One of the earliest communication models was refined by Claude Shannon. This model was not created for the understanding of human relationships but for tele-communications. Those large klunky black devices created in another century. It basically consisted of trying to qualify and quantify what it would take to send a message from one point to another. A to B.
A - - - > B This is the conveyance of message.
I pick up the peach can with a wax string knotted through a hole in the middle of the still attached end, the string vibrates sound waves and likewise vibrates on the other end of string that is likewise attached to another can. The vibrations carry the length of the string from Can A to Can B.
Simple enough.
The only thing that is being transferred at this point is message. This is okay for machines, but not so good for humans. Humans do not just convey messages – they convey meaning. It is my assumption that the conveyance of meaning is the primary goal for communication. Humans may want to hide meaning, alter meaning, and manipulate meaning – but meaning is still the primary goal. Back to the cans and the early model.
If there is going to be meaning, communication must work in two directions.
A - - -> B + A < - - - B = Response
Adding response now begins to resemble human communication. Putting this into a mechanical device to service the needs of humans was, of course, Shannon’s goal. Now I can send you a message and you can respond – which satisfies my basic need to convey meaning to you. Communication works on this level.
If all one wanted to do was convey a message, then all they’d have to do is grab an empty grocery cart and start sending messages to the pigeons, fire hydrants, and cute white lines on the asphalt. But the goal of humans reaches beyond merely sending – we want to send meaning, not just message. There’s more to this model, such as noise, but I’ll save that for another time.
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