Communication or communications: The difference one letter makes
First word
TO clear my own befuddlement as much as to serve readers, I researched online and in the dictionaries and usage books, the precise meanings and proper usage of the terms “communication” and “communications” with only the letter “S” standing between them.
This has become important because of the way our leaders and policymakers have rushed headlong into the information revolution and the world of digital communications without understanding their nature and peculiar demands.
The Marcos administration has two Cabinet-level departments that sport the word “communications” in their titles, and yet the two Cabinet secretaries are hardly engaged in the work of information dissemination and communication planning for the government.
Most Filipinos today, and probably most public officials as well, are unsure about when to use “communications” or “communication.”
One student filed the following report:
“Ever wondered what is the difference between communication and communications? The obvious reason would be the letter ‘S,’ if only it was that easy. Believe it or not, there is a big difference between the two words, and it is more than just a single letter. Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the definitions, we asked a few fellow Xavier students about what they thought the difference between the two words were.
“What is the answer? Dr. Wagner, an associate professor in the communication department, kindly weighed in on the definitions.
“Communication is how messages are received and interpreted. It is about forming relationships with others. A human element. Communication is something that we do on a daily basis.
“Communications, on the other hand, is the distribution of the messages. It is a technical term that defines the act of mass communication. It is things such as radio transmissions and technology.”
As a strategic and corporate communication major, I have heard and have said the phrase, “I am studying communicationS” many times. These people (including me) have been actually saying it wrong all along. The correct way to say it is without the “s.” They are specifically studying Communication (no S). Why is this? Is there really a difference? Yes. Using these words interchangeably is like comparing apples to oranges. How can one letter change the whole concept of a word?
“CommunicationS is the distribution of messages. In other words, it is how mass communications distributes messages such as the radio, television or the internet. It can be used to communicate information to a large audience. Communications is considered the study of media, journalism and technology.
“Communication (No S) is forming relationships with people. It is the process of sending and receiving messages (what we actually do every day!). Communication is considered the study of human interaction, rhetoric, communication methods and inquiries.”
The English Business website conducted a deeper probe into the difference between communication and communications. It reported:
“Even for native English speakers, the answer isn’t obvious. English is a language with many variations, so things can get a bit murky, and a general answer to vocabulary questions can be surprisingly difficult. For an authoritative source, let’s start with dictionaries.
We looked at the Oxford English Dictionary for British English and Merriam-Webster for US English.
Communication
Oxford Dictionary: [mass noun] The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium; [count noun] A letter or message containing information or news.
Merriam-Webster: Interchange of thoughts or opinions: a process by which meanings are exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols (such as language, signs or gestures); an instance of communicated information (such as a letter or telephone call): a written or spoken message; facts or information communicated.
Communications
Oxford Dictionary: Means of sending or receiving information, such as phone lines or computers; [treated as singular] the field of study concerned with the transmission of information.
Merriam-Webster: A system (as of telephones, telegraphs or computers) for communicating information; the function in an industrial organization that transmits ideas, policies and orders; plural in form but singular in construction: an art that deals with expressing and exchanging ideas effectively in speech or writing or through the graphic, or dramatic arts, and that is taught as an integrated program at various levels of education in distinction to traditional separate courses in composition and speech.
What have we learned from this?
“Communication,” as a mass noun, is the exchange of information. This is the most common use of “communication.”
“Communications,” treated as a singular, refers to technology that enables communication or a field of study and artistic activity.
However, “communication” can also be a count noun that refers to an instance of communication, such as a letter or a phone call. This makes things more complicated.
A department of communication, financial communication or communication strategy would then deal with the imparting or exchange of information.
In turn, a department of communications, financial communications or communications strategy would deal with many instances of communication or the underlying infrastructure.
This helps us understand the meaning, but what is the correct use?
Merriam-Webster tells us that communications in US English can be a function in an organization and mentions “communications department” as an example, but the Oxford Dictionary makes no such mention.
Communications department vs communications department
The United States does, in fact, use “communications department” more frequently, if only marginally. In the United Kingdom, “communication department” is the more popular phrase.
Department of Communication vs Department of Communications
Only a slight change of wording is enough to change the results in the US. While other English-speaking countries’ preference is consistent with their use of “communication(s) department,” in the US, “department of communication” is the more popular phrase. Could it be that the communications department deals with phone networks and fiber-optic cables, while the department of communication is more concerned with the human exchange of information in general?
Communication strategy vs communications strategy
Our previous research suggests that a communication strategy lays out what to communicate, while a communications strategy might be an analysis of what medium to use. Fortunately, the global use indicates quite clearly that “communication strategy” is the more common phrase.
Corporate communication vs corporate communications
Looking at “corporate communication” and “corporate communications” usage does seem to differ across the globe. English-speaking countries like the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada and Australia search for “corporate communications” more frequently, but it is still hard to draw a conclusion here. “Corporate communication” is not an uncommon phrase in the English-speaking world, but the messages and departments within the field of corporate communications should be referred to as “corporate communications,” and this is apparently the more common phrase.”
Conclusion
The bad news is, when it comes to “communication” vs “communications” there is no universally correct answer. The good news is, with usage varying so much across the globe, you’re unlikely to misstep by choosing either.
What we have learned, however, is that you can make a conscious choice to emphasize the human exchange of information or the distribution of its instances depending on whether you add an “S” or not.
The Cornell Department of Communication gives a clear explanation of their decision that sums up this point:
“The simple answer is that we use the term ‘communication’ to reflect our department’s focus on the social scientific study of communication — specifically, the process by which humans use symbols, verbal and nonverbal, to create meaning and form relationships with other humans in face-to-face or mediated environments. This is the essence of what we teach, research and do in our department. ‘Communications,’ in contrast, is often used to refer to the products — the messages that are transmitted or distributed — or to the equipment (like wireless or fiber-optic cables) that conducts the transmission.”
White House Office of Communications
Finally, it is useful to note that in the US, the US presidency has both a press office which is headed by the press secretary and handles press relations for the president, and a White House Office of Communications, which is headed by a communications director, and handles communication for the whole administration.
I have yet to find one government that merges information and communications technology management with government communications.
Source: manilatimes
