CMN 1148 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026
Communication - ANSWERSThe process of making sense of the world through shared
meaning between two or more people.
You cannot not communicate - ANSWERSEverything we do conveys meaning, even
silence or inaction.
Feedback - ANSWERSThe response from the receiver that lets the sender know if their
message was understood.
Noise - ANSWERSAnything that interferes with communication (e.g., physical,
psychological, or semantic distractions).
Shannon and Weaver Model - ANSWERSA linear model of communication with sender,
message, channel, receiver, and feedback; emphasizes the impact of noise.
Barlund's Transactional Model - ANSWERSA continuous, simultaneous process where
participants send and receive messages at the same time within a noisy environment.
Interpersonal Communication - ANSWERSCommunication where two people mutually
influence and interact with each other simultaneously.
Term: Communication is Symbolic - ANSWERSDefinition: Words, gestures, and objects
stand for meanings we agree on; symbols can be interpreted differently by each person.
Term: Martin Buber - "All real living is meeting" - ANSWERSDefinition: True human
connection happens when we encounter others authentically, not as objects or
comparisons.
Term: Communication is Messy - ANSWERSDefinition: Misunderstandings are
inevitable because communication involves personal experiences and perceptions.
Term: Seven Traditions of Communication** - ANSWERSDefinition: Rhetorical,
Semiotic, Phenomenological, Sociopsychological, Sociocultural, Critical — frameworks
for analyzing communication.
Term: Semiotic Tradition - ANSWERSDefinition: Focuses on the relationship between
signs, symbols, and their meanings.
Term: Transmissional vs. Ritual Communication - ANSWERSDefinition: Transmissional
is one-way (sending info), while Ritual is shared and participatory (building community).
, Term: Power in Communication - ANSWERSDefinition: Power dynamics influence who
speaks, who listens, and how messages are interpreted.
Term: Social Exchange Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Relationships are maintained
when the perceived rewards outweigh the costs.
Term: Relational Dialectics Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Relationships require tension
and opposing forces to grow and remain interesting.
Term: Nudge Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Suggests subtle changes in environment
or framing can influence people's behavior.
Term: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken
place." - ANSWERSDefinition: Misunderstandings often occur because people assume
they've been understood when they haven't.
Term: Marshall McLuhan - ANSWERSDefinition: The medium shapes the message;
how something is communicated can alter its meaning.
Term: Albert Korzybski - ANSWERSDefinition: Language shapes thought; we are
"trapped in a house of language."
Term: Symbolic Interaction Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Communication uses
symbols (like words or gestures) that carry meaning understood within a culture.
Term: Uncertainty Reduction Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: We communicate to reduce
uncertainty, especially in new situations or relationships.
Term: Social Penetration Theory (Onion Theory) - ANSWERSDefinition: Relationships
develop through layers of self-disclosure, moving from superficial to intimate.
Term: Self-Concept - ANSWERSDefinition: The perception of who we are, based on
interactions and feedback from others.
Term: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy - ANSWERSDefinition: When our expectations or beliefs
cause behaviors that make those expectations come true.
Term: Impression Management - ANSWERSDefinition: The effort to control how others
perceive us, often through behavior, appearance, or communication.
Term: Managing Online Impressions - ANSWERSDefinition: Crafting an online persona;
some believe it's harder without nonverbal cues, others say it gives more control.
Term: Self-Concept vs. Identity - ANSWERSDefinition: Self-concept is how we see
ourselves; identity is how we present that self to the world.
ANSWERS 2026
Communication - ANSWERSThe process of making sense of the world through shared
meaning between two or more people.
You cannot not communicate - ANSWERSEverything we do conveys meaning, even
silence or inaction.
Feedback - ANSWERSThe response from the receiver that lets the sender know if their
message was understood.
Noise - ANSWERSAnything that interferes with communication (e.g., physical,
psychological, or semantic distractions).
Shannon and Weaver Model - ANSWERSA linear model of communication with sender,
message, channel, receiver, and feedback; emphasizes the impact of noise.
Barlund's Transactional Model - ANSWERSA continuous, simultaneous process where
participants send and receive messages at the same time within a noisy environment.
Interpersonal Communication - ANSWERSCommunication where two people mutually
influence and interact with each other simultaneously.
Term: Communication is Symbolic - ANSWERSDefinition: Words, gestures, and objects
stand for meanings we agree on; symbols can be interpreted differently by each person.
Term: Martin Buber - "All real living is meeting" - ANSWERSDefinition: True human
connection happens when we encounter others authentically, not as objects or
comparisons.
Term: Communication is Messy - ANSWERSDefinition: Misunderstandings are
inevitable because communication involves personal experiences and perceptions.
Term: Seven Traditions of Communication** - ANSWERSDefinition: Rhetorical,
Semiotic, Phenomenological, Sociopsychological, Sociocultural, Critical — frameworks
for analyzing communication.
Term: Semiotic Tradition - ANSWERSDefinition: Focuses on the relationship between
signs, symbols, and their meanings.
Term: Transmissional vs. Ritual Communication - ANSWERSDefinition: Transmissional
is one-way (sending info), while Ritual is shared and participatory (building community).
, Term: Power in Communication - ANSWERSDefinition: Power dynamics influence who
speaks, who listens, and how messages are interpreted.
Term: Social Exchange Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Relationships are maintained
when the perceived rewards outweigh the costs.
Term: Relational Dialectics Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Relationships require tension
and opposing forces to grow and remain interesting.
Term: Nudge Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Suggests subtle changes in environment
or framing can influence people's behavior.
Term: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken
place." - ANSWERSDefinition: Misunderstandings often occur because people assume
they've been understood when they haven't.
Term: Marshall McLuhan - ANSWERSDefinition: The medium shapes the message;
how something is communicated can alter its meaning.
Term: Albert Korzybski - ANSWERSDefinition: Language shapes thought; we are
"trapped in a house of language."
Term: Symbolic Interaction Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: Communication uses
symbols (like words or gestures) that carry meaning understood within a culture.
Term: Uncertainty Reduction Theory - ANSWERSDefinition: We communicate to reduce
uncertainty, especially in new situations or relationships.
Term: Social Penetration Theory (Onion Theory) - ANSWERSDefinition: Relationships
develop through layers of self-disclosure, moving from superficial to intimate.
Term: Self-Concept - ANSWERSDefinition: The perception of who we are, based on
interactions and feedback from others.
Term: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy - ANSWERSDefinition: When our expectations or beliefs
cause behaviors that make those expectations come true.
Term: Impression Management - ANSWERSDefinition: The effort to control how others
perceive us, often through behavior, appearance, or communication.
Term: Managing Online Impressions - ANSWERSDefinition: Crafting an online persona;
some believe it's harder without nonverbal cues, others say it gives more control.
Term: Self-Concept vs. Identity - ANSWERSDefinition: Self-concept is how we see
ourselves; identity is how we present that self to the world.
