Reconciliation of the East and the West through ... · proposed consisting of following elements: - Sahridayas (Sender and Receiver) - Bhava (Moods or emotions) - Abhivyanjana (Expression

Reconciliation of the East and the West through communication theory

Submitted to:

Nirmala Mani Adhikari

Kathmandu University School of Arts

Submitted by:

Aabhash Shrestha

Roll no.: 24

BMS (2nd

Year, 1st Semester)

Content

1. Abstract……………………………………………….. 1

2. Introduction…………………………………………... 2

3. Discussions……………………………………………. 4

4. Conclusion……………………………………………. 9

5. References……………………………………………. 10

1

Abstract

This term paper studies the differences between the Western perspective and the

Eastern perspective. I was able to do a comparative study by taking Schramm‟s

model with the theory from Western perspective and Sadharanikaran model with

the theory of communication from the Eastern. The Western perspectives explains

its process while the eastern defines its process relating with its religion and

philosophies. Hence, native theorization of communication has paved the way for

reconciliation between different perspectives.

This term paper will further discuss about how Western and Eastern theories of

communication developed and factors that caused the dissimilarities.

2

Introduction

The Western communication theory and model has brought out the Eastern perspective of

communication theories. Due to cultural variations, geographical differences and other

factors of the West and the East, communication process has also differed and has

directly affected the communication theory and the model.

The Western philosophy has dominated the field of communication theory since its

establishment in the educational sectors which began decades ago. In fact, as a discipline

of knowledge or as an academic field of study, communication has been subjected to the

conflict of indigenous versus the external approaches in many non-Western countries.(for

instance: Dissanayake, 1981, 1986, 1988; Kincaid, 1987; Tewari, 1992; Yadava, 1998).

This highlights the inherently problematic position of communication discipline in the

countries like Nepal and India. (Adhikary)

Communication theory is a field of information theory that studies the technical process

of information and the process of human communication.

Additionally communication theory is “any systematic summary about the nature of the

communication process” (Dainton, 2019). It “is a coherent field of metadiscursive

practice, a field of discourse about discourse with implications for the practice of

communication” (Craig, 1999, pg. 120) and seeks to “provide conceptual resources for

reflecting on communication problems” (Wikipedia)

The study of communication and mass media has led to the formulation of many theories

and those information theories and studies of the technical process of information and the

process of human communication is known as communication theory.

3

Models of communication are conceptual models used to explain the human

communication process with the development of Shannon and Weaver‟s communication

model, the advancement in the western region, grew rapidly.

Nevertheless, by understanding their culture and the differences among the western

models and theirs, eastern scholars came up with their own models and theories which

best explained their way of communication. To better understand the differences among

the Eastern and the Western perspective, I have taken Schramm‟s model from the western

perspective and Sadharikaran model from the Eastern.

4

Discussion

Schramm's Model of Communication, postulated by Wilbur Schramm in 1954, suggests

that communication is a two way process where both sender and receiver take turns to

send and receive a message. Communication is usually described along a few major

dimensions: Message, source, form, channel, and receiver. Wilbur Schramm (1954) also

indicated that we should also examine the impact that a message has (both desired and

undesired) on the target of the message. Between parties, communication includes acts

that confer knowledge and experiences, give advice and commands, and ask questions.

These acts may take many forms, in one of the various manners of communication. The

form depends on the abilities of the group communicating. Together, communication

content and form make messages that are sent towards a destination. The target can be

oneself, another person or being, another entity (such as a corporation or group of

beings). The figure below can enhance your understanding of the process that takes place

in this model:

5

Communication here, in this model, is seen as a process of information transmission

governed by three levels of semiotic rules:

1. Syntactic (formal properties of signs and symbols)

2. Pragmatic (concerned with the relations between signs/expressions and their

users)

3. Semantic (study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they

represent)

Therefore, in this model, communication is social interaction where at least two

interacting agents share a common set of signs and a common set of semiotic rules. This

commonly held rule in some sense ignores auto communication, including intrapersonal

communication via diaries or self-talks both secondary phenomena that followed the

primary acquisition of communicative competences within social interactions.

Sadharikaran Model of Communication: The word sadharan is composed by the

combination of saha and dharan where saha means same and dharan means to get or to

amplify. We can say that the word sadharan is ordinary and sadharanikaran is

generalization of feelings ideas and emotions. The word has its root Comparative Study

of Communicative Theory pg. 7 in Bharata Muni‟s natyashastra. Bharata Muni describes

sadharanikaran as that point in the climax of a drama when the audience becomes one

with the actor who lives an experience through his/her acting on stage and starts

simultaneously reliving the same experience. Bhattanayak also has used this word in his

various poetics. The Sadharanikaran model communication, proposed by Nirmala Mani

6

Adhikari is a systematic presentation of the process of attaining mutual understanding

commonness or oneness among communication parties. The concepts drawn on and

mentioned in the model are formal concepts that are firmly established on Sanskrit

poetics as well as Hindu religious-philosophical knowledge system. This model has been

proposed consisting of following elements: - Sahridayas (Sender and Receiver) - Bhava

(Moods or emotions) - Abhivyanjana (Expression or encoding) - Sandesha (Message or

information) - Sarani (Channel) - Rasaswadana (Firstly receiving, decoding and

interpreting the message and finally achieving the rasa) - Doshas (Noises) - Sandarbha

(Context) - Pratrikriya (process of feedback) Sadhranikaran as a communication

process, consists of „sahridayas‟ as the communicating parties. As a technical term, the

word refers to people with a capacity to send and receive messages. The „sahridaya‟- the

sender is the initiator of the process who has „bhavas‟ in the mind. The sahridaya -sender

has to pass the process of „abhivyanjana‟ for expressing those bhavas {there are four

levels of bhavas which are Para (at the unconscious mind), „Pashyanti‟ (to the conscious

mind), „Madhyama‟ (at the level of presentation external mind) and „Vaikahari‟ (the

word spoken out by the sender)} in perceivable form. It is the „sahridaya‟ -reciever with

whom the bhavas are to be shared. He /she have to pass the process of „rasaswadana‟

{rasa are of four levels like bhavas they are shravana, manana, nididhyasana,

Sakshatkara}. During this process there are many obstacles created which are considered

as „doshas‟. The message should be contextual i.e. in which context is given. And there is

the feedback given by the receiver known as „pratikriya‟.

7

8

Sadharanikaran as a concept/theory should not be confused with the sadharanikaran

model. The former, which is one of the significant theories in Sanskrit poetics, has its

root in Natyashastra and is identified with Bhattanayaka. Whereas, latter refers to a

model of communication which draws on the classical concept/theory of sadharanikaran

along with other resources in order to visualize Hindu perspectives on communication.

However, both East and West have realized that communication is a multicultural and

multi-paradigm discipline. There is no one major paradigm that can explain all

communication behavior which is because of the inclination of scholars towards multiple

concepts of communication which may be due to various cultural and philosophical

diversities. This has led towards the adaptation of Western Communication theories in

East due to various local conditions and Eastern Communication Theories is being used

in the West to enhance the Western Communication Theories. Therefore, going back to

ones origin or seeking their own native theories along with the Western will help in

understanding themselves and the world.

9

Conclusion

Both of the theories give us an insight on how communication works in the East and the

West. It shows how these theories are effective due to the cultural influence and

understanding of the people. Communication (both as a field of study or as a discipline)

has been multidisciplinary and multicultural which is forever changing. The theories and

models give us a new perspective on communication from different cultural and

philosophical lenses. This will help in the further development of co-cultural respect and

will give us a better understanding of the world.

Thus, it will create an opportunity for native theorization and comparative study among

various communication theories and models. In this way, understanding of the Eastern

Communication Theories and the Western Communication Theories would guide us

towards reconciliation of the East and the west.

10

References

Schramm, W. (1954). How communication works. In W. Schramm (Ed.), The process

and effects of communication (pp. 3-26). Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press.

Adhikary, N. M. (2007c). Sancharyoga: Verbal communication as a means for attaining

moksha (Unpublished M.Phil. Thesis). Pokhara University, Nepal.

http://sadharanikaran.com/?p=37