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What Is Communication?

How we create and exchange messages with others

We think about communication constantly—everything from thought-provoking course lectures to the meaning of warm smiles displayed by attractive new coworkers. But taking a class on communication is different from personally pondering it. When you’re formally educated about communication, you gain knowledge that goes far beyond your intuition, allowing you to broaden and deepen your skills as a communicator. The process of learning about communication begins by answering a basic question: what is communication?