The Study of Communication

A Brief History

The study of communication

traces its roots back to ancient
Greece

A citizens success in Athenian society

depended on their ability to effectively
engage in public discourse

This gave rise to sophists, individuals who

offered instruction in the communication
arts

At the time, communication was

largely considered as a knack, or
art

Aristotle, considered the Father of Communication,

was one of the first scholars to recognize
communication as a topic worthy of serious and
systemic study

The tradition of studying communication

with an emphasis on the practice and
interpretation of discourse, debate and
argumentation, originated by Aristotle, is
known as

Rhetoric
Scholars of rhetoric still persist
today, examining communication
processes in much the same way as
Aristotle

The original inception of the study of

communication was shaped by the
state of Ancient Greek society

This link between the study of

communication and the state of
society is true today as well

The study of communication must continually

remain in motion, to keep up with new forms
and contexts of communication

Later, the influence of historical developments

like scientific revolution eventually
introduced new perspectives on the study of
communication

The study of communication

with an emphasis on
scientific principles and
methodology is known as a
communication theory
approach, and is the
dominant approach in U.S.
academia

The Department of
Communication at UB is a
department of communication
theory

Additionally, the work of

important scholars like the 4
four forefathers of
communication described in
Feeleys Readings chapter, and
were instrumental in shaping
the current state of the field.

Important
Historical
Figures

Lewin

Lasswell

Schramm
Lazarsfeld

Hovland

Today the study of

communication is a fast growing,
diverse, and robust field of
inquiry.
Likewise, the communication
major is one of the most popular
and fastest growing
undergraduate majors

Refer to Dr. Feeleys chapter

on The History of the
Communication Major in
American Higher Education
for more detail