Communis, Communicatio, Communicare: On the Meaning of Communication.

The article focuses on the historical and etymological evolution of the word "communication," tracing its semantic development from ancient Indo-European roots through Ancient Greek and Latin to its emergence as a French neologism in the 14th century. Initially linked to notions of exchange, reciprocity, and social obligation—embodied in the Latin com-munis meaning "duty to be together"—the term evolved from a relational concept of shared participation toward a modern emphasis on transmission and dissemination of information. The 14th-century French neologism communicacion, introduced by Maistre Nicole Oresme, secularized and expanded the term’s meaning beyond ecclesiastical use, integrating political and social dimensions. Over subsequent centuries, the word’s spelling and semantics shifted, culminating in the 16th-century adoption of the current form communication, which increasingly emphasized transmission while retaining its foundational relational and social character. The article concludes that despite its polysemic nature and evolving uses, communication remains intrinsically tied to the social dynamics of connection and reciprocity that underpin human interaction.