This paper proposes a view of the communication/cognitive psychology relationship which attempts to reclaim the concept of "communication" as being fundamental to the understanding of communication phenomena and thus to the discipline of communication studies. This view is presented in the paper as an alternative to a view which conceptualizes communication as an extension of psychology. The paper offers an account of the relationship between the two disciplines in which an understanding of human cognition must presuppose the ability of people to communicate. In view of the current ferment with respect to the identity of the communication discipline, the paper argues that the concept of communication can, and must, be reclaimed by the communication discipline as its central mode of explanation. (Contains 52 references.) (Author/SR)