history of communication :: essays research papers

HISTORY OF COMMUNICATIONBetter than shouting confabulation begins with actors line, the distinctive abi lightedy which has made possible the evolution of human society. With language any gist, no matter how complex, can be conveyed between masses over a limited distance - within a populate or place of assembly, or across a short escaped space. In modern times town criers hold an annual contest to strickle which of them can shout a comprehensible gist over the sterling(prenominal) distance. The world record is less than 100 metres. Already, at that short range, a more practical alternative is to run with the message. The history of talk is mankinds appear for ways to improve upon shouting. byc When running with a message, to convey it in talk form, it is safer to do it oneself. Sending anyone else is unreliable, as the game of Chinese whispers demonstrates. So other requirement for streamlined communication is a system of makeup. Messages carved on stone pillars communic ate very well across time, down through the centuries, but they are an inefficient method of communicating across space. The message reads only within reading range its recipients must travel to fix it. The system is altogether more efficient if it is the message which travels. This requires yet other ingredient in the communication package - a portable writing material such(prenominal) as papyrus. byg There are forms of long-distance communication not based on words. The smoke signals used by American Indians (above all perhaps in westerns) are of this kind. So are bonfires lit in succession on a line of hilltops. But such devices are only capable of conveying very limited pre-arranged signals, such as danger or victory. Some non-verbal systems are more sophisticated. The whistled language of Gomera, in the Canary islands, is used to communicate across deep valleys. It is well adapated to the islanders speedy needs, but would be incapable of sending this paragraph as an consu mmate message. For communication of this kind writing remains indispensable. byd Post haste sixth century BCThe sending of written messages is a standard lark of government in early civilizations. Much of our knowledge of those times derives from narration of such messages, discovered by archaeologists. There is great advantage to a ruler who can send or receive a message quicker than his rivals. In the estimation of the ancient world the most efficient postal service is that of the Persians.