The dictionary definition of communication is “the imparting or exchange of information by speaking, writing or by using some other medium among people”. This process constitutes the basis of this topic. After exploring the process of communication, I will deal with the various functions of language. This will lead me on to language in use and finally the negotiation of meaning.
I will begin by looking at the communication process. There is more to communication than just one person speaking and another one listening. As defined before, communication is the exchange and negotiation of information between at least two individuals. However, we differentiate verbal and non-verbal, written and oral, formal and informal, and intentional and unintentional communication. The information we communicate is never fixed; it is constantly changing and qualified by such factors as further information, context, choice of language forms and non-verbal behaviour. So, communication involves the continuous evaluation and negotiation of meaning on the part of the participants.
I would like to distinguish between verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication is carried out by means of language. We can’t forget that language is an essential tool for communication. Examples of verbal communication are writing a letter, having a conversation or watching a play. However, language is not the only way of communicating. Gestures, facial expressions, body language, touch and so on are other means of communication that should be taken into account, and which are together referred to as non-verbal communication. Throughout this topic I am going to concentrate mostly on verbal communication.