Introduction to Communication Theory

Madyson Milordi
9/12/16
The Introduction to Communication Theory chapter seeks to define communication by
what it really is rather than what it is commonly known as. Although it is typically believed to
be just a simple exchange of information, communications scholars have found that it is much
more than that. Additionally, scholars have looked at communication as a theory rather than just
the general term communication which is why their studies are much more in depth.
According to the chapter, communication essentially is a process that involves sending,
receiving and interpreting messages. There are all different types of communication as well,
and they can all mean different things to different people. The chapter shows that
communication is not just verbal, it can be nonverbal as well, for example when someone nods
their head yes. Additionally, communication doesnt always need a response. For example, if
someone were to ask me if I was ok from across the room at a party and I gave them a thumbs
up, I still communicated with them. Even then that is a clear form of nonverbal communication.
Another example of communication that could occur without a response would be if someone
asked me to hand them a spoon and I didnt respond but still placed a spoon in their hand. If
communication is limited to verbal responses then the levels of observation would be limited.
The chapter also takes into consideration intentionality, which explores whether or not
the message being sent has to be intended in order to be considered communication. According
to Miller, communication should be intended to by the sender to affect the receivers behavior.
On the contrary, others disagree stating that communication can occur even if the sender did not
intentionally mean to send a message.
Rather than just giving one specific definition for communication, the book has identified
contexts of communication. These contexts include cognitive, individual and social,
interpersonal, intercultural, persuasive, group, organizational, mediated, and mass
communication. Through these contexts, scholars have been able to breakdown communication
to explain its different components and theories along with them.
Furthermore, communication competence is touched upon to explain the importance and
difference between effectiveness and appropriateness when it comes to communicating
messages. Since, the book is provides us with theories to give us an abstract understanding of
the communication process (Miller 2002) we should be able to become very competent when it
comes to communication. The chapter goes on to explain theories and the purpose of them.
According to the book, theories are like a lens for us to view the world, giving us different
perspectives to see different aspects of life. Theories arent made to change peoples views on
concepts, such as what time or love is or what sour tastes like, but rather to help us predict or
understand concepts. From there, different types of theories are described. First there is a
commonsense theory, which is created by a persons own personal experience. Second is
working theory, which is comes from a general believe of the best way to do something in a

particular profession. Finally, the third one is scholarly theory. Theories are also evaluated
based on different published standards: accuracy, practicality, succinctness, consistency, and
acuity.
Discussion Questions:
-Do you agree with Dance and Larsons definition a procedure by which one mind can affect
another? Is it that complex or more simple than that?
-Does it have to be on purpose or are we constantly communicating ourselves to the world
around us? Does it have to be intentional?
-Do you think that messages have to be understood in order for communication to occur or is it
simply the transmission?