The Implications of New Definitions/Forms of Communication in Modern Life The contemporary world is changing at a rapid rate because of increased technological advancements and globalization that has made it easy for people to interact with others across the globe. Technological advancements and globalization have changed people’s lifestyles and had tremendous impacts on the society. One of the areas that have been transformed by these factors is communication, which now has new definitions and new forms. Through technological advancements and globalization, it has become easier for people to enhance their interactions and communicate even with those in the remote parts of the world. The improved interactions have in turn helped in transforming contemporary life through enhanced connectivity. However, there are some implications of new definitions and/or forms of communication in the contemporary life. This paper examines these implications in terms of how technological advancements and globalization have contributed to new definitions/forms of communication.

New Definitions/Forms of Communication in Contemporary Life

Communication is basically defined as the process/act of transmitting information from one person or group to another. This process is carried out through the use of mutually understood words, semiotic rules, and signs to help in conveying the intended meanings. Johnston (n.d.) states that communication in the contemporary life has not only taken new forms, but also characterized by new definition/meaning. In this regard, the definitions of communication in the modern world have been expanded to incorporate changes in today’s lifestyles and society. The emergence of new forms/definitions of communication in contemporary life is largely attributable to technological revolution and the advent of globalization. Due to technological revolution in the contemporary life, today’s communication is significantly dependent on technology.

Given the impact of technological revolution and globalization, communication in contemporary life is classified into two i.e. human communication and mediated communication, which provides the premise for two different definitions of communication. Human communication refers to direct verbal and non-verbal communication that has been utilized throughout the history of mankind for human interactions (de Mooij, 2013). The non-verbal components of human communication include facial expressions, body language,...

On the contrary, mediated communication is communication that entails the use of another medium or form to convey information. In the contemporary life, mediated communication basically entails the use of electronic devices and platforms to convey information between people and/or groups.
In an interview, James Albert, a university lecturer, stated that technological tools are increasingly utilized as communication tools in the learning environment (J. Albert, personal communication, October 27, 2017). Students are increasingly preferring to utilize electronic devices and online platforms for increased interactions with teachers and their colleagues, which demonstrates that technology is the new form of mediated interpersonal communication. Unlike in the past, the definition of mediated interpersonal communication has been expanded to include technology-mediated communication because of recent technological advancements. Some of the most common forms of technology-mediated communication in contemporary life include e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, and video conferencing (Johnston, n.d.).

Implications of these Definitions/Forms on Contemporary Life

The emergence of new definitions and/or forms of communication because of rapid technological advancements and globalization have had significant implications in contemporary life. Some of the major implications of these new definitions/forms of communication in contemporary life include…

Enhanced Interaction/Connectivity

One of the major implications of the new definitions/forms of communication in contemporary life is enhanced interaction and connectivity between people across the globe. In this regard, technological revolution and globalization has provided the platform for the development of new media and communication tools. The new media and communication tools have in turn enhanced interaction and connectivity between people across the globe including remote parts of the world.

An example of a new form of communication that has changed contemporary life is the Internet, which has experienced tremendous growth in terms of number of users in recent years. The Internet has made it easier for people to communicate and interact with each other through providing different ways for self expression. It has allowed people to utilize different ways of self-expression including video conferencing, blogging, websites, and pictures. While…