In names, in titles, it's a literal start (8)
I believe the answer is:
initials
'in names' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'in titles it's a literal start' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'titles' becomes 'ini' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'it's' becomes ''tis' (I've seen this before).
'start' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'literal' is 'l'.
'ini'+'tis'='initis'
'a'+'l'='al'
'initis' enclosing 'al' is 'INITIALS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for initials that I've seen before include "First letters as of names" , "Components of an acronym" , "Signs briefly" , "Lisa in it (anag)" .)