Message

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin missaticum, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere - to send

• Date: 14th century

Definitions

• 1 : a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals
• 2 : a messenger's mission
• 3 : an underlying theme or idea

Description

A message in its most general meaning is an object of communication. It is a vessel which provides information. Yet, it can also be this information. Therefore, its meaning is dependent upon the context in which it is used; the term may apply to both the information and its form. A communiqué is a brief report or statement released by a public agency.

More precisely, in communications science, a message is information which is sent from a source to a receiver. Some common definitions include:

• Any thought or idea expressed in a language, prepared in a form suitable for transmission by any means of communication.
• An arbitrary amount of information whose beginning and end are defined or implied.

In communication between humans, messages can be verbal or nonverbal:

• A verbal message is an exchange of information using words. Examples include face-to-face communication, telephone calls, voicemails, etc.
• A nonverbal message is communicated through actions or behaviors rather than words. Examples include the use of body language and the actions made by an individual idea.[1]