What is communication?

TransmissionTransmission MessageMessage Clarity of transmission and receptionClarity of transmission and reception

Mutual understandingMutual understanding Layers of meanings, “winks upon winks”Layers of meanings, “winks upon winks” Sensemaking, reflection, and tellingSensemaking, reflection, and telling One cannot One cannot notnot communicate communicate

Communication - Culture

Culture shapes language choiceCulture shapes language choice

Culture shapes language useCulture shapes language use

Language use shapes cultureLanguage use shapes culture

Communication is a tool we use within culture

Culture evolves from Communication

Communication is a transmission or transaction

Communication is a continuous relationship

Language reflects or depicts reality

Language constructs reality

Modernist Social Constructionist

Theories of Meaning

Modernist: Modernist:

Picture TheoryPicture Theory of Language of Language(represented well by Ludwig Wittgenstein)(represented well by Ludwig Wittgenstein)

Social Constructionist:Social Constructionist:

Entitlement TheoryEntitlement Theory of Language of Language(represented well by Kenneth Burke)(represented well by Kenneth Burke)

Picture Theory

Language is a representation of reality Language is a representation of reality Language presents a picture of realityLanguage presents a picture of reality

Entitlement Theory

Language filters and organizes reality.Language filters and organizes reality. We use language to name; therefore shape We use language to name; therefore shape

and delimit our realityand delimit our reality

Entitlement through Texts

E.g.: Ritual of reading newspapersE.g.: Ritual of reading newspapers E.g.: Superbowl viewingE.g.: Superbowl viewing E.g.: Reading articles for classE.g.: Reading articles for class

Filters our experience of the worldFilters our experience of the world Tells us what’s importantTells us what’s important Builds a particular view of realityBuilds a particular view of reality Over time, becomes realityOver time, becomes reality

Naming and Framing Reality

Irving Goffman, social psychologist writing in Irving Goffman, social psychologist writing in the ’60s.the ’60s.

Studying the way that neuroses get built Studying the way that neuroses get built through language (which informs science, through language (which informs science, which informs language…)which informs language…)

Talked about how we frame our experiencesTalked about how we frame our experiences

Naming and Framing Reality

Experience builds framesExperience builds frames Language choices and limits are built into Language choices and limits are built into

framesframes Frames are passed on to children and Frames are passed on to children and

studentsstudents Social reality is built….Social reality is built….

On patterns or habitsOn patterns or habits through communication interactionthrough communication interaction

Naming and framing reality = is metaphorical process

Frames are mostly dead metaphorsFrames are mostly dead metaphors

““Frame break” = catalyst for changeFrame break” = catalyst for change

Change in thinking is limited by Change in thinking is limited by

imaginationimagination

Imagination is limited by root metaphorsImagination is limited by root metaphors

Framing our experience of the Internet

FrontierFrontier Information SuperhighwayInformation Superhighway Net, NetworkNet, Network WebWeb