theories of signal coding, transmission and processing. It was in
the 1940s.
Origin of communication theory as a science is usually associated with two
publications: “Cybernetics” by Norbert Wiener (1948) and “The Mathematical
Theory of Communication” by Claude Elwood Shannon and Warren Weaver
(1949). These people are considered the founding fathers of communication
theory as a science.

Task 4. Match the title with the author. How important were these papers for
the development of communication theory as a science?
1. Cybernetics (1948) - Norbert Wiener
2. The Mathematical Theory of Communication (1949) - Claude Shannon &
Warren Weaver
3. The Functions of Human Communication: A Theoretical Approach (1976) -
Frank Dance & Carle Larson
4. Communication Theory: Epistemological Foundations (1996) - James
Anderson
5. Communication Theory as a Field (1999) - Robert Craig
To my mind, these works were crucial for the development of communication
theory as a science because they gave a start to this science, defined its main
principles, provided definitions, theories and functions of communication,
distinguished 7 traditions in communication theory and explained a host of
other issues and phenomena in communication.

Task 5. Name seven traditions of communication theory.

Communication is theorized as:
1. Rhetorical: the practical art of discourse
2. Semiotic: intersubjective mediation by signs
3. Phenomenological: experience of otherness; dialogue
4. Cybernetic: information processing
5. Sociopsychological: expression, interaction, and influence
6. Sociocultural: (re)production of social order
7. Critical: discursive reflection

Task 6. Why is it difficult to agree upon a single definition of communication?

What are the main two approaches to define communication? How do they
differ?
It is difficult to agree upon a single definition of communication because there
exist different disciplines, which define communication in their own way, based
on their specialization.
There are two main approaches to define communication - mechanistic and
action-based approaches.
Mechanistic approach suggests that communication is a one-way process of
encoding and transmitting information from the source to the receiver through
some channel.
Action-based approach, on the contrary, suggests that communication is a two-
way process of exchanging information between people that is caused by their
needs for mutual activities.

Task 7. Why is modelling used in communication theory? Describe three basic

models of communication. Which would you use to model the communication
process in these situations?
First of all, model – is a simplified representation that shows what
communication looks like and how it works. Modelling is used in
communication theory because it simplifies the basic structure of
communication and helps us understand this structure not just verbally, but also
visually by providing pictures or visual representations.
There are three basic models of communication: linear, interactive and
transactional.
Linear (transmission) model defines communication as action and explains a
one-way process of transmitting information from the source (sender) to the
receiver. It was developed by Shannon and Weaver.
Interactive (convergence) model defines communication as interaction and
explains a two-way process of exchanging information between the sender and
the receiver who swap their roles. It was developed by Wilbur Schramm.
Transactonal model defines communication as transaction and explains
simultaneous sending and receiving of messages in an ongoing, irreversible
process. It was developed by Dean Barnlund.

1. You are discussing your plans for the weekend with your friends on the
phone. I would use transactional model
2. You are being interviewed when applying for a job. I would use interactive
model
3. You are listening to the radio while driving a car. I would linear model

Task 8. Answer the questions about the structure of communication:

What are the main elements of the communication process?
The main elements of the communication process are: addresser and addressee,
message, encoding and decoding, channel and medium, feedback,
communication noise and situational context.
Which elements are not compulsory?
I guess that feedback and communication noise are not compulsory.
What types of communication noise can you mention?
I can mention such types of communication noise as physical noise,
physiological, psychological and semantic.
How is feedback important? What types of feedback do you know?
Feedback is important because it’s the addressee’s reaction to the received
message. It can be:
● verbal and nonverbal
● oral and written
● immediate and delayed
● spontaneous and prepared
What is the role of communication context? What types of communication
context do we have to differentiate?
Communication context means different variations of why, where, how and
when communication is happening. So, it’s basically the situation,
circumstances, or specific setting in which communication occurs.
It can be:
● physical (the environment that affects communication)
 ● social (the nature of the relationship between the communicators, their
status and age)
● chronological (the ways time influences communication)
● cultural (the set of values, beliefs, lifestyles, and behaviors that affect
communication)

Task 9. Go to the website https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=GvXPuQGPLB8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1AGP2B4ILjYVA_3XuOa
AJC-snrQVRxSKcd721PH-yZD5bed8Ufd41FuaY, watch the video and analyze
the event in terms of its communication structure:
● Addresser and addressee
Addresser - individual (a speaker - Nikolaos Dimitriadis)
Addressee – collective (the audience, viewers who watch the video on the
Internet)
● Message
Verbal and nonverbal (speech, gestures, body language, face expressions);
deliberate and prepared - the speech about communication (the purpose of
communication, the main problem of communication, solutions)
● Encoding and decoding
Encoding – the process of converting abstract ideas into a concrete code that is
sent to the addressee.
Codes – the means that communicators use:
● verbal (human natural language)
● nonverbal (other code systems)
Decoding – the process of attaching meaning to words, symbols, or behaviors.
Nikolaos encodes his thoughts with the help of the presentation which has
a face-to-face setting. I believe that he changes the way of decoding his message
by presenting two ways of doing it: 1.The audience fully understood what he
was talking about but did nothing about it. 2. The audience didn’t give much
thought of what he talked about that day but the following day they will share
this information with others, change the way of posting information and do
some actions.
● Channel and medium
In the video are represented such channels (ways of transmitting the message):
hearing, visual, oral.
Medium in the video is oral (the presentation which has a face-to-face setting)
and written (notes on the board in the presentation).
 ● Feedback
In this case feedback is non-verbal, immediate, prepared (applause).
And the viewers in front of teir screens at homes can leave a written delayed or
immediate comment below the video or express their attitude after watching
with colleagues, teacher etc.
● Communication noise
In the video physical, physiological, psychological and semantic (the unusual
speaker’s accent) noise is present.
● Situational context
- physical (the environment that affects communication - a haul where a
speech is given)
- social (communication between people approximately of the same age,
interested in neurolinguistics, communication theory. So, they are aware
of information given by the adresser)
- cultural
- chronological (time for communication act is limited, so the speech
should be well prepared, presented in the best way at the first attempt,
information should be available and understandable for the audience
unfamiliar with this topic)

Based on the video, answer these questions:

What is the main purpose of communication according to the speaker?
The speaker says that communication is not about understanding, it’s about
behaviour. The purpose of communication is the behavior that follows the
information exchange, because communication cannot be considered successful
just at the stage of information exchange.
Why should we change the old communication models that we are using?
The speaker says that the current model of communication doesn’t work. He
says that we should start listening to our brain and adapt the new style of
communication that will make us more effective in what we’re trying to say.
Otherwise we’ll continue having misunderstandings. He points out that if the
old communication model worked, the world would be a much better place. The
old communication model is based on the view of human nature which is called
“Homo economicus”. It is based on the outdated 18th century classical
economics thinking in a very simple world with limited information, choices
and understanding about the brain. We developed a model of human decision
which says that every human being is capable or should be capable of making
the right decision but making a cost-benefit analysis and optimizing the choices
we make. If we don’t perform this rational thinking and optimizing our
decision making then we are considered to be stupid. Actually, this model was
suitable for a simple world in the past and therefore, today it’s not relevant.
What kind of communication model does the speaker believe we need to adopt?
He says that we need to replace understanding with behaviour and start looking
at communication in a more holistic way. Thinking is not necessary for a
behaviour. Thinking does not drive behaviour.
The speaker proposes the idea of brain-based communication.
1. We need to dethrone thinking and start considering the whole approach to
communication, considering behaviour.
2. We need to share emotions. When we are talking to someone instead of
transmitting an idea we have to think of transmitting an emotion. This
will not only make the conversation more memorable but also drive
behaviour faster.
3. We should consider people's habits. By this he tries to say that we may
agree on something with someone but the habits are strong and they do
not change so easily.
4. We should consider our own biases and those of the people you talk to.
Unfortunately, we have stereotypes and prejudices that influence our
thinking and we need to be aware of them.
5. We have to scan and use the environment. Our brain has evolved over
millions of years to interact with the natural and physical environment.
When we communicate we have to consider it and how it interplays with
our communication.
6. We have to make it easy. We may give clear directions to somebody to
do something but then the procedures, rules and so on may put the
barriers for them to do it.
7. We have to abandon common sense. Many times when we create
messages in a common sense way, they have exactly the opposite effect
than the one we initially wanted to do.
8. We have to speak with actions. The oldest parts of the brain drive
behaviour and these parts of the brain cannot speak. We may talk a lot but
these parts of the brain can’t understand anything.
What quote about communication does the speaker refer to? What is it about?
The quote is by Bernand Shaw: “The single most important problem with
communication is the illusion that it has taken place”. The speaker says that he
understood that this illusion comes from the moment of our expectation of the
communication. As it turned out, communication is not about information
exchange, it's about behaving accordingly. He points out that if we consider
success in the moment of information exchange we are running the risk of
having the illusion that we succeeded with our communication. Bernard Shaw
wanted to say that the illusion of communication is the illusion of
understanding.
Do you agree with the speaker’s ideas? Is there anything in his speech that
surprises you?
I totally agree with the speaker’s ideas. And what surprised me the most is that
we mostly have an illusion that we had a successful communication and that
communication is not about information exchange but it is about behaving
accordingly.

References
http://dinus.ac.id/repository/docs/ajar/Communication-in-the-Real-World-An-
Introduction-to-Communication-Studies.pdf
Craig, R. T. (1999). Communication theory as a field. Communication Theory,
9, 119–161. Retrieved from:
http://people.unica.it/ernestinagiudici/files/2014/03/CRAIG-
COMMUNICATION-THEORY-AS-A-FIELD.pdf
Gamble, T. K. & Gamble, M. (2013). Communication works (11th ed.). – New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Littlejohn, S. W. & Foss, K. A. (Eds.). (2009). Encyclopedia of communication
theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Steinberg, S. (2015). An introduction to communication studies (2nd ed.). Cape
Town, South Africa: Juta.
Яшенкова О. В. Основи теорії мовної комунікації: навч. посібник. – К.: ВЦ
“Академія”, 2010. – 304 с. (available to borrow from our university library and
reading-hall at the yellow building)
Яшенкова О. В. Основи теорії мовної комунікації: навч. посіб. для сам.
роб. студента. – К.: ВЦ “Академія”, 2011. – 312 с. (available to borrow from
our university library and reading-hall at the yellow building)