8/13/2019 Communication+Model

1/2

The Communication Model

Parts of the Communication Model

1. Sender/Speaker- The source or originator of the message.

Encoding-Before sending the message, the sender/speaker must take his/her thoughts and put these

thoughts into words and actions the receiver/listener will understand .

The sender/speaker must consider these questions: 1. Am I providing good information to the listeners?

2. Am I getting through to the listeners?

2. Receiver/Listener-The person who receives the message.Decoding- The receiver/listener takes the words and actions of the sender/speaker and puts these into

thoughts that the receiver/listener understands. This is the reverse of encoding.

Special Note: The key to communication is not if the message is sent, but rather if the message is

received! If the message is not received, communication did not occur.

Who is to blame is the message is not received? It depends on the situation. It could have been the

senders fault, the receivers fault, a combination, or neither persons fault.

3. Message- What it is thats being communicatedThere are two types of messages:

Verbal- the words usedwhat is said. For example, you say the words Id love to see that movie again

Non-Verbal- How these words are being expressedHow it is said (this is done through tone of voice, eye

movement, facial expressions, gestures, posture, appearance, etc.). For example, you say the words Id

love to see that movie again with a negative, sarcastic voice while rolling your eyes, and folding your

arms.

When the verbal and non-verbal messages are not the same, people are more likely to believe the non-

verbal message (in other words, its not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it!)

4. Channel-The medium used to communicate messages. Examples include television, radio,newspapers, and magazines. The channel used in this course is direct voice or face to face.

5. Feedback-The response that receivers/listeners give to senders/speakers. Just like messages, the two

types of feedback are verbal and non-verbal.

8/13/2019 Communication+Model

2/2

6. Noise/Interference-Anything that blocks the message from getting through to the receiver/listener.The two types of interference are:

External Interference- Something outsidethe receiver/listener. Examples: Loud fire engine racing by the

building, People talking in the hall way, etc. that distract students from receiving the instructors message.

Internal Interference-Something insidethe receiver/listener. Example: a student is not getting the

instructors message because the student is ill, tired, hungry, worried about a term paper for another course,

etc.

7. Situation/Context- The time and place. Depending upon the time and place, we behave andcommunicate in different ways. Examples: we dont make jokes during a eulogy; ones behavior in

class is different than a party, etc.

Types of Communication Models

1. Linear-One way communication. The message is sent and received, but there is no feedback.Example: the old military days where the message was sent from the general and made its way down

the ranks.

2. Interactive- There is feedback, but the feedback doesnt happen until the entire message has beenreceived. Examples: e-mail, text messages.

3. Transactional- The most common model. The simultaneous sending of messages and feedback.

Examples: conversations with friends (when they smile, frown, or start responding before youve sent the

entire message), students nodding heads while the professor speaks (showing that they understand the

material.