ANALOG COMMUNICATION: CHARACTERISTICS, EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The analog communication is that which relates to the transmission of information between one or more transmitters and receivers, nonverbally. This supposes a communication made up of gestures, signs, signs, postures, voice inflections, sequence, rhythm and all the manifestations that involve sending and receiving messages without words.

According to School a in Palo Alto, California, all communication can be broken down into two dimensions: analog and digital. The first is responsible for providing information about the relationships between communicating entities, while the second transmits information about reference objects, which are external to said social relationships.

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Analog vs digital communication

Analog communication is the one that is responsible for defining the social framework or the context in which verbal or digital communication occurs. The same digital (or verbal) information can become a totally different one through its analog dimension.

Some theorists even consider that the digital language would be almost completely meaningless without the analogical contribution, but the truth is that its connection is more of a complementary nature.

Unlike digital, analog communication provides information on relationships that are continuous phenomena, which cannot be decomposed as it can be done in the case of digital.

Those relationships of affection, solidarity, rivalry or subordination between the interlocutors referred to in analog communication are phenomena that can only be communicated by analogy, as they are sui generis in nature.

Theorists then indicate that analog communication is any non-verbal manifestation. But it is also made up of all those communicational indicators that appear in the context where the sender and receiver are interacting.

Analog communication and digital communication systems

When talking about analog communication, it also refers to the communication system and the type of signal that is transmitted.

In this case, the analog communication system involves the exchange of information from a transmitter (point A) and a receiver (point B) through an analog signal. This is a continuous signal, but it varies over time. The period of analog signals is usually the inverse of their frequency.

Although the analog signal usually refers mainly to electrical signals, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and human speech systems are also considered analog in nature due to the characteristics of the signal they transmit.

The analog communication system differs from the digital communication system because the latter occurs through discrete signals, that is, they can only take one of a finite number of values.

If the analog signal represents a real number within a continuous and endless range of values, the digital signal can only take it from a certain sequence.

characteristics

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Analog communication is usually similar to the thing it represents, there is an identifiable physical similarity through any of the senses. This in contrast to digital communication that is made up of the word (written or spoken), which in the end is a convention. In the case of digital communication, there is no similarity between object and word, since they are arbitrary signs.

Although man is the only organism that uses both modes of communication, there is a field in which communication is almost exclusively analog. This area is that of relationships and has not had great changes in the inheritance received by our mammalian ancestors.

In analog communication it is very difficult to express abstract concepts that are found in the syntax of digital language. Therefore, analog communication can be considered as ambiguous. It also lacks indicators that distinguish past, present, or future.

In addition, it lacks the quality to differentiate the same gesture by itself, such as a smile of sympathy from one of contempt, or a tear of sadness from one of joy. It is for this reason that it is considered that the analogue language does not have an adequate syntax to indicate unequivocally the nature of the relationships.

However, analog communication does possess complex and powerful semantics in the field of relationships, in the context where the interlocutors interact.

Examples

Analog communication refers to all those non-verbal factors that transmit information between sender and receiver.

In principle we can identify all the behavior known as kinesia that are nothing more than body movements, learned or somatogenic gestures, that is, those that derive from physiological causes. A person yawning from fatigue or opening his eyes as a sign of surprise, would be some examples.

But beyond kinesia, theorists consider that other non-verbal manifestations that also provide this type of information, such as proxemic and paralinguistics, should be included in analog communication.

Proxemics refers to the spatial relationship between people, as well as distances (proximity or distance) while they interact, all this is provides relational information. Also the use of personal space, the positions adopted towards the other, the existence or absence of physical contact are examples of the proxemic sphere and, therefore, of analog communication.

While paralinguistics are all verbal but non-linguistic elements that serve as an indication or signal to contextualize or interpret a certain message.

For example, the tone or inflection of a person's voice when upset will not be the same as someone who is elated with joy. The rhythm and cadence of a sad individual's words are not the same as those of an angry person.

The courtship, love, combat are situations rich in elements of analog communication.

As indicated, analog communication is not exclusive to human beings, but is shared with some species of animals. These through their intentional movements, moods and vocalizations can communicate in an analog way.

For example, when a dog takes a ball, it barks and runs with its owner. You are probably invoking a specific relationship, which can be interpreted by the owner as "let's play."

References

1. Calvo, G. (1988). Analog-digital communication. Scientific-social terminology: critical approach, Barcelona, ​​Anthropos, 137-139.
2. Díaz, J. (sf). Analog communication versus digital communication. Recovered from com
3. International University of Valencia. (sf). Differences between analog and digital signal: VIU. Recovered from universidadviu.com
4. Tutorials Point. (sf). Analog Communication - Introduction. Recovered from com
5. Watzlawick, P., Beavin, J. and Jackson, D. (1991). Human communication Theory. Editorial Herder Barcelona.
6. Wikipedia contributors. (2019, October 17). Media (communication). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org