Communication

==Communication studies==
{{Main|Communication studies}}
Communication studies, also referred to as ''communication science'', is the academic discipline studying communication. It is closely related to semiotics, with one difference being that communication studies focuses more on technical questions of how messages are sent, received, and processed. Semiotics, on the other hand, tackles more abstract questions in relation to [[Meaning (philosophy)|meaning]] and how signs acquire it.<ref>{{harvnb|Danesi|2000|pp=58–59}}</ref> Communication studies covers a wide area overlapping with many other disciplines, such as [[biology]], anthropology, [[psychology]], [[sociology]], linguistics, [[media studies]], and [[journalism]].<ref>{{multiref |1={{harvnb|Danesi|2013|p=181}}  |2={{harvnb|Håkansson|Westander|2013|p=6}}  |3={{harvnb|Ruben|2002a|p=156}}  |4={{harvnb|Gill|Adams|1998|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qhXZU39BVJYC&pg=PR7 vii]}} }}</ref>

Many contributions in the field of communication studies focus on developing [[models of communication|models]] and [[Communication theory|theories of communication]]. Models of communication aim to give a simplified overview of the main components involved in communication. Theories of communication try to provide conceptual frameworks to accurately present communication in all its complexity.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Danesi|2013|p=181}} | {{harvnb|Cobley|Schulz|2013|pp=[https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110240450/html 7–10]|loc=Introduction}} | {{harvnb|Berger|Roloff|Ewoldsen|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gH7F_0kTQTEC&pg=PT22 10]}} }}</ref> Some theories focus on communication as a practical art of discourse while others explore the roles of signs, experience, information processing, and the goal of building a social order through coordinated interaction.<ref>{{harvnb|Cobley|Schulz|2013|pp=31, 41–42}}</ref> Communication studies is also interested in the functions and effects of communication. It covers issues like how communication satisfies physiological and psychological needs, helps build relationships, and assists in gathering information about the environment, other individuals, and oneself.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Steinberg|2007|p=18}} | {{harvnb|Gamble|Gamble|2019|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=bUdeDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 14–16]}} }}</ref> A further topic concerns the question of how communication systems change over time and how these changes correlate with other societal changes.<ref>{{harvnb|Danesi|2013|p=184}}</ref> A related topic focuses on psychological principles underlying those changes and the effects they have on how people exchange ideas.<ref>{{harvnb|Danesi|2013|pp=184–185}}</ref>

Communication was studied as early as [[Ancient Greek|Ancient Greece]]. Early influential theories were created by [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]], who stressed public speaking and the understanding of [[rhetoric]]. According to Aristotle, for example, the goal of communication is to persuade the audience.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruben|2002a|p=155}}</ref> The field of communication studies only became a separate research discipline in the 20th century, especially starting in the 1940s.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Ruben|2002a|pp=155–156}} | {{harvnb|Berger|Roloff|Ewoldsen|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gH7F_0kTQTEC&pg=PT15 3–4]}} }}</ref> The development of new communication technologies, such as telephone, radio, newspapers, television, and the internet, has had a big impact on communication and communication studies.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Ruben|2002a|pp=155–156}} | {{harvnb|Steinberg|2007|p=3}} | {{harvnb|Bernabo|2017|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=4GFCDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA201 201–202]|loc=Communication History}} }}</ref>

Today, communication studies is a wide discipline. Some works in it try to provide a general characterization of communication in the widest sense. Others attempt to give a precise analysis of one specific form of communication. Communication studies includes many subfields. Some focus on wide topics like interpersonal communication, intrapersonal communication, verbal communication, and non-verbal communication. Others investigate communication within a specific area.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Ruben|2002a|pp=155–156}} | {{harvnb|Steinberg|2007|p=286}} | {{harvnb|Jenkins|Chen|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=HQJbDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT506 506]}} }}</ref> [[Organizational communication]] concerns communication between members of organizations such as [[corporations]], [[nonprofits]], or small businesses. Central in this regard is the coordination of the behavior of the different members as well as the interaction with customers and the general public.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Putnam|Woo|Banghart|2017}} | {{harvnb|Ren|Zhai|2013|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=nC6_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 77]}} }}</ref> Closely related terms are [[business communication]], [[corporate communication]], and [[professional communication]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Hartley|Bruckmann|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=n-OGAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1–2]}} | {{harvnb|Mullany|2020|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rC3rDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 2]}} | {{harvnb|Dixon|2017|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=4XHQDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA204 204]}} }}</ref> The main element of [[marketing communication]] is [[advertising]] but it also encompasses other communication activities aimed at advancing the organization's objective to its audiences, like [[public relations]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Sierra|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0xL_cHiMfLoC&pg=PA392 392]}} | {{harvnb|Brønn|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Zs6UCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT360 360]}} }}</ref> [[Political communication]] covers topics like [[electoral campaigns]] to influence voters and legislative communication, like letters to a [[congress]] or committee documents. Specific emphasis is often given to [[propaganda]] and the role of [[mass media]].<ref>{{harvnb|McClelland|2008|loc=[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/communication-political Communication, Political]}}</ref>

[[Intercultural communication]] is relevant to both organizational and political communication since they often involve attempts to exchange messages between communicators from different cultural backgrounds.<ref>{{harvnb|Hillstrom, Northern Lights|Magee, ECDI|2006|pp=[https://www.encyclopedia.com/entrepreneurs/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/intercultural-communication 609–610]|loc=Intercultural communication}}</ref> The cultural background affects how messages are formulated and interpreted and can be the cause of misunderstandings.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Blythe|2009|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rPgQRbBLdYgC&pg=177 177–180]}} | {{harvnb|Meng|2020|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=b0HWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA120 120]}} }}</ref> It is also relevant for [[development communication]], which is about the use of communication for assisting in development, like aid given by [[First world|first-world countries]] to [[third-world countries]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Melkote|2003|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=SNmJy7iBYOYC&pg=PA129 129]}} | {{harvnb|Steinberg|2007|p=301}} }}</ref> [[Health communication]] concerns communication in the field of [[healthcare]] and health promotion efforts. One of its topics is how healthcare providers, like doctors and nurses, should communicate with their patients.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Steinberg|2007|p=307}} | {{harvnb|Kreps|2002|p=395}} }}</ref>