by Alan Trammell

Created on: February 12, 2010   Last Updated: February 13, 2010

Some of us have heard from older people their concerns over the changes in the way people communicate today. With the advent of the computer and the Internet most of us have allowed our handwriting skills to diminish to the point of near extinction. The cell phone has also cut a swath through the ranks of traditional communication especially since text message sending has risen to new heights. So what is communication anyway and why is it considered an art?

The word communication comes from the Old French word communicacion, which derived from the Latin word communicationem that was from communicare, which means, to impart or share and is literally to make common from the Latin word communis. So communication is the expression of thoughts or ideas that relate to bringing a common understanding between two or more parties.

In the bigger picture of world events, it appears that communication is being sidestepped in favor of providing data and information. Understanding is not a targeted rationale in the focus of communication today. There are many factions promoting their ideas at the expense of others and not desiring understanding. Instead they want acceptance without reason. There is wonderment on many different fronts of this phenomenon as to why there is so much anger and hostility. The answer is rather simple. Nobody is communicating.

What is needed for communication? First of all there is a need for ideas and thoughts to be expressed. There really isn't too much shortage of that commodity. It appears that there are many ideas and thoughts, and a lot of them are being expressed.

Secondly, and here is a real key factor for communication to work, there needs to be someone to listen. Yes, listening, that function of the body associated with the ears, the auditory nerves, and the brain. But listening is more than an action of the body. Noise also stimulates the ears, the auditory nerves, and the brain, but that is really just hearing not listening. Listening involves a quietness of focused attention to what is being said or communicated. This author firmly believes that this particular element of communication is grossly overlooked and for the most part is non-existent in many gathered sessions of groups assigned to communicate.

The third element that is needed for communication is also a crucial member of this formula. It is consideration. That is consideration on the part of the communicator for those to whom he is speaking. There is also a need for consideration

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