Knowledge in Communications
Although knowledge and information are different concepts in the Communications field, they are heavily intertwined. Information can become knowledge and knowledge is constituted on information and facts. However, the distinction is this: There must be some person(s) of Expertise, capable of attaining information and then transforming it into what is considered knowledge within the field. This very much looks like scholars drawing on multiple studies, being able to relate one to the other and applying already defined phenomenon and perspectives to any given situation. Knowledge also comes in the form of correctly analyzing various situations of communication and coming to conclusions on the effects of communication and the meanings that lie behind the words in terms of content versus context meaning. Developing theories, detecting and then defining phenomenon and studying/analyzing occurrences in separate subtopics in the Communications field, “Family Communication”, “Interpersonal Communication”, “Organizational Communication”, etc. Other forms of knowledge in this field look at those who are able to use effective communication purposefully with a greater understanding of the ways in which they want their communication to be transmitted and received by the audience member(s).
“We tend to treat knowledge and communication as two separate spheres. We act as expertise was a private matter, attained through quiet study of the lexicon in a particular field. Communication, on the other hand, is often relegated to the realm of the social, a tool we use to interact with others of our species.
Yet, as Wittgenstein argued decades ago, that position is logically untenable because it assumes that we are able to communicate to ourselves in a private language. In truth, we can’t really know anything that we can’t communicate. To assert that we can possess knowledge, but are unable to designate what it is, is nonsensical.” – Greg Satell
Evidently, parallel to the basis that Communications can be applied across a number of other scholarly fields, the aspects within the field are also heavily intertwined, dependent and can be applied to one one another. The transmission of knowledge within this field can be seen in the form of texts, books and other writing delivered on technology based mediums. The understandings of communication and its wide range of uses are intrinsic to the foundation of this discipline. It is primarily academic, or teaching-based and usually looks to change or introduce perspectives on communication not easily transmitted if not for use of rhetoric. In this circumstance, knowledge can be derived from texts that seem “outdated” but withstand the test of time as they still apply to current social phenomenon.
For example, a text that was assigned in a “Gender Communications” class showcases Dale Spender’s knowledge of the relationship of language and for who and what it serves. The text calls upon various previous studies and information in other fields such as psychology and sociology in order to present her argument that man has constructed language in order to dominate society which has had critical social consequences pertaining to sexism. Here is a passage in which she calls upon her audience to further implore her theory using rhetoric devices:
Mary MacDonald 