Theories free essay sample

Section A a) What are the principle functions of communication? You should answer with references to communication in at least two different contexts. There are two competing theories regarding what the principle functions of communication are. The first views communication as a process through which information is transmitted and is known as the process theory, whereas the semiotic approach perceives communication as the generation and sharing of meaning. To put this in context, if a friend tells us they are depressed, from the viewpoint of the process school we are solely being informed that they are depressed and that was the sole function behind the act of communication. Semiologists would assert that the message could be polysemic i. e. have more than one meaning and they could be telling us they crave emotional attention or are after help or advice. However, it is generally accepted that communication can be defined as the passing of ideas, information and attitude from person to person and in this sense, the function of communication can be seen as both social and essential; it is at the heart of our lives (Beck) because it is fundamental to the advancement and continuation of the human race. We will write a custom essay sample on Theories or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One important function of communication is to fulfill social needs such as affection, inclusion and control. These are needs that must be filled, and only communication with others can satisfy that need. Anthropologist Walter Goldschmidt terms the communication drive as the human career because we are endlessly seeking meaning and acceptance from others. The importance of communication has been recognised globally with the charity UNICEF going as far as stating that the denial of communication is the most violent form of torture. We acquire values, roles and norms through our upbringing and institutions such as the mass media and are socialized to accept how things are in the world. Marxists believe that it is through socialisation that we are controlled and manipulated into a false class consciousness and the power of control through communication is emphasized. A second function of communication is to portray and maintain our identities; it helps humans to define who they are and it is how we communicate with others that helps us uncover the limitations of our identity. When we express our attitudes towards people or things we are showing our identities, for instance if we are being honest or sarcastic this shows others what kind of people we are. Halliday has put forward seven principle functions which shows the complexity of communication as an area of study. These functions are: †¢ Instrumental this is a directive function which covers instuctional tasks such as asking someone to pass something to us to get things done. Communication becomes necessary to accomplish daily tasks. †¢ Regulatory regulating the behaviour of others, through this function we can give advice or warnings which are vital for the progression of the human race. For example, if we watched the news and there was a weather warning, if we heeded the warning it may save our lives. †¢ Interactional through social interaction we can maintain relationships, either for phatic or social reasons. Jakobson calls this the conative function the receivers response is prompted to the act of communication and participation is encouraged. †¢ Personal this is an expressive function where the creator of the message focuses on themselves. This allows self disclosure; we can tell others about our thoughts or to express our identity and are able to persuade or motivate others to share our views. †¢ Heuristic to gain knowledge and learn about our environment, we gain information and an education through this function. †¢ Imaginative – through this function which is focused on forms we are able to create an imaginary environment using poetry and stories †¢ Representational – we use this function to convey facts and information using language. Jakobson (1962) argues that all functions of communication are co-existent with one of six elements of communication and one is always dominant which changes the act of communication. He assembles these elements in a linear model corresponding to their principal function: Elements Functions In terms of the two approaches (semiotic and process) Jakobson offers both meaning and structure in his model which makes it balanced and therefore useful in identifying the functions of communication.