Which of the following contextual factors determine meaning in communication behaviour?

(A) Physical location.

(B) Participants

(C) Preceding events

(D) Nonfunctional goals

(E) Absence of audience.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is (A), (B) and (C) Only.

In communication theory, meaning is not generated in a vacuum; it is shaped by the context in which the interaction occurs. The primary contextual factors that determine meaning include:
(A) Physical location: The actual environment or setting (e.g., a classroom, a courtroom, a noisy street, or a quiet cafe) dictates the tone, expectations, and interpretation of communication behaviors.
(B) Participants: The individuals involved in the communication, including their relationships, cultural backgrounds, status, and personal attributes, heavily influence how messages are encoded and decoded.
(C) Preceding events: The historical context or what happened just before the communication occurs sets expectations and provides a frame of reference that gives meaning to the current behavior.

On the other hand:
(D) Nonfunctional goals: Goals that do not serve a clear purpose or function in the communication process do not systematically define or structure the shared meaning of a communicative behavior.
(E) Absence of audience: Communication behavior typically requires a sender and a receiver (audience). While solitary behavior exists, the "absence of audience" is not a standard contextual factor determining meaning in interactive communication behaviors.

Therefore, only physical location, participants, and preceding events are key contextual factors that shape meaning, making the first option the correct choice.