Close neighbour is corrupt or bent (6)
I believe the answer is:
breton
'close neighbour' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'corrupt or bent' is the wordplay.
'corrupt' indicates anagramming the letters (a corrupted spelling of the word).
'or'+'bent'='orbent'
'orbent' with letters rearranged gives 'BRETON'.
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for breton that I've seen before include "from Northern France" , "French Celtic language" , "A native of Brittany, France" , "French language class" , "One from Brest" .)