Etymology of ‘Communication’

n. About 1384 communicacioun an imparting or transmitting of something, in the Wycliffe Bible; borrowed from Old French communicacion, learned borrowing from Latin communicationem (nominative communicatio) from communicare make common to many, share, impart (com- together + a lost adjective *moinicos carrying an obligation, from munia, Old Latin moenia duties; see COMMON); for suffix see -ATION.

The specific sense of the imparting or transmitting of ideas, knowledge, information, etc., is first found in English in Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690). – communicate v. 1526, partake in common, share; either 1) a back formation from English communication, or 2) borrowed from Latin communicatus, past participle of communicare make common, share, impart; for suffix see – ATE.

Excerpted from the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.

In relation to the Eames’ film A Communications Primer I think the above etymology of the word Communication reveals something of the meaning in the sentence below, from the narration in the film:

“Communication means the Responsibility of Decision, All the way down the Line…”

The association of the word ‘communication’ with the ‘Lost Adjective’ moinicos – ‘carrying an obligation’ – is interesting. Is responsibility the ‘carrying of obligation’?

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