Abstract
This article considers whether communication can or should be precisely defined as an academic field. It argues that meanings attached to communication change over time and that attempts to establish a single fixed definition are unlikely to resolve disciplinary uncertainty. Rather than limiting inquiry by excluding particular subjects, the article shifts attention to the role communication studies should play in higher education. It distinguishes between areas tied directly to professions or industries, such as journalism, advertising, theatre, and telecommunications, and areas focused on the production of knowledge about human communication, including interpersonal communication, rhetorical criticism, nonverbal behavior, and intercultural relations. The article emphasizes the responsibility of communication administrators to support both applied and theoretical work while explaining their value to universities, public audiences, and professional communities.
Recommended Citation
Bettinghaus, Erwin P.
(1984)
"Defining the field of communication,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 48, Article 3.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol48/iss1/3
