08-04-2007, 04:18 PM
Vocal-Auditory Channel
Human beings communicate using language produced by the speech organs located in the vocal tract and hearing it through auditory organs. The most common experience men have of language is in speaking and listening to it. This reveals that speech is prior to its representation in writing. All speech sounds used in languages spoken in the world are produced by the same set of speech organs, and all of them can be described by the describing the movement of these organs.
Reciprocity
This property refers to the interchangeability of the roles assigned to each participant in a communication chain. In other words, each participant is expected to reciprocate in the process. Human beings are capable of acting both the speaker and the hearer as each individual is equipped with the same type of speech organs. For example, we do not have sex-oriented roles as is the case in most animal communication, i.e. red spots on the stickleback, male songs in birds, etc.
Neither the types of messages sent, nor the roles for message transmission are associated with a certain participant in human communication.
Specialization
Human speech organs and speech signals appear to have no immediate purpose beyond communication. In some communication systems signals are in fact a byproduct of other functions, whereas human communication system is primarily specialized for communication.
Non-directionality
In human communication, speaker (transmitter) and hearer (receiver) do not necessarily be in direct contact facing each other. Speech signals can be received by anyone within hearing distance; either face to face, or back to back. Hearing in human beings is less directional. We do not have to rotate our ears to focus in on a direction like dogs.
Rapid-fade
Speech fades as fast as it flows. This refers to the transitory nature of the speech signal. Speech signals are not permanent. Unless we make a written record of speech signals, they disappear right after they are produced without leaving a visual trace behind. This is different from most animal communication realized through chemical reactions, such as the case with the stickleback.
Human beings communicate using language produced by the speech organs located in the vocal tract and hearing it through auditory organs. The most common experience men have of language is in speaking and listening to it. This reveals that speech is prior to its representation in writing. All speech sounds used in languages spoken in the world are produced by the same set of speech organs, and all of them can be described by the describing the movement of these organs.
Reciprocity
This property refers to the interchangeability of the roles assigned to each participant in a communication chain. In other words, each participant is expected to reciprocate in the process. Human beings are capable of acting both the speaker and the hearer as each individual is equipped with the same type of speech organs. For example, we do not have sex-oriented roles as is the case in most animal communication, i.e. red spots on the stickleback, male songs in birds, etc.
Neither the types of messages sent, nor the roles for message transmission are associated with a certain participant in human communication.
Specialization
Human speech organs and speech signals appear to have no immediate purpose beyond communication. In some communication systems signals are in fact a byproduct of other functions, whereas human communication system is primarily specialized for communication.
Non-directionality
In human communication, speaker (transmitter) and hearer (receiver) do not necessarily be in direct contact facing each other. Speech signals can be received by anyone within hearing distance; either face to face, or back to back. Hearing in human beings is less directional. We do not have to rotate our ears to focus in on a direction like dogs.
Rapid-fade
Speech fades as fast as it flows. This refers to the transitory nature of the speech signal. Speech signals are not permanent. Unless we make a written record of speech signals, they disappear right after they are produced without leaving a visual trace behind. This is different from most animal communication realized through chemical reactions, such as the case with the stickleback.