Communication Models and Elements

Communication Participants

• Participants include senders and receivers who can exchange messages simultaneously.
• Noise refers to distractions that disrupt message interpretation and can create barriers in communication.
• Effective communication may require clarifying intended meanings when messages are not clearly conveyed.

Helical Model

• Distinguishes itself with an upward and forward movement of knowledge through interaction.
• Communication evolves from birth, influenced by past experiences that shape present responses.
• Emphasizes the journey of learning, exemplified by acquiring new vocabulary.

Elements of Communication

• Participants: Communicators who act as senders (transmitters of information) and receivers (decoders of messages).
• Context: Interrelated conditions affecting communication, including:
  • Physical context: Time, environment, and distance.
  • Social context: Relationships between communicators.
  • Psychological context: Moods and feelings.
  • Cultural context: Beliefs and norms of participants.
• Message: The core idea or information conveyed by the sender.

Verbal Communication

• Involves the use of speech to express thoughts and ideas.
• Common forms include telephone conversations, job interviews, speeches, classroom teaching, and casual conversations.

Nonverbal Communication

• Utilizes wordless cues like facial expressions, body language, and vocal tones to convey messages.
• Examples include gestures like shaking your head, smiling, or displaying a blank stare.

Process of Communication

• Begins with a stimulus activated by the sender who encodes the message into words.
• The receiver decodes and interprets the message, providing feedback that may trigger a new communication cycle.
• Role exchanges between sender and receiver may occur until mutual understanding is achieved.
• Systematic communication can face barriers leading to misunderstandings, accentuated by technological advancements.

Communication Models

• Linear Model: Describes communication as a one-way process where information flows from sender to receiver without feedback.
• Shannon-Weaver Model: A classical linear model illustrating one-way communication alongside potential disruptions from noise.
• Interactive Model: Highlights communication as a two-way exchange, integrating feedback and acknowledging noise's impact on interpretation.
• Schramm Model: Enhances the Shannon-Weaver model by incorporating feedback and defining six elements: sender, message, receiver, feedback, encoding, and decoding.
• Transactional Model: Portrays communication as a simultaneous activity, emphasizing the active participation of all involved.

Objectives of Study

• Define the concept of communication.
• Understand the communication process.
• Differentiate between verbal and nonverbal communication.