Explain in brief any five postulates of communication.

Postulates (axioms) of communication are basic, self-evident truths about how human communication works (based on Watzlawick's axioms). Any five:

1. One cannot not communicate. Every behaviour, including silence, absence or a blank expression, sends some message to the observer; communication is unavoidable whenever people are in each other's presence.
2. Every communication has a content and a relationship aspect. The words carry information (content), while tone, choice of words and body language show the relationship between sender and receiver (e.g. a boss's order vs a friend's request), and the relationship aspect decides how the content is interpreted.
3. Meanings are in people, not in words. The receiver decodes a message using his/her own experience, culture and attitude, so the same words can mean different things to different people.
4. Communication is irreversible. A message once sent cannot be taken back; it can only be explained or corrected later, so one must think before speaking or writing.
5. Communication is a continuous, dynamic two-way process. It is not a one-time act: sender and receiver constantly exchange roles through feedback, and the process keeps changing with context.
6. Communication is both verbal and non-verbal (digital and analogic). Words (verbal) are accompanied by gestures, facial expressions, tone and posture (non-verbal); when the two conflict, people tend to believe the non-verbal cues.
7. Interactions are symmetrical or complementary. Communication between equals (colleagues) is symmetrical; communication between unequals (teacher–student, manager–subordinate) is complementary.

Conclusion: Understanding these postulates helps a professional communicate consciously, choose words and non-verbal cues carefully and anticipate how the receiver will interpret the message.