Standard tools? (6,3,6)
I believe the answer is:
hammer and sickle
This clue might be a double definition.
'standard' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'tools?' is the second definition.
(I have seen 'revolutionary tools' mean 'hammer and sickle' so perhaps 'tools' could also mean 'hammer and sickle')
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hammer and sickle that I've seen before include "revolutionary tools" , "that's symbolic for Left" .)