Coya

u / W

ikim

edia

Com

mon

s / C

C-BY

-SA-

3.0

CommunicationMEDIA, POWER AND

CULTURE

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

Words as containers• He put a lot of emotion into his words• The story was filled with meaning• His speech was packed with ideas

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

Communication as transmission

• He sent a clear message• You didn’t get your point across• He hurled criticism at me

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

Reading as unpacking• I got a lot out of your lecture• You gave me a lot to think about• His words were hollow

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

The Conduit Metaphor• Conduit: A pipe, tube or channel• Conduit metaphor: Talking about

language – and communication in general – as if ideas are concrete things that can be taken from one person and sent into the brains of other people like money transferred from customer to bank via a pneumatic tube (Michael Reddy, 1979)

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

Consequences• Does communication really work like

the conduit metaphor? • How does unconsciously accepting

the conduit metaphor affect those who initiate (send) communication?

• How does it affect those on the receiving end?

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

The non-apology apology• I’m sorry if anyone was offended• I’m sorry for hurting you• I’m sorry that your cat died

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

The toolmaker paradigm

April

Killi

ngsw

orth

/ Fl

ickr /

 CC-

BY-2

.0

Kroll BoP

Conduit metaphor & media• Communication is not one-to-one,

mutual or in person• Framing = attempt to establish

similar context, or at least signal intended context

• Language is an imperfect tool of communication. Unfortunately, it’s the main one we have.