Communication, Culture, and Society: Human Interaction
Communication in Human Life
Humans are social beings, defined by their ability to communicate. Communication involves the exchange of thoughts, emotions, creations, and experiences, representing a significant human achievement. As Gómez Delgado (1998) stated, “By communicating, people live and express themselves, and when the object of communication are their creations and experiences, both individuals or groups are progressing and are enriched culturally.”
Communication is essential for human existence and a crucial factor in social development.
Types of Communication
- Interpersonal Communication: Direct interaction between individuals, establishing dialogue. It’s a primary, personal form of communication.
- Mass Communication: Communication through media such as radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet.
- Organizational Communication:
- Internal: Exchange between management and employees.
- External: Communication with consumers, representatives, distributors, suppliers, government agencies, etc.
Components of Communication
According to Maria Delgado JB, communication involves:
- Communicator and Receiver: The communicator delivers the message, and the receiver receives and responds. Communication is a message-building process influenced by personal and social history.
- Intentionality: The purpose behind establishing communication.
- Sign of Response: Behavior indicating the recipient received the message.
- Middle Vehicle: The medium supporting the message.
- Message: The speech the communicator wants to convey.
- Referent: The concrete reality mentioned in the message.
Culture Defined
Culture encompasses all forms and expressions of a society, including customs, practices, codes, standards, rules, clothing, religion, rituals, norms, and belief systems. It includes all information and skills humans possess. Culture is central to disciplines studying society, like anthropology and sociology.
Relationship Between Culture and Media
Culture encompasses communication, including how to communicate, speak, and convey thoughts. Many thinkers view human interaction as the basis of culture, arguing that culture is a communicative relationship. The media serve as means of transmitting culture.
The Social and Cultural Being
Humans seek relationships and are sociable, transmitting and receiving culture. Humans are social beings, relating to others through interaction, culture, and participation in the cultural life of society.
Culture’s Impact on Personal Transformation
People must transcend individual conditions to recognize themselves in others. This transformation occurs within a society and culture.