All communication (both verbal and non-verbal) is symbolic, deciphered by both communicators as they try to be on the same frame of reference. This means that:

Question

All communication (both verbal and non-verbal) is symbolic, deciphered by both communicators as they try to be on the same frame of reference.  This means that:

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Meaning is in people.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
Symbolic communication theory (including symbolic interactionism and semiotics) holds that words, gestures, and other signals are symbols whose meanings are not intrinsic but are created, negotiated, and interpreted by people. A "frame of reference" is the shared background, expectations, culture, and context communicators use to interpret symbols. Encoding and decoding are active human processes: a sender encodes a meaning into language or gesture, and a receiver decodes it using their own frame of reference.

2. Step-by-step reasoning
a) Communication uses symbols (spoken words, written text, gestures).  
b) A given symbol (e.g., the word "bank" or a thumbs-up) can evoke different meanings depending on context and experienc es.  
c) Because interpretation varies by person (culture, experience, context), meaning cannot be inherent in the symbol itself.  
d) Therefore meaning arises when people interpret symbols and negotiate understanding through interaction and shared frames of reference.

3. Intermediate steps (illustrative examples)
- Example: The word "hot" could mean high temperature, attractive, or spicy. The symbol (word) is constant but meaning changes depending on who interprets it and context.  
- Example: A thumbs-up gesture is positive in some cultures, offensive in others. The gesture is a vehicle; people supply its meaning.

4. Why the correct answer is correct
"Meaning is in people" captures the central claim: symbols are tools; people assign, negotiate, and confirm meanings. Communication succeeds when individuals align their frames of reference so the sender’s intended meaning and the receiver’s interpreted meaning coincide.

5. Why other options are incorrect (briefly)
- "Meaning is in language.": Language is the medium, not the locus of meaning; languages vary and require interpreters.  
- "Meaning is in words.": Words are symbols that require interpretation; words alone don’t contain fixed meaning.  
- "Meaning is in gestures.": Gestures are likewise symbolic and culturally dependent; they do not inherently contain universal meaning.

6. Conclusion
Given the interpretive, negotiated nature of symbolic communication and frames of reference, the correct choice is "Meaning is in people," which matches the provided answer.

All communication (both verbal and non-verbal) is symbolic, deciphered by both communicators as they try to be on the same frame of reference. This means that:单项选择题

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