COMMUNICATION MODELS

COMMUNICATION MODELS

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Communication skills are a prerequisite for a healthy relationship at work or in social cycles. Language advocates classify communication as a “soft skill” or interpersonal competence.

Communication models overview

A model of communication offers a visual representation of a concept that makes it easier to understand such concepts. Many scientists accept that the role of the communication model is to address the problem of clarity. Therefore, a model should explicitly answer the question: “who says what to who and why?” Our words and actions convey messages, emotions, and knowledge.

For example:

To say, “I’m tired,” or yawn both mean you’re tired.

“Ouch” or grimacing declare that you have just experienced discomfort.

We don’t give communication a second thought, once we learn to speak, write, and use a machine. We exchange messages back and forth. Communication should, however, execute what language theorists intend or what they call a communication model.

What are the communication models?

A model refers to a visual display which describes various parts of a process.  The communication process starts with the correspondence from the communicator to the recipient’s input. When the method of communication is presented in sync with an image, we talk of a model of communication. In other words, the “communication model” is defined as a pictorial representation of the communications process.

The simple communication model comprises of a sender, a message and a recipient. The transmitter and the receiver share the same space in this model. However, the basic models omit several other vital components of communication. Thus, by including these parts in the communication process, we obtain a comprehensive model of communication. Let us consider these three classic communication models examples:

1. Linear communication Model

This is also known as a one-way communication model because it takes place directly from sender to receiver and is used for notifying, informing, or commanding purposes.

Information is passed from one location to another, or from many locations at a time. The receiver does not send feedback. The receiver is passive here.

One-way communication is primarily used to communicate current information, including weather, specifics about recent disasters, programs, and public remarks at press conferences and through radio and TV. The precise time and severity of weather conditions are conveyed or transmitted using one-way communication.

As in two-way communication, senders and receivers are not just individuals but computers or electronic systems in single-way communications. It involves sending encoding and transmitting the message to the recipient in the presence of noise through the corresponding channel. This means that the conversation begins and ends precisely.

One big downside of this model is the lack of input from the receiver. The source is the active member of this type of model, and the recipient is passive.

2. Transactional model

“Transactional” means interaction or exchange between people. It is premised on the fundamental concepts of “exchange.”

The transactional communication model, therefore, refers to the transfer of messages or information between the sender and the recipient where they take turns sending or receiving messages. It is the most common model of communication since also our daily experiences are transactional models.

If participants are from a similar environment, know one another, and share the same social system, the transaction model becomes more successful. Every person responds depending on their background, experience, attitudes, cultural convictions, and self-esteem. Proper channel choice improves the effectiveness and reliability of the message communicated.

3. Interactive communication model

It is often called the collaborative communication model. The sender and receiver exchange messages and ideas continuously in this model. The cycle of communication takes place verbally and non-verbally between people and machines.

The source sends a message to the receiver, and then the receiver transmits a message to the original sender. It highlights the importance of feedback, implying that communication is a two-way process. The two participants transfer data back and forth, rather than transmitting information one way from the sender to the recipient.

Communications pioneer, Wilbur Schramm, proposed that both the sender and recipient should interpret the message instead of objectively determining the significance of the message. Nonetheless, feedback in this model is not instantaneous and usually takes time as this model is used mainly for the Internet.

Components of the Interactive model

In this section, we will look at elements related to the interactive communication model.

The sender and the recipient serve as both the decoder and encoder of the message.

Feedback is the response to a message sent from the source

The experience and expertise that influence the creation and perception of a message are known as field experience. The environmental, psychological, social, and situational context in which the message is formed and interpreted shapes such awareness and expertise.

The interactive model also acknowledges the noise principle and communication obstacles. The barriers include language, network issues, and a small selection of channels that influence the communication model.

Interactive communication model examples include social media, Internet, digital marketing, ATMs, chat rooms, online shopping, etc.

Applying communication models

We must remember that everyone is unique. Opinions vary because people have different perceptions and emotional reactions to messages. Our previous experiences affect the way we interpret gestures, words, pictures, and noises. It results in diverse encryption, delivery, acceptance and interpretation of messages.

Communication models are genuine outcomes of a comprehensive analysis of different aspects of communication. A communication model offers a detailed description of a framework that helps people to understand similar systems. Take note of the following relevant points concerning the significance of models of communication:

Models of communication help define and understand communication process components and relationships under observation.

Models are fresh concepts and perspectives on various forms of communication that can enable us to design an efficient communication framework. They serve as a stimulant for communications researchers and students.

They are used in marketing analysis and research.

Communication can be a complicated process. A model can help simplify such complexity.

Models forecast future communications to be more efficient. They often predict a specific communication process,” success or failure.”

Models help describe a phenomenon in a simplified manner by presenting details.

We can examine real problems and avoid possible conflicts using communication models.

Communication models comparison

People use linear, transactional, and interactive models to communicate. While they share certain similarities, they have significant differences as well. The direct communication model consists of a transmitter encoding a message which can be sent to the recipient via a channel. The feedback element that indicates the continuous information exchange is not present in this model. The Linear model is a “one-way communication” model that best describes mass communication. The message is transmitted through a transmitter, perhaps through radio or television, to an audience who then receives and decrypts the message.

On the other hand, the interactive model illustrates that interaction is a communication aspect. We can presume that the interactive model has two linear models lined together in opposite directions. The sender transmits the message through one channel to the recipient; the recipient then sends a message to the original transmitter. This prototype also incorporates feedback, demonstrating that communication is not a one-way mechanism like the linear model represents.

No sender or receiver is defined in the transaction model. However, the interlocutor is called A or B instead. The best approach is face-to-face communication. The transaction model allows the sender and the receiver to transmit messages simultaneously. The model adds to our communication understanding because tracing the source of a message is always challenging. The transactional model has no sender or receiver element hence more straightforward.

The transactional model is significantly distinct from other models because communication is circular rather than linear or half circle. The cyclicality stresses that it is not only a question of decoding to receive a message but also a problem of interpreting the message. The transactional model shows that the sender and receiver roles are interchangeable between communicators, unlike the linear and interactional models.

The above three classic models improve our understanding of the process of communication. The linear model has not shown us that communication is a two-way operation. Similarly, the interactive example does not imply that communicators can be senders or receivers. However, subsequent models help us understand the communication process immensely.

Conclusion

You must note that the nuances that overshadow communication models can render them much more challenging. The sender and recipient should make what they want to discuss clear. This is also called the message context.

It would make it much easier to decode without too much difficulty what the other party is saying. The communications process should not have too many issues if kept meaningful and simple. The sender and recipient can quickly interpret the message that has a clear context.

Lastly, it is best to take into account what type of communication you should use under various circumstances. Each method plays a significant role in the transmission of information. An appropriate choice of model is sensitive to the audience’s customs, values, education and beliefs.

Sources

https://davis.foulger.info/research/unifiedModelOfCommunication.htm

http://thecommunicationprocess.com/models-of-communication/

https://learn.g2.com/communication-theory