General Communication:
* Aristotle: One of the earliest thinkers on communication, he defined it as the process of using symbols to influence others. He believed that effective communication required a speaker to consider the audience, the topic, and the occasion.
* Claude Shannon & Warren Weaver: Their mathematical model of communication (1949) focused on the technical aspects, outlining the sender, message, channel, receiver, noise, and feedback.
* Frank Dance: He developed the "Helical Model" of communication, which emphasizes that communication is complex, ever-changing, and influenced by past experiences.
* Wilbur Schramm: His model emphasized the importance of shared meaning in communication, suggesting that successful communication occurs when the sender and receiver have overlapping fields of experience.
* Dean Barnlund: Barnlund's "Transactional Model" sees communication as a simultaneous, interactive process where both parties are senders and receivers at the same time.
Interpersonal Communication:
* Joseph DeVito: His work focuses on the transactional nature of interpersonal communication and how it impacts relationships.
* John Gottman: Known for his research on relationships, Gottman explores the dynamics of communication in couples and how it influences relationship satisfaction.
* Paul Watzlawick: His work on "Pragmatics of Human Communication" explores how communication patterns affect relationships, including the concept of "double bind" and the inevitability of communication.
Organizational Communication:
* James G. March & Herbert A. Simon: Their work focuses on how communication influences decision-making processes within organizations.
* Edgar Schein: He explores the role of organizational culture and its impact on communication, emphasizing the importance of shared values and beliefs.
* Gareth Morgan: Morgan's work emphasizes the use of metaphors to understand organizational communication, highlighting the complex nature of organizational interactions.
Mass Communication:
* Marshall McLuhan: He coined the term "the medium is the message," suggesting that the medium through which communication occurs shapes the message itself.
* Harold Lasswell: His "Five Ws" model helps analyze the communication process: "Who says what, in which channel, to whom, with what effect?"
* Walter Lippmann: His work emphasized the role of public opinion and the impact of media on shaping perceptions of reality.
Cultural Communication:
* Edward T. Hall: His work on "Proxemics" explores how cultural differences influence communication, specifically nonverbal cues like personal space.
* Geert Hofstede: He developed a model for understanding cultural differences based on five dimensions: power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation.
* Michael Agar: His work focuses on "language and culture," exploring how language shapes cultural identity and understanding.
Other Notable Authors:
* George Herbert Mead: His work on "symbolic interactionism" explores how communication shapes social reality and self-identity.
* Noam Chomsky: His work on "generative linguistics" revolutionized our understanding of language and its relationship to thought.
* Karl Popper: His ideas on critical thinking and falsification have influenced communication theory, encouraging a critical approach to communication analysis.
This list represents a small selection of the many authors who have contributed to our understanding of communication. Each author brings a unique perspective and approach, enriching our comprehension of this multifaceted phenomenon.
Remember, this list is not exhaustive!
To further your exploration:
* Look up specific authors: Start by searching for authors mentioned in your textbooks or classes.
* Explore related fields: Venture into disciplines like psychology, sociology, linguistics, and media studies for a broader understanding.
* Search online databases: Utilize scholarly databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, or EBSCOhost to find relevant research articles.
I hope this information helps you navigate the fascinating world of communication theory!