What is Multimodality?


Introduction

Using multiple methods to communicate your message is a must. Everyone learns and absorbs information in different ways, so providing your readers with a variety of methods to consume, they can choose what work best for them.

What's on this page?


What is multimodal and multimedia?

Multimodal is using multiple modes of communication. Our world is multimodal, we communicate through sight, sound, gestures, language, text and more.

Using multiple modes is the most effective way to communicate. It is important to use multimodality to communicate a message because it allows the user to understand the message in a way that is familiar. We experience elements of this in our everyday lives, so it makes sense that we utilize it when we are trying to convey a message, sell a product, or present an idea.

For example, a video can be aural (hearing) and visual. This can be further split into language, text, imagery, background music and more. This tutorial is multimodal. You'll find a variety of text, videos and images, of which are also multimedia.


Using Multiple Modes to Communicate

Watch

How can digital media help you communicate your message? In this short video, learn about methods of communication, and different mediums and modes you can use to accomplish your goal.

Modes of communication

Visual

Colour, layout, style, size, perspective

Spatial

Arrangement, organization, proximity between people and objects

Gestural

Facial expressions, hand gestures, body language, interactions between people

Aural

Music; sound effects; ambient noise/sounds; silence; tone; emphasis and accent of voice in spoken language; volume of sound

Linguistic

Word choice; delivery of spoken/written text (tone); organization in sentences, paragraphs; coherence of individual words and ideas

Elements of multimedia to you can use to communicate include:

  • Websites, blogs

  • Infographics, posters

  • Animations, slideshows, presentations

  • Video creation, video essays, photo essays

  • Eportfolios

Take a look at some of the ways you can combine modes and media in the infographic below.

By biscotto87 from Adobe Stock

Why use Multimodality?

Multimodality is a term that signifies using many different “modes” to make meaning. So whereas “multimedia” focuses more on the technology and tools we use, “multimodal” focuses a bit more on the meaning we are trying to make via different methods of multimedia (Vaughan, 1993).

Websites can act as a great landing page or space to share your multimedia and storytell in a variety of ways. Making websites one of the best sources for communicating your message because you have the ability to use a multitude of modes.

By sidorenko5ja from Adobe Stock

The University of Illinois Springfield states that multimodal projects:

  • Promote more interactivity

  • Portrays information in multiple ways

  • Adapts projects to befit different audiences

  • Keeps focus better since more senses are being used to process information

  • Allows for more flexibility and creativity to present information

Additional Sources