The National Communication Association (2002), a professional organization representing communication teachers and scholars in the United States, defines communication as the process through which people use messages to generate meanings within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media. This definition highlights five features of communication.

First, communication is a process that unfolds over time through a series of interconnected actions. Imagine it’s the first day of the semester, and the professor asks a question. You raise your hand to demonstrate your attentiveness, but when the professor calls on you, your mind goes blank, and your classmates laugh. Now when the professor asks a question, you’ll be less likely to raise your hand. Think about the process that unfolded: the professor asked a question; you responded by raising your hand; your mind went blank; students laughed; your feelings were hurt; and now you’re more cautious about sharing your ideas out of fear of ridicule. Thinking of communication as a process means realizing that everything you and others say and do during encounters shapes what happens in that moment and in the future.

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Second, people engaged in communication (“communicators”) use messages to convey meaning. A message is the “package” of information transported during communication. When people exchange a series of messages, whether face-to-face or online, the result is an interaction (Watzlawick, Beavin, & Jackson, 1967).

Third, communication occurs in a seemingly endless variety of contexts, or situations. For instance, you communicate with others in class, at parties, at work, and at home. In each context, many different factors affect how you communicate. These factors include how much time you have, how many people are in the situation, and whether the setting is personal or professional. This is why you probably communicate differently with a friend while playing video games than when the two of you are sitting next to each other in class.

Fourth, people communicate through various channels. A channel is the sensory dimension along which communicators transmit information. The most common channels are auditory (sound), visual (sight), and tactile (touch). For example, your professor smiles at you and says, “Great job on your presentation!” (visual and auditory channels), or a friend comforts you with a hug after you learn that you didn’t get the job offer you wanted (tactile).

Fifth, to transmit information, communicators use a broad range of media, or tools for exchanging messages. Media can include texting, tweeting, posting, e-mailing, making a phone call, or talking face-to-face using video technology. Often people use several different media at once. For example, you text a friend while you’re checking Tumblr or Instagram, you call your mother while you’re scrolling through her latest e-mail to you, or you Google reviews for a movie you’re interested in seeing while Skyping a colleague who’s in a different office. Chapter 3 (Mediated Communication) will explore more about how technology influences your communication.