1.3: The Communication Process and Models

Human communication is essentially a process of sending and receiving information. Every verbal and non-verbal interaction that we have goes through this process. Essentially, the process is transactional, in which each of the components overlaps simultaneously. The components of the communication process are as follows:

• Source: Sender of the message
• Receiver: Recipient of the message
• Encoding: The process of turning thoughts into communication
• Decoding: The process of turning communication into thoughts
• Feedback: Reply or response (verbal or non-verbal) to the message
• Message: Content of communication
• Channel: Vehicle through which communication travels
• Noise: Interference in communication

Noise

Any interference in the communication process is considered noise. Noise hampers the source from sending out a clear message and the receiver from taking in the message as it was intended. Noise is ever present in each of the three models of communication.

The following types of noise can negatively impact the communication process:

• Environmental noise: Noise present in the physical environment, like loud music or the noise of traffic can impact communication.
• Semantic noise: This refers to the differences in the understanding of meaning by the sender and the receiver. For example, the meaning of the word ‘fat’ (phat) can have different connotations for different groups of people.
• Syntactical noise: Grammatical mistakes in formation of sentences can hamper the correct understanding of messages. A common example is the incorrect use of tense.
• Organizational noise: If the message is not appropriately structured and ordered, it can lead to miscommunication. An example is when someone receives unclear instructions to complete a task.
• Cultural noise: Differences in cultural norms, such as ethnic, religious, or gender differences, can lead to misinterpretation of a message. For example, eye contact in some contexts can be seen as disrespectful and rude, while in others it is a sign that you are paying attention and being respectful.
• Psychological noise: Internal feelings, like being hungry, upset, elated, angry, or discouraged, can affect communication.

Communication Models

Three models are used to explain the communication process. These are discussed here.

The linear model of communication describes communication going in only one direction. The sender encodes a message and channels it to the receiver. The components at work include sending and receiving, and encoding and decoding a message, but there is no feedback loop.

For example: Receiving a letter in the mail or an email.

The interactional model reflects more of a back-and-forth conversation, in which a person waits for the feedback loop to be completed before responding. Conversation is interactive when the source sends a message to the receiver, it is encoded, and a message is sent back, creating a two-way conversation. There is no time lag in communication.

The interactional model of communication describes communication as a process in which participants alternate positions as sender and receiver and generate meaning by sending messages and receiving feedback within physical and psychological contexts (Schramm, 1997). Rather than illustrating communication as a linear, one-way process, the interaction model incorporates feedback, which makes communication a more interactive, two-way process.

For example: A question-and-answer session, in which a question is asked and a response given, is an example of an interactional model of communication. Feedback and context help make the interactive model a more useful illustration of the communication process. Rather than illustrating communication as a linear, one-way process, the interaction model incorporates feedback, which makes communication a more interactive, two-way process. Each participant alternates roles as sender and receiver in order to keep a communication encounter going, we alternate between the roles of sender and receiver very quickly and often without conscious thought.

All our natural day-to-day conversation takes the form of the transactional model. In this model, there is a simultaneous flow of communication between the sender and receiver of information. There is an overlap in the encoding and decoding of information. While the sender is completing a sentence the receiver is already thinking of what to say next. Short of cutting one another off during conversation, intrapersonal communication and feedback is also occurring with this process. The key phrase here is ‘at the same time’.

As the study of communication progressed, models expanded to account for more of the communication process. Many scholars view communication as more than a process that is used to carry on conversations and convey meaning. We don’t send messages like computers, and we don’t neatly alternate between the roles of sender and receiver as an interaction unfolds.

To review, each model incorporates a different understanding of what communication is and what communication does. The linear model views communication as a thing, like an information packet, that is sent from one place to another. From this view, communication is defined as sending and receiving messages. The interactional model views communication as an interaction in which a message is sent and then followed by a reaction (feedback), which is then followed by another reaction, and so on. The transactional model views communication as integrated into our social realities and displays the all components of the communication process.

Key Takeaways

• The Communication Process outlines the many facets that take place during communication.
• The linear model of communication describes communication as a one-way, linear process in which a sender encodes a message and transmits it through a channel to a receiver who decodes it.
• The interactional model of communication describes communication as a two-way process in which participants alternate positions as sender and receiver and generate meaning by sending and receiving feedback.
• The transactional model of communication describes communication as a process in which communicators are simultaneously senders and receivers.
• Understanding how noise is always present in communication.

Exercises

1. Getting integrated: How might knowing the various components of the communication process help you in your day-to-day life?
2. What communication situations does the linear model best represent? The interactional model? The transactional model?
3. Use the transactional model of communication to analyze a recent communication encounter you had. Sketch out the communication encounter and make sure to label each part of the model (communicators; message; channel; feedback; and physical, psychological, social, relational, and cultural contexts).

References

Schramm, W., The Beginnings of Communication Study in America (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1997).

Wood, J.T., Communication in Our Lives (4th ed.). Belmont, CA (Thomson-Wadsworth, 2009).

This page titled 1.3: The Communication Process and Models is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Anonymous.

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