Topic 2: Models of communication

1. COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION
SKILLSSKILLS
MODELS OF COMMUNICATIONMODELS OF COMMUNICATION
Prince J. K WasajjaPrince J. K Wasajja
20102010
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SCHOOLSCHOOL

2. Communication ModelCommunication Model
 It describes whatIt describes what is necessary for anis necessary for an
act of communication to take place.act of communication to take place.
 A model represents theA model represents the major featuresmajor features
and eliminates the unnecessaryand eliminates the unnecessary
details of communication.details of communication.
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3. Functions of Communication ModelsFunctions of Communication Models
 ToTo clarifyclarify the scope of human interactionthe scope of human interaction
showing it to be a circular, complex,showing it to be a circular, complex,
continuous dynamic, or a coding process.continuous dynamic, or a coding process.
 ToTo point outpoint out where to book and under whatwhere to book and under what
conditions to analyze different responses.conditions to analyze different responses.
 ToTo showshow the variables in humanthe variables in human
communication.communication.
 UsedUsed as a frame work in researches.as a frame work in researches.
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4. The Shannon and Weaver ModelThe Shannon and Weaver Model
ClaudeClaude WarrenWarren WeaverWeaver
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5. BIOGRAPHYBIOGRAPHY
 Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver wereClaude Shannon and Warren Weaver were
engineers working for Bell Telephone Labs inengineers working for Bell Telephone Labs in
the United States.the United States.
 Their goal was to ensure the maximumTheir goal was to ensure the maximum
efficiency of telephone cables and radio waves.efficiency of telephone cables and radio waves.
 They developed a model of communicationThey developed a model of communication
which was intended to assist in developing awhich was intended to assist in developing a
mathematical theory of communication.mathematical theory of communication.
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6. The Transmission ModelThe Transmission Model
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7. Elements of the ModelElements of the Model
 AnAn information sourceinformation source, which produces a, which produces a
message.message.
 AA transmittertransmitter, which encodes the message into, which encodes the message into
signalssignals
 AA channelchannel, to which signals are adapted for, to which signals are adapted for
transmissiontransmission
 AA receiverreceiver, which 'decodes' (reconstructs) the, which 'decodes' (reconstructs) the
message from the signal.message from the signal.
 AA destinationdestination, where the message arrives., where the message arrives.
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8. dysfunctional factordysfunctional factor
 A sixth element,A sixth element, noisenoise isis
a dysfunctional factor:a dysfunctional factor:
any interference with theany interference with the
message travelling alongmessage travelling along
the channel which maythe channel which may
lead to the signallead to the signal
received being differentreceived being different
from that sent.from that sent.
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9. ExamplesExamples
 For the telephone;For the telephone;
 the channel is a wire,the channel is a wire,
 the signal is an electrical current in it, andthe signal is an electrical current in it, and
 the transmitter and receiver are the telephonethe transmitter and receiver are the telephone
handsets.handsets.
 Noise would include crackling from the wire.Noise would include crackling from the wire.
 In conversation, my mouth is theIn conversation, my mouth is the transmittertransmitter, the, the
signalsignal is the sound waves, and your ear is theis the sound waves, and your ear is the
receiverreceiver.. NoiseNoise would include any distraction youwould include any distraction you
might experience as I speak.might experience as I speak.
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10. Advantages of Shannon and Weaver'sAdvantages of Shannon and Weaver's
modelmodel
 simplicity,simplicity,
 generality, andgenerality, and
 quantifiabilityquantifiability
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11. Weaknesses of the transmission model ofWeaknesses of the transmission model of
communicationcommunication
 LinearityLinearity
 The transmission model fixes and separates theThe transmission model fixes and separates the
roles of 'sender' and 'receiver'.roles of 'sender' and 'receiver'.
 But communication between two people involvesBut communication between two people involves
simultaneoussimultaneous 'sending' and 'receiving' (not only'sending' and 'receiving' (not only
talking, but also 'body language' and so on).talking, but also 'body language' and so on).
 In Shannon and Weaver's model the source isIn Shannon and Weaver's model the source is
seen as the active decision-maker whoseen as the active decision-maker who
determines the meaning of the message; thedetermines the meaning of the message; the
destination is the passive target.destination is the passive target.
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12. LinearityLinearity
 It is a linear, one-way model, ascribing aIt is a linear, one-way model, ascribing a
secondarysecondary role to the 'receiver', who isrole to the 'receiver', who is
seen as absorbing information.seen as absorbing information.
 communication is not a one-way street.communication is not a one-way street.
Even when we are simply listening to theEven when we are simply listening to the
radio, reading a book or watching TV weradio, reading a book or watching TV we
are far more interpretively active than weare far more interpretively active than we
normally realize.normally realize.
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13. FeedbackFeedback
 There was no provision in the originalThere was no provision in the original
model formodel for feedbackfeedback (reaction from the(reaction from the
receiver).receiver).
 Feedback enables speakers to adjust theirFeedback enables speakers to adjust their
performance to the needs and responsesperformance to the needs and responses
of their audience.of their audience.
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14. Content and meaningContent and meaning
 transmission models tend to equatetransmission models tend to equate
content andcontent and meaningmeaning, whereas there may, whereas there may
be varying degrees of divergence betweenbe varying degrees of divergence between
the 'intended meaning' and the meaningsthe 'intended meaning' and the meanings
generated by interpretersgenerated by interpreters
 It is widely assumed that meaning isIt is widely assumed that meaning is
contained in the 'message' rather than incontained in the 'message' rather than in
its interpretation..its interpretation..
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15. MeaningMeaning
 But there is no single, fixed meaning inBut there is no single, fixed meaning in
any message. We bring varying attitudes,any message. We bring varying attitudes,
expectations and understandings toexpectations and understandings to
communicative situations.communicative situations.
 We bring varying attitudes, expectationsWe bring varying attitudes, expectations
and understandings to communicativeand understandings to communicative
situations.situations.
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16. AmbiguityAmbiguity
 Even if the receiver sees or hears exactlyEven if the receiver sees or hears exactly
the same message which the sender sent,the same message which the sender sent,
the sense which the receiver makes of itthe sense which the receiver makes of it
may be quite different from the sender'smay be quite different from the sender's
intention.intention.
 The same 'message' may representThe same 'message' may represent
multiple meanings.multiple meanings.
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17. Encoding Vs DecodingEncoding Vs Decoding
 Transmission models treat decoding as aTransmission models treat decoding as a
mirror image of encoding, allowing nomirror image of encoding, allowing no
room for the receiver's interpretativeroom for the receiver's interpretative
frames of reference.frames of reference.
 Where the message is recorded in someWhere the message is recorded in some
form 'senders' may well have little idea ofform 'senders' may well have little idea of
who the 'receivers' may be (particularly, ofwho the 'receivers' may be (particularly, of
course, in relation to masscourse, in relation to mass
communication).communication).
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18. Intentional MessageIntentional Message
 The transmission model is anThe transmission model is an instrumentalinstrumental
model in that it treats communication as amodel in that it treats communication as a
means to a predetermined end.means to a predetermined end.
 However, not all communication isHowever, not all communication is
intentional: people unintentionallyintentional: people unintentionally
communicate a great deal about theircommunicate a great deal about their
attitudes simply through body language.attitudes simply through body language.
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19. ContextContext
 Nor is there any mention in theNor is there any mention in the
transmission model of the importance oftransmission model of the importance of
contextcontext institutional, political, cultural,institutional, political, cultural,
historical. : situational, social, Meaninghistorical. : situational, social, Meaning
cannot be independent of such contexts.cannot be independent of such contexts.
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20. Relationships and purposesRelationships and purposes
 In the transmission model the participantsIn the transmission model the participants
are treated as isolated individuals.are treated as isolated individuals.
 Transmission models of communicationTransmission models of communication
reduce human communication to thereduce human communication to the
transmission of messages, whereas, astransmission of messages, whereas, as
the linguists tell us, there is more tothe linguists tell us, there is more to
communication than this.communication than this.
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21. ConclusionConclusion
 the transmissive model reductive influence hasthe transmissive model reductive influence has
implications not only for the commonsenseimplications not only for the commonsense
understanding of communication in general, butunderstanding of communication in general, but
also for specific forms of communication such asalso for specific forms of communication such as
speaking and listening, writing and reading,speaking and listening, writing and reading,
watching television and so on.watching television and so on.
 it reflects the naive 'realist' notion that meaningsit reflects the naive 'realist' notion that meanings
exist in the world awaiting only decoding by theexist in the world awaiting only decoding by the
passive spectator.passive spectator.
 The model underestimates the creativity of theThe model underestimates the creativity of the
act of interpretation.act of interpretation.
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