This paper is an attempt at exploring the contribution of ecological principles to the enhancement of communication skills. In this technocratic age, people find even the natural process of communication taxing and difficult. Most of the problems that hinder communication skills arise out of humans' failure to understand the basic principles of ecology. They do not realize the interrelatedness and interdependence of all the lives that operate the activities of the universe and create several problems in the communication process. Some of the problems that people face during their communication with others include fear, lack of trust, shyness, nervousness, ignorance, language difference, inferiority complex, and status distinction. The lack of understanding of the concept of `interrelatedness' makes them lead compartmentalized lives. Their acts of particularization and compartmentalization induce fear about others as they suspect others' intrusion into their privacy. It is fear that proves to be the origin of all other communication barriers. The lack of understanding of the principle of oneness creates a rift between humans and they also breed negative attitude, inferiority complex, and language and gender differences. One can find an antidote to all these hurdles in the knowledge of ecological principles. The basic principle of ecology ascertains: `Everything is connected to everything else'. A basic understanding and belief in this principle holds scope for the improvement of communication skills. Knowledge of `interrelatedness' allows humans to shed fear as they identify their connection with each other and the strong bond that binds them.

Ecology is a branch of biology concerned with the relation between living things and their environment. It is also the study of the earth as our home or household (Greek, dike). Martha Vannucci (1994), the well-known biological oceanographer, describes ecology as "the study of each individual's and each species or association of species requirements and of their limits of tolerance in relation to environmental factors. Ecology is the study of the exchange of energy and matter between living beings and between living beings and nonliving elements of the environment." This paper is an attempt at exploring the contribution of ecological principles to the enhancement of communication skills.

In this technocratic age, people find even the natural process of communication taxing and difficult. Most of the problems that hinder communication skills arise out of humans' failure to understand the basic principles of ecology. According to the physicist and ecologist, Barry Commoner (1972), "Everything is connected to everything else. There is one ecosphere for all living organisms and what affects one, affects all." Humans do not realize the interrelatedness and interdependence of all the lives that operate the activities of the universe and create several problems in the communication process.

Some of the problems that people face during their communication with others include fear, lack of trust, shyness, nervousness, ignorance, language difference, inferiority complex, and status distinction. Common barriers to communication include `physical barriers', `perceptual barriers', `emotional barriers', `cultural barriers', `language barriers', `gender barriers', and `interpersonal barriers' (Garner, 2006). People's lack of understanding of the concept of `interrelatedness' makes them lead compartmentalized lives. Their acts of particularization and compartmentalization induce fear about others as they suspect others' intrusion into their privacy. It is fear that proves to be the origin of all other communication barriers. The fear about others makes people doubt each other's moves and triggers a lack of trust. This lack of trust constructs nervousness when they happen to involve in a dialogue or conversation. Their nervousness promotes an incoherent mind that breeds shyness and hinders all communication. Moreover, the lack of understanding of the principle of oneness creates a rift between humans and also breeds negative attitude, inferiority complex, and language and gender differences.

English Studies Journal, Ecological Principles, Communication Skills, Communication Taxing, Biological Oceanographer, Communication Process, Cultural Barriers, Gender Barriers, Computer Programs, Verbal Communication, Oral Communication, Interpersonal Communication.