To understand communication more fully, you assess the quality, or communicative value, of your communication. You do this by examining how well the communication demonstrates the six characteristics discussed earlier. If the symbols are well chosen, the code shared, and the messages sent as intended, the interaction has high communicative value, and misunderstandings are less likely.
For example, recall the coffee purchase described at the beginning of this section. The woman and the street vendor share a clear, if unwritten, code: in New York City, “regular” coffee means coffee with milk and two sugars. The code has a cultural meaning unique to New York. Even within the city, it is somewhat specialized, limited to street vendors and delicatessens. Had she said the same word to the counterperson at a Seattle’s Best coffee shop on the West Coast—
TABLE 1.1 COMMUNICATION CHARACTERISTICS: ANATOMY OF A COFFEE SALE
Approaching the study of communication through its characteristics will help you evaluate behaviors you encounter in terms of their communicative value. As you can see, the simple coffee sale described in the text is clearly communicative, meeting all six criteria.
| Characteristic | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Communication is symbolic. | Both parties speak English. |
| Communication requires a shared code. | Both parties understand the meaning of “regular.” Both parties understand the smile and nod greeting. |
| Communication is linked to culture. | Both parties are New Yorkers. |
| Communication need not be intentional. | The woman knows the meanings of her words and gestures; they are not ambiguous to the street vendor. |
| Communication occurs through various channels. | This example uses the spoken word, gestures, and eye contact. |
| Communication is transactional. | The woman understands the message she is giving, and the man understands the message he is receiving. |