Communication Literacy: An Introduction to Communication Studies

This OER textbook provides a survey of the field of communication studies. In today's world, it's difficult or even nearly impossible to function without some level of communication literacy. That term, communication literacy, refers to the ability of an individual to not only convey their ideas, information, and messages to others, but also to be able to interpret and understand the ideas, information, and messages that they receive. The processes involved in communicating, or transferring messages and ideas between people, are far more intricate than many people recognize. In today's world, these processes include a variety of forms and styles, such as interpersonal, digital, public, media, intercultural, transnational, gendered, racial, group, and organizational communication, to name a few. We refer to people who have the ability to communicate effectively in one or more of these modes as having communication competency, which requires a high level of "communication literacy" and knowledge of how communication actually works.