Defining communication Communication is complex and multidimensional,then it can be defined in the following way:"communication is a dynamic,systematic process in which meanings are created and reflected in human interaction with symbols." Communication is a dynamic process First,and perhaps most important,communication is an ongoing activity.It is like a motion picture,not a single snapshot.A word or action does not stay frozen when we communicate;it is immediately replaced with yet another word or action. We constantly are affected by other people's messages and,as consequence,are always changing. Second,communication is dynamic because once a word or an action is employed,it cannot be retracted.Once an event takes place,we cannot have it over. An Asian proverb makes much the same point:"Once the arrow has been shot it cannot be recalled..” Third,all the elements of communication constantly interact with each other. We send words,create actions,watch the response of those around us,and listen to our partners all at the same time. Finally,communication is dynamic because inattention pervades our communication behavior.Briefly survey your own actions and you will realize that your mind often does not like what it is doing and hence dashes from idea to idea, seeking something it does like.We often shift topics in the middle of a sentence,and research shows that when we listen,our attention span is brief.This trait of communication is so common that in the writings of Buddha it is said,"The mind is fickle and flighty,it flies after fancies wherever it likes:it is difficult indeed to restrain.” Communication is systemic Communication does not occur in a vacuum,but rather is part of a larger system We send and receive messages not in isolation,but in a specific setting.Put more simply,setting and environment help determine the words and actions we generate and the meanings we give the symbols produced by other people.Dress, language,topic selection,and the like are all adapted to context. Elements associated with the systemic nature of communication are place, occasion,time,and number of participants.Even though these are found in all communication encounters,culture influences how we respond to them.Either consciously or unconsciously,we know the prevailing rules,many of which are rooted in our culture.For example,nearly all cultures have religious buildings,but the rules of behavior in those buildings are culturally based.In Mexico,men and women go to church together and remain quiet.In Iran,men and women do not worship together, and chanting instead of silence is the rule. The occasion of the communication encounter also controls the behavior ofDefining communication Communication is complex and multidimensional, then it can be defined in the following way: “communication is a dynamic, systematic process in which meanings are created and reflected in human interaction with symbols.” Communication is a dynamic process First, and perhaps most important, communication is an ongoing activity. It is like a motion picture, not a single snapshot. A word or action does not stay frozen when we communicate; it is immediately replaced with yet another word or action. We constantly are affected by other people’s messages and, as consequence, are always changing. Second, communication is dynamic because once a word or an action is employed, it cannot be retracted. Once an event takes place, we cannot have it over. An Asian proverb makes much the same point: “Once the arrow has been shot it cannot be recalled.” Third, all the elements of communication constantly interact with each other. We send words, create actions, watch the response of those around us, and listen to our partners all at the same time. Finally, communication is dynamic because inattention pervades our communication behavior. Briefly survey your own actions and you will realize that your mind often does not like what it is doing and hence dashes from idea to idea, seeking something it does like. We often shift topics in the middle of a sentence, and research shows that when we listen, our attention span is brief. This trait of communication is so common that in the writings of Buddha it is said, “The mind is fickle and flighty, it flies after fancies wherever it likes: it is difficult indeed to restrain.” Communication is systemic Communication does not occur in a vacuum, but rather is part of a larger system.We send and receive messages not in isolation, but in a specific setting. Put more simply, setting and environment help determine the words and actions we generate and the meanings we give the symbols produced by other people. Dress, language, topic selection, and the like are all adapted to context. Elements associated with the systemic nature of communication are place, occasion, time, and number of participants. Even though these are found in all communication encounters, culture influences how we respond to them. Either consciously or unconsciously, we know the prevailing rules, many of which are rooted in our culture. For example, nearly all cultures have religious buildings, but the rules of behavior in those buildings are culturally based. In Mexico, men and women go to church together and remain quiet. In Iran, men and women do not worship together, and chanting instead of silence is the rule. The occasion of the communication encounter also controls the behavior of