Question # 1: briefly explain the three theories of communication suggested

by Mary Munter?
Answer:
Definition :
1. the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or
using some other medium
2. the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to
express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts,
feelings, etc., to someone else. R1
3. By and large, Communication (from Latin commnicre, meaning "to
share") is a purposeful activity of
exchanging informationand meaning across space and time using
various technical or natural means, whichever is available or preferred.
R2
Need & Importance of communication:
By considering all the definition on must think that why there is the need &
importance of communication. Though it is very vital for anyone to have a
proper communication for his/her needs. It help us to develop a knowledge
based civilized society that can transmit from one generation to another. And
to be a social organization one must be the part of proper communication.
In general communication gets more importance to human society and
organizations and to business specifically. People are hired, their services are
rendered. Policies are prepared implemented learned and performed. There
is no practical way which makes these happening possible without proper
communication.
Theories of communication:
The theories of communication defined by Mary Munter are as follows;
1. Electronic Theory
2. Social Environment Theory
3. Rhetorical Theory
Electronic Theory:
One very influential theory is called the mathematical or
electronic theory of communication.

 This idea emphasized the technical probelsms of trnamistting a

message for a sender to a receiver
It is based on uses the languages , electronics.
The message begins with the information sources , the mind of the
sender, who speaks a message encodes it into words or action and
sentences.
The message can be anything a written note or saying of words, a mark on
piece of paper or sound waves that travel through a proper channel. Where it
is distorted by either typing or noise and in the end it reaches the receiver
and receiver decodes the message.

Audience

Communicator

As

As
Sender

Message

receiver

Figure # 1.
As you can see the figure it simply define this theory, a sender who encode
and message and message travel through any mean and reach the receiver
and in the end receiver decode that message.
The introduction of term and idea i.e. sender & receiver in
communication given by this theory, and the possible interference. And also
the accuracy aspect of communication is emphasized by this theory.
The usefulness of electronic theory is limited as people are not machines.
But one can possibly design a perfect accurate electronic communication
system.
1. Preoccupation
2. New technique for improving our writing and speaking skill

3. The accuracy of idea and thoughts

These all should be done by considering the pre-planned policy and
structure, that it should comply with those and those which the policy
forbids, or there is the possibility of rejection to your idea and thoughts, the
receiver can considerably ignores your message as he/she can think you do
not have a right to discuss or the you might not be able to express your idea
accurately to convince other.
And if we consider this in context with business, one must be known to every
aspect, pros and cons to interpret his/ her message, e.g.
Do you have you right or authority to have what you are proposing?
Does your idea comply with the company/ business policy?
If you have the authority and the company policy allow you to go;
Are you able to interpret properly to your audience your idea?
So for these all one must not fully focus on only electronic theory of
communication at all , one must consider other theories of communication.
Social Theory:
Social environment theory attempts to understand how social environments
and the individuals who compose them are interrelated. Social environments
can include social groups, institutions, social hierarchies or even entire
societies and cultures. The role of individuals within such systems and how
the collective actions of individuals create and maintain them are of special
interest to social theorists.
One must consider social environment thory of the sicail and
behavioral aspects.
One must consider the situation and the context in which we will look
When we work and communicate together , we all paractise in a social
situation
Certain roles must be assumed and agreed like
Compromiser
Initiator
Encourager
Based on our art as job title.

Everyone has a defined roles and jobs and under such role and jobs one must
communicate within a certain social environment. And one can practice
policies.
And to any unwritten or pre-described rules like who, how, when and what, it
is appropriate for us to communicate with in a certain organization.
Figure
2. Wit

#
in

Communicator

Message

Audience

Certain Environment

The helpfulness of social theory extends when it add important dimensions of

the specific social situation.
Social Communication - Situations

Speech acts
Phone conversation
Face to face conversation
Gender specific

Common ground Individuals engaged in conversation must share knowledge

in order to be understood and have a meaningful conversation. (Clark,
1985)
E.g. a fabulous letter fail to achieve the desired result if it is written to wrong
person and at wrong time, similarly a worthy presentation face to same kind
of response if the audience of that presentation is totally unaware to the
contents of presentation.

Some of the problems need to be highlighted

Communication is in general complicated
Individuals might have different expectations when they start a
conversation no matter what context
Missing common ground makes it sometimes difficult to communicate
with each othe
Some people break the rules, e.g. ignore nonverbal clues or
intercultural communication principles deliberately R3
Rhetorical theory:
The last theory which is defined by Mary Munter, which defines that
communication is not a one sided process is multidimensional and multi
responsive.
One can be a sender can also be a receiver and vice versa. And message can
also be response and response can also be a message.
Rhetorical theory provides an important addition to communication process
for any business organization. One can be so involves in the accuracy of the
message ad forget the other influencing and crucial variable, which can
produce the desired response.
The importance of response which incorporates the idea from electronic
theory and situation form social theory the below model shows that the
communication if circular not linear.
To differentiate the business communication with other communication you
should consider the circular quality of your communication, and the
effectiveness depends on the quality of result you achieve

Message
Communicator

Audience
Response

Environment
Aristotle was the first who addressed the problem of communication and attempted
to work out a theory that is known as Rhetorical theory. In which emphasis is
placed on both parties clearly understanding the message in the communication
after the circular communication process R4
Why is it more important than two other theories of communication?
Third set of theorists add more dimensions to our understanding of the
communication process:
Communication is not linear, but circular; not just sending a message to be
received, but producing
a response; not static, but dynamic.
Rhetorical theorists provide an important addition to a communication model for
business
communicators
Many people caught up in the accuracy forget third crucial variable, producing the
desired response
form their audience. R6

Refernece
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

R1=( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication )
R2= (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication)
R3= (www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/hc1/slides1011/slides27.pdf)
R4= (http://communicationtheory.org)
R5= (http://references-definitions.blurtit.com/98665/what-is-rhetoricaltheory)
6. R6= (http://references-definitions.blurtit.com/98665/what-is-rhetoricaltheory )