Models of Communication PDF

**Models of Communication ** **INTRODUCTION**\ A model is a symbolic representation that shows how elements of a\ structure or system relate for analysis and discussion purposes. Communication models help to explain the process of communication. Communication models are systematic representations o...

**Models of Communication ** **INTRODUCTION**\ A model is a symbolic representation that shows how elements of a\ structure or system relate for analysis and discussion purposes. Communication models help to explain the process of communication. Communication models are systematic representations of the process which helps in understanding how communication works can be done. Models show the process metaphorically and in symbols. They form general perspectives on communication by breaking communication from complex to simple and keeps the components in order. This lesson intends to expose you to the variety of ways through which communication could be conceptualized and examined. Some of the models discussed are named after their originators. The models are help scholars to understand the concept of communication better.  **Linear Model of Communication** [[Linear model of communication]](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/linear-model-communication) is a simple one way communication model. The message flows in a straight line from sender to the receiver. There is no concept of feedback. The only task that a receiver does here is to receive the message. Different models that follow linear model of communication are: - [[Lasswell's Model]](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/lasswell-communication-model) - [[Aristotle's Model]](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/aristotles-model-communication) - [[Shannon Weaver Model]](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/shannon-and-weaver-model-communication) 1 **Aristotle\'s Model**\ Aristotle, writing 300 years before the birth of Christ, provided an\ explanation of oral communication that is still worthy of attention. He\ called the study of communication \"rhetoric\" and spoke of three\ elements within the process. He provided us with this insight: Rhetoric\ falls into three divisions, determined by the three classes of listeners to\ speeches. Of the three elements in speech-making: A. Speaker- source, encoder, producer B. Subject- message\ C. Hearer- Receiver, person addressed  It is the last one, the hearer, that determines the speech\'s end and object. Here, Aristotle speaks of a communication process composed of a speaker, a message and a listener. Note, he points out that the person at the end of the communication process *holds the* *key to whether or not communication takes place.* **2. LASSWELL\'S MODEL**\ Harold Lasswell (1948), in proposing a convenient way to describe\ communication, came out with the model which was expressed in terms\ of the basic elements of the communication process. According to\ Lasswell, communication occurs when:\ a source sends a message\ through a medium\ to a receiver\ producing some effect\ Lasswell proposed a verbal model to describe the process through which\ communication works. The model requires answer to the following\ questions:\ Who\ Says what\ In which channel\ To whom\ With what effect?\ The point in Lasswell\'s comment is that *there must be an \"effect\" if*\ *communication takes place.* If we have communicated, we\'ve\ \"motivated\" or produced an effect. It is also interesting to note that\ Lasswell\'s version of the communication process mentions four parts ---\ who, what, channel, whom. Three of the five parallel parts mentioned\ by Aristotle --- speaker (who), subject (what), person addressed (whom), with what effect\ Channel and Effect of the message have been added. **3. Shannon and Weaver's Model**\ Claude Shannon developed this model while trying to know what\ happens to "information bits" as they travel from the source to the\ receiver in telephone communication. In the process, he isolated the key\ elements of the Communication process, but missed out feedback which\ was later added by his colleague, Warren Weaver.\ The elements include:\ a) The Communication: All communication are composed of chains or\ systems; and a system or chain is no stronger than its weakest link.\ b) The information and communication source: The entity (individual,\ group or organisation) that originates the message.\ c) The Message: The information itself, which may be verbal or nonverbal, visual, auditory, or tactile.\ d) The Transmitter: The person, establishment (or equipment) that\ encodes and transmits the message on behalf of the source; the\ transmitter may be the source.\ e) The Channel: The avenue through which the message is transmitted\ to the receiver.\ f) The Destination: the central nervous system (e.g. the human brain)\ where the message is processed for final use.\ g) Noise: This is anything added to the information signal but not\ intended by the information source, and therefore causing distortion\ in the message.\ Shannon and Weaver attempted to do two things:\ 1) reduce the communication process to a set of mathematical formulas and\ 2) discuss problems that could be handled with the model.\ Shannon and Weaver were not particularly interested in the sociological\ or psychological aspects of communication. Instead, they wanted to\ devise a communication system with as close to 100 percent efficiency\ as possible.\ The \"noise\" concept introduced by Shannon and Weaver can be used to\ illustrate \"semantic noise\" that interferes with communication. You will\ note that the Shannon and Weaver diagram has essentially the same\ parts as the one formulated by Aristotle. It\'s true the parts have different\ names, and a fourth component --- in this case the transmitter --- is\ included. Note that This model also falls under Transactional Model **Transactional Model of Communication** In [[transactional model]](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/transactional-model-communication), senders and receivers both are known as communicators and both play equally important role in communication. Transactional model relates communication with social reality, cultural up-bringing and relational context (relationships). Non-verbal feedback like gestures, body language, is also considered as feedback in this model. Different models that follow transactional model of communication are: 1. [**[Barnlund's Transactional Model]**](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/barnlund-transactional-model-communication) Barnlund's Transactional Model is a **multi-layered feedback system**. This is a continuous process where sender and receiver interchanges their places and both are equally important. The message passing takes place with a constant feedback being provided from both parties. A feedback for one is the message for the other. **Advantages of Barnlund's Transactional Model of Communication** - The model shows shared field experience of the sender and receiver. - Transactional model talks about simultaneous message sending, noise and feedback. - Barnlund's model is taken by critics as the most systematic model of communication. **Disadvantages of Barnlund's Transactional Model of Communication** - Barnlund's model is very complex. - Both the sender and receiver must understand the codes sent by the other. So they must each possess a similar "code book". (The concept of code book is not mentioned in the model but understood.) 2. [**[Helical Model]**](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/helical-model-communication) **Concept of Helical Model of Communication** Helical model of communication introduces the concept of time where continuousness of the communication process and relational interactions are very important. Communication is taken as a dynamic process in helical model of communication and it progresses with age as our experience and vocabulary increases. At first, helical spring is small at the bottom and grows bigger as the communication progresses. The same effect can be seen with communication of humans, where you know nothing about a person at first and the knowledge grows steadily as you know the person better. It considers all the activities of the person, from the past and present. Communication is affected by the curve from which it emerges which denotes past behavior and experiences. Slowly, the helix leaves its lower levels of behavior and grows upward in a new way. It always depends on the lowest level to form the message. Thus, the communicative relationship reaches to the next level in which people share more information **Advantages of Helical Model of Communication** - The model assumes sender and receiver to be interchangeable and makes communication process to be two way. - The model takes the communication process speculative and intellectual. **Disadvantages of Helical Model of Communication** - The model is taken as more simple than it should be. - Some critics don't take it to be a model as it has very few variables. - It is not testable because it is abstract. - It is not represented in a systematic and orderly way. - Continuity may not always be true for communication. There might be breaks in situations as well as events can be meaningless, forced or unproductive. - The purpose of communication is not always growth. 3. [**[Becker's Mosaic Model]**](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/becker-mosaic-model-communication) Sam Becker proposed a communication model in "The Prospect of Rhetoric" (1968), which is known as Becker's Mosaic Model of Communication. According to him, the classical models of communication are not very useful in contemporary communication. The model explains the complexity of human communication. It also describes the randomness of the origin of messages and communication as a dynamic process. The model is believed to reduce the limitations of the linear models. The model stresses the meaning of messages. The model was inspired by Marshall McLuhan's views and metaphors of television as a collection of light and dark spots. **Components of Becker's Mosaic Model of Communication** 1. **Empty cells**-- Unavailable messages or sources 2. **Vertical layers**-- Set of similar messages 3. **Cells**-- Messages and sources 4. Receivers go through the cells in **loops** every time **Concepts of Becker's Mosaic Model of Communication** Every person lives and exists in the web of communications which reciprocally makes the person unique. Messages construct humans and humans construct messages. Message depends on information source, culture, social situations, and environment. The constructed message is just a small step to the formation of complicated communication environment which is known as a "Mosaic". The mosaic is formed from the network of bits of information. Bits of information help in making a complete picture of any situation. There are many sources of information and messages. Every individual will take the information that he/she needs and ignores all others. These fragments of information can be about anything, in any time and in any space. The channels the bits are sent can also vary. These bits are pieced together by a person as per the needs to form a message. When another person receives the message, the second person not only interprets according to the bits of information that is in the message, but also interprets it with the help of all the past bits of information the person can relate the message to. [[Communication]](https://www.businesstopia.net/communication) is shown in a three dimensional cube formed with bits of information and time-space dimensions. It is taken as non linear. The mosaic model talks about message environment being a major factor for rhetoric. The receiver is only exposed to the rhetorical message sent by the sender, and so the message must make an influence over the receiver. The receiver's environment is also important as the message that is received is more essential than the one that is sent. **Advantages of the Becker's Mosaic Model of Communication** - The mosaic model of communication shows the complexity of communication and says communication is dynamic. - The model explains why the exposure to message varies. - The model also talks about individual differences between people. - The message is said to be interpreted in comparison to the information available and relationship of the bit of information. **Disadvantages of the Becker's Mosaic Model of Communication** - The mosaic model of communication does not explain many dimensions like environmental and social. - The new bits of information are useless if the last bits are lost.