"Communication is usually defined as the transmission of information."
Effective communication involves expressing ideas accurately, listening actively to others, and responding appropriately to varying situations.
"The term can also refer to the message itself, or the field of inquiry studying these transmissions, also known as communication studies."
"The precise definition of communication is disputed. Controversial issues are whether unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication does not just transmit meaning but also creates it."
"Models of communication aim to provide a simplified overview of its main components and their interaction."
"Many models include the idea that a source uses a coding system to express information in the form of a message."
"The source uses a channel to send the message to a receiver who has to decode it in order to understand its meaning."
"Channels are usually discussed in terms of the senses used to perceive the message, like hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste."
"Communication can be classified based on whether information is exchanged between humans, members of other species, or non-living entities such as computers."
"A central contrast is between verbal and non-verbal communication."
"Verbal communication involves the exchange of messages in linguistic form. This can happen through natural languages, like English or Japanese, or through artificial languages, like Esperanto."
"Non-verbal communication happens without the use of a linguistic system. There are many forms of non-verbal communication, for example, using body language, body position, touch, and intonation."
"Interpersonal communication happens between distinct persons, while intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself."
"Non-human forms of communication include animal and plant communication."
"Researchers in this field often formulate additional criteria for their definition of communicative behavior. Example are the requirement that the behavior serves a beneficial function for natural selection and that a response to the message is observed."
"Animal communication plays important roles for various species in the areas of courtship and mating, parent-offspring relations, social relations, navigation, self-defense, and territoriality."
"Communication is used to identify and attract potential mates."
"An often-discussed example concerning navigational communication is the waggle dance used by bees to indicate to other bees where flowers are located."
"For example, plants like maple trees release so-called volatile organic compounds into the air to transmit warning signals about a herbivore attack to other plants."
"The reason is that its purpose, as a tool, is usually some form of cooperation, which is not as common between different species."
"Humans also practice interspecies communication, for example, when interacting with pets."