What is communication?

What is communication? Communication is the process of thinking, observing, understanding, analysing, sharing, and transmitting or transferring feelings to others through a variety of mediums in diverse settings. It also refers to seeing or watching, listening or hearing, and exchanging ideas, thoughts, experiences, facts, knowledge, impressions, moments, emotions, and the like with self or with others. As the name suggests, the word communication stems from the Latin word communis meaning common .

It is therefore, not only sharing of ideas, thoughts or imparting knowledge and information, but it also involves understanding the exact meaning of the content in a way that is common to both, the communicator and the receiver. Thus, effective communication is a conscious effort in creating a shared understanding about the intended meaning of the message among people involved in the communication. The process of communication is continuous and permeates all areas of social life, including home, school, community and beyond.