The Asian Perspective on Communication Theories

Having justified the need for Asian Approaches to communicate the onset question that logically follows is whether there is relevant hypothesis, concepts, traditions which can prove to be extremely productive in widening the discourse of communication meta theory.

Yes, there are such things which are embedded with Asian intellectual and cultural tradition. There are classical treaties in philosophy, rhetoric, linguistics, poetry and so on which may provide postulates and principles of communication. There are various rituals, folk dramas, and so on handed down from generation to generation, which may have culture specific symbols for understanding unique nature of indigenous communication process. There are different types of societies in Asia which need to be explored for discovering different communicative behaviour characteristics of people is developing societies.

In fact some of the Asian scholars have already done researches into the areas of Asian treaties traditions and societies. The possibility of emergence of alternate theories of Wimal Dissnayake, for instance, have studied in fair detail the communication significance of Bharhhari’s Vakyapodiya in terms of notions like linguistic relativity and human cognition; the concepts of measuring and syntax of language; the notion of contextualization of communication utterance and the role of receivers in the communication process.

The study of Bharhhari’s Vakyapodiya signifies the importance of investigating Asian classical treaties in formulating alternate communication theories or theories which may modify or supplement.

Similarly, C.Y. Cheng has identified six basic principles of Chinese philosophy of Taoism and Chian Buddhism that are pertinent to the understanding of or conceptualizations of communication like the Principles of Symbolic Reference. On the basis of these principles, the Buddhist classical text can be studied to discover their significance for formulation of Communication Theory.

The Hindu and Buddhist tradition emphasis on the notion of process and processual nature of life. The idea of conditioning as opposes to determining is central to the Buddhist conceptualization of human communication.

Dissanayake model of Western and Buddhist models of Communication (1984) clarifies the distinction between Western and Buddhist approaches to communication. According to these models, Western approaches to communication emphasis on communicator, on influence, on control, on outward process and intellect. But the Buddhist approaches emphasis on  receiver, on understanding, on choice, on outward as well as inward process and empathy. The Buddhist approach can create a new paradigm of development communication.

Similarly, the Koran and the Hadith contains several principles and methods of communication that are strictly expected of the Muslim religious communicator, like, ‘Good does not like any evil to be mentioned openly, unless it be by him who has been wronged there by.  Islamic perspective on communication emphasis on values of social;, religious  and cultural nature and on participatorial study for maintaining just social order- away of life.

Communication theory, in general, is perceived to be culture-bound. The Asian perspective on communication theories, therefore, can contribute to formulation of alternate theories and models of communication that reflect or bear the imprint of the Asian nations own cultures.

Development communication, the problems of inter-cultural communication involving Asian and non Asian are some of the potential areas for research and theoretical consideration. Indeed, the need to study Asian Perspectives on Communication is a very compelling one.

(Lecture notes by Prof. Laldeusa Rai)