Page 8 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

Unit Introduction to

1 Communication

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the unit, the learners will be able to:

f get awareness on the significance of communication
f familiarise themselves with different types of communication
f critically think about the process involved in communication
f analyse the relationship between messages and their meanings

Prerequisites

From the earliest cave paintings to today’s instant messaging, humans have always
sought ways to connect and share information. Our journey as a communicative species
is a fascinating tale of innovation and adaptation.

Prehistoric humans likely
relied on a combination of
grunts, gestures, and facial
expressions to convey basic
needs and emotions. As our
ancestors’ cognitive abil-
ities evolved, so did their
capacity for more complex
forms of communication.
The development of spoken
language marked a pivotal
moment, allowing for the
transmission of abstract
ideas and the preserva-
tion of cultural knowledge
across generations.

The invention of writing
systems around 3200 BCE

2 SGOU - FYUGP - SLM - English for Communication