There are many methods used to study human communication. Human beings have different ways that they express their feelings and emotions to one another. The ability to let another party comprehend what one is saying or what point one is making is known as communication. Over the years, scholars have come up with many theories in an attempt to explain any communication event. These theories originate from Anglo-American paradigm and the continental paradigm. Communication studies are based on these theories. Each theory has other sub-theories which elaborate different communication events in various styles and often used in many English studies (Turner and West 30).
An example of a communication event is that of the president of the United States of America addressing the state of the union. In this event, the vice president was in attendance together with the members of the congress. Other dignitaries, distinguished guests and the members of the public were also available. The speech that President Barrack Obama was giving aimed at recognizing various achievements that the United States of America had achieved especially on war against terrorism. There are several methods and theories that can be used to analyze this event (Bogaisky Para. 2).
First and foremost, Obama starts addressing the union by recognizing their presence. He addressed the union with enthusiasm by letting them know that he welcomed some of the last troops from Iraq. These are the soldiers who have diligently served the country and made it a safer place to be. They have dedicated their time, energy, knowledge and lives for the United States of America. They therefore need to be saluted and treated with at most dignity which they deserve for diligently serving their country. The president relates the hard and relentless work and dedication displayed by the soldiers to other institutions in the country. He urges fellow Americans to emulate their hard work and do the same in their various fields (Bogaisky Para. 3).
The president notes that America could be the leading country in employing high paying jobs or producing the best students in the whole world as an example to be followed by other countries. This can only be achieved if the Americans can learn from the soldiers’ hard work and diligence and employ the same. The president addresses other issues of the country such as the American economy. It is by hard work and putting in place the right policies that the country can sustain all people successfully economically. This is without discrimination where everyone is able to afford the basic needs with ease (Bogaisky Para. 4).
In using communication theories to analyze this event, there are different approaches employed to better the understanding of the speech. Because it is difficult to focus and analyze every detail, theories organize and elucidate the experiences of the audience and other parties involved. They select the details that are important and leave out those that are not. It is explained that the theory used to explain an event adds color to it. They also help in extending people’s knowledge of the event. This means that one is not limited to what is observed and heard at the event but even those that have not been encountered (Turner and West 38).
In applying the Anglo-American paradigm theory, there are three approaches used. Deductive nomological approach, deductive-statistical and that of inductive statistical explanations are commonly used. It is said that if a theory can explain a communication event fully, then it can also predict it. These explanations are then divided into several other sections which help in analyzing an event further. In this theory, the rule approach is the most complex but the one which is more appropriate in analyzing Obama’s speech (Turner and West 52).
Just like in grammar, there are rules that govern the use of words in constructing sentences so is the case in communication event analysis. This encompasses the open and closed systems. However, it is believed that the rules are open in most communication events. This enables the truth to come out clearly depending on the occasion rather than confining it to some specific rules (Turner and West 32).
The importance of using the theories in an event includes the widening of the knowledge of it. They help one imagine and think beyond what the event is all about. Theories also initiate future research on the subject matter. This comes as a result of critical analysis of an event. As the theories are tested, modifications are made to enable give better explanations of events. Communication theories must be consistent and lack contradictions in order to explicitly explain events (Turner and West 30).
In conclusion, communication event is a discipline or field which involves the use theories to elaborate on different occasions of communications. There are laws and rules that govern the use of these theories in explaining the events. There are quite a number of advantages that come as a result of using these theories in explaining communication events.
Works cited
Bogaisky, Jeremy. Full Text: President Obama's State of the Union Address. Forbes.com. 24 Jan. 2012. Web. 10 May 2012.
Turner, Lynn, H. and Richard L. West. The Family Communication Sourcebook. California, CA: Sage Publications, 2006. Print.
