Communication: Models, Types, Ethics.

Communication models

Aristotle’s Model Also known as “rhetorical triangle” or as the “speaker-audience-

message model”

Transmission Model Linear, one-way process in which a sender intentionally transmits a message to a receiver.
● Sender-Channel-Receiver
● Considers communication as a linear, one-way process (Aristotle model)
● Focuses on the sender and the message
● Considers receiver as an end point rather than a part of the ongoing process
● Acknowledges barriers to communication (noise)

Laswell’s Model Communicator-Message-Medium-Receiver-Effect

Shannon and Weaver’s The whole process of communication begins with the communicator (who) sending out a message (what)
Model using a medium (in which channel) for a receiver (to whom) experiencing an effect (with what effect)
afterwards. The process may be analyzed through the content sent, the medium used, as well as the effect
on the recipient of the message.

Berlo’s Model

The major variables involved in the communication process are

1. Source
2. Message
3. Channel
4. Receiver

Interaction Model

● Describes communication as a process in which participants switch roles (sender-receiver) and

generate meaning by sending messages and receiving feedback within physical and
psychological contexts

Transaction Model

● Describes communication as a process in which communicators generate social realities within

social, relational, and cultural contexts.

Takeaways ● Communication models are not complex enough to truly capture all that takes place in a
communication encounter, but they can help us examine the various steps in the process in order
to better understand our communication and the communication of others.
● The transmission model of communication describes communication as a one-way, linear process

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 in which a sender encodes a message and transmits it through a channel to a receiver who
decodes it. The transmission of the message many be disrupted by environmental or semantic
noise.
● The interaction 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 within physical and psychological contexts.
● The transaction model of communication describes communication as a process in which
communicators generate social realities within social, relational, and cultural contexts.

Summary Communication
● The process of creating and exchanging (between communicators or between a sender [encoder]
and a receiver [decoder]) meaning (message and feedback) using symbols (verbal or non-verbal)
transmitted through a medium (channel) in a particular situation and environment (contexts),
which may be affected by the role (relationship) of the people involved and by other external
factors such as noise (interference).

Types of Communication

Intrapersonal ● This is an internal communication process that occurs when we send messages to ourselves and
Communication develop messages to send to others.
● This occurs at least between two people (dyad), either face to
face or through mediated forms (such as a telephone or computer), characterized by the mutual
awareness of the individuality of the other.

Public Communication ● This occurs when a small number of people (usually one person) address a larger group of people
(speeches, lectures, oral reports, and dramatic performances).

Mass ● This occurs when a small number of people send messages to a large, anonymous, and usually
Communication heterogeneous audience through the use of specialized communication media.

Intracultural ● Occurs when a member (e.g., leader), or some members (e.g., elders), of a group, which shares the
Communication same way of life and lives in one community, sends messages to other members of the said group.

Intercultural ● Occurs when members of different groups with various cultural backgrounds send messages to
Communication one another.

Organizational ● This occurs within a particular social system composed of interdependent groups attempting to
Communication achieve commonly recognized goals.

Small Group ● This occurs among three or more people interacting in an attempt to achieve commonly
Communication recognized goals.

Effective Communication Considers:

Appropriateness
● It is what is suitable for a specific Situation.
● It will vary depending on your context.
● The example of the wedding vs. rock concert behavior indicates appropriateness.
Three things that determine appropriateness:
I. Role (relationship)-As a part played in a specific situation
● Ex.: Right now you are in the role of a student.
● When you go home, you might be in the role of a son or daughter, brother or sister.
● If you have a job, you would be in the role of an employee.
● You often behave and communicate different in each of these roles.
II. Norm- a stated or implied expectation
- A guideline for what is appropriate
- Can be written or unwritten and varies from place to place and in different contexts
● Ex.: Dating norms in the Philippines might be different than in another country.
● Norms for one school might be different from another.
III. Standard- an established level of requirement or excellence
- The foundation in which you make your communication decisions.
- You have the responsibility for
- What is appropriate for yourself and your listeners
- What is appropriate for the occasion
- What is appropriate for the task
Competent Communicators Use:
1. Knowledge
● Having the right information
● Support for your ideas
● Without knowledge you cannot be taken seriously
2. Attitudes
● Influence the way you see yourself and others
● Impact others
● Can be managed and changed
3. Skills
● Task skills help you do a job
● Relationship skills help you to get along with others
○ Tact – Speak without offending

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 ○ Courtesy – Polite behaviors and words
○ Respect – Showing consideration and appreciation
Speak with Good Purpose
- Think before you speak.
- Be positive with our language. Avoid gossip.
- Know that words are powerful – can build up and destroy
- Choose not to give into the power of spoken words if they will hurt others
Speaking Test
- Ask yourself these three questions before you say something to someone else:
- Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Should answer “yes” to 2 of the 3 before saying it.

7Cs in Communication

Clear (Clarity) Be clear about the goal of your message and the purpose of the message. Present one idea at a time
making it easier for the recipient to understand.

Concise (Conciseness) Keep to the point and keep it short and simple. Don’t use unnecessary words (use two words where one will
do or 6 sentences when 3 will do). Don’t repeat the same point in different ways.

Concrete Be clear, not fuzzy. Ensure there is enough detail to get the message across but not too much so that the
(Concreteness) recipient will be lost and that the message is factual.

Correct Check the information you are providing is accurate and, in written communication, ensure it is free from
grammatical and spelling errors

Coherent Make sure your message flows well and is laid out logically.

Complete Ensure the recipient has everything they need to understand your message and take action if needed.

Courteous Your message should be polite, friendly, professional, open and honest.

Ethics in Communication

● When communicating, we do not simply choose words; we choose words for the effect they will have on our audiences, on
ourselves, and ultimately, on society.
● Thus, when we communicate, we cannot escape ethical questions, questions which ask how helpful or harmful our actions are.
Nature of Ethics:
How should we behave to have the most positive effect upon society and to become the best individuals we can?

Ethical Communication To make the best decisions in our communication, to communicate ethically, we must give thought to the
manner in which we communicate.

Some Guidelines:
● Ethical Communicators are Respectful of their Audiences.
● Ethical Communicators consider the consequences of their communication.
● Ethical Communicators respect truth.
● Ethical Communicators use information properly.
● Ethical Communicators do not falsify information
● Ethical Communicators respect the rights of others to information

- We need to recognize the ethical component of our communication.

- Ethics is an integral part of our behavior and our regard for others.
- Ethical communication will incorporate a respectful view of its audiences, a consideration of the consequences of the
communication for all parties involved, and a respect for truth.

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