ORAL COMMUNICATION

STUDY GUIDE
QUARTER 1 – WEEK 3
BY: CAMILLE FAITH B. GONZAGA

MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

The following are different models of communication that explain and illustrate how the process of
communicating works.

A. Aristotle’s Model of Communication

Aristotle (5 BCE), a teacher of Rhetoric and a founder of an academy that produced good speakers, came up
with the first and earliest model of communication. This model is more focused on public speaking than
interpersonal communication. Speaker plays a very important role in public speaking. To influence or persuade
his audience, he must first prepare his speech and analyze the audience before he speaks to them.

B. Transactional Model

In the transactional model, there is an exchange of messages between the sender and the receiver where both
take turns in sending and receiving messages. The roles of both communicators reverse each time in the
communication process. This is also called circular model of communication and is used for interpersonal
communication. Everyday talk and interactions are examples of transactional model of communication. The
participants in this communication process who have common social and cultural systems and relational
situations can communicate with one another more effectively. A teacher discussing a lesson with his students
or teachers holding a virtual meeting communicate with one another efficiently because they know each other
and share the same social system. The model shows that there is a continuous exchanging of messages, but
barriers may take place and affect communication.
C. Shannon – Weaver’s Model of Communication
Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver introduced the concept of noise. This model of communication is also
known as the Telephone Model for this is based on the experience of using the telephone back in the 1940’s
wherein the message was hindered by noise. Therefore, the message received by the listener was not necessarily
the message sent by the sender.

The Shannon – Weaver model of communication contains six important features.

Sender - The originator of message or the information source selects desire message.

Encoder - The transmitter which converts the message into signals.

Note: The sender’s messages converted into signals like waves or binary data which is compactable to transmit
the messages through cables or satellites. For example: In telephone, the voice is converted into wave signals
and it transmits through cables

Decoder - The reception place of the signal which converts signals into message, a reverse process of encode

Note: The receiver converts those binary data or waves into message which is comfortable and understandable
for receiver. Otherwise, receiver can’t receive the exact message, and it will affect the effective communication
between sender and receiver.

Receiver - The destination of the message from sender

Note: Based on the decoded message the receiver gives their feedback to sender. If the message is distracted by
noise, it will affect the communication flow between sender and receiver.

Noise - The messages are transferred from encoder to decoder through channel. During this process the
messages may be distracted or affected by physical noise like horn sounds, thunder, and crowd noise or encoded
signals may distract in the channel during the transmission process which affect the communication flow or the
receiver may not receive the correct message.

An example of Shannon - Weaver model of communication

Mr. Diaz made a call to his secretary “Please call the internet provider.” During his call, noise comes in
(transmission error) and his secretary heard “Please call” only. The secretary replied (feedback) “Whom will I
call, Sir?”

Sender : Mr. Diaz

Encoder : Telephone (Mr. Diaz)
Channel : Cable
Noise : Distraction in voice
Reception : Telephone (Secretary)
Receiver : Assistant

Due to transmission error or noise, the secretary was not able to understand the message.
D. Schramm Model of Communication
Wilbur Schramm is known as the Father of Mass Communication. He came up with five models but in the
Schramm Model of Communication he developed in 1955, communication breakdown is explained. He asserts
that both the sender and the receiver should have the same field of experience.

In this concept, field of experience refers to everything that makes an individual unique – everything that he/she
has ever learned, watched, seen, heard, read, and studied. In this model, communication has six elements.

Source
Encoder
Message
Channel
Decoder
Receiver

He gives emphasis on encoding and decoding of message. This model shows how a message is transferred from
the sender to the receiver. The model also asserts that message can be complicated by different meaning learned
by different people. Schramm claims that communication can take place if and only if there is an overlap
between the field of experience of the participants of the communication process. It means that the sender and
the receiver have commonalities. For example, a Japanese is invited to give a talk to Filipino students. These
students can only understand English and Filipino. If the speaker will speak in Japanese, the audience will not
be able to understand him.
E. Eugene White Model of Communication
Eugene White’s Model of communication says that communication is circular and continuous, without a
beginning or end. His 1960 cyclical model, the communication process is composed of eight stages- thinking,
symbolizing, expressing, transmitting, receiving, decoding, feed-backing, monitoring, and thinking. He also
points out that although one can assume that communication begins with thinking, it can be observed from any
point in the circle. White was also the one who introduced the concept of feedback which is a process also
known as to close the loop.
F. Berlo’s Model of Communication
You have already learned that Aristotle’s model of communication places the speaker in the central position and
the one who drives the entire communication process. The Berlo’s model of communication takes into account
the emotional aspect of the message.

Berlo’s model follows the SMCR model

S – Source
M – Message
C – Channel
R – Receiver

Berlo’s model of communication is composed of a several factors under each element. The SOURCE is where
the message originates. The person should have communication skills like the ability to read, write, speak, and
listen to the right attitude towards the listeners, subject, and oneself. The individual must be knowledgeable
about the topic he is communicating and the audience’s familiarity with it. In communicating, the social system
must be considered such as the culture of the audience. The sender of the message from where the message
originates is referred to as the encoder.

Content is the body of the MESSAGE, from beginning to the end like whatever the teacher teaches his
students from the beginning up to the end. The speech must be accompanied by elements such as gestures,
facial expression or body language so that listeners will not lose interest. Treatment is the way one treats his
message. One must understand the importance of the message know how to handle it. Berlo’s model asserts that
a message must be properly structured in order to be conveyed clearly. The code in this model refers to the
means through which a message is sent and in what form. It could be the language, gestures, expressions,
music, and so on. The code should be correct in the communication. Only when the code is clear, the message
will be clear.

The C in the SMCR stands for CHANNEL. Channel refers to the five sense organs: hearing, seeing, touching,
smelling, and tasting. These five senses help human beings to communicate with one another.

When the RECEIVER message reaches the receiver, he tries to understand what the sender is trying to convey.
This is also called decoding.
G. Helical Model of Communication
The Helical Model of communication was developed by Frank Dance in 1967. He thought of communication
similar to helix. Helix is a smooth curve like a spring that goes upwards and downwards. This model presents
the concept of time where continuousness of communication process is very important. In helical model,
communication is a dynamic process. Communication progresses as an individual gets older and his experience
and vocabulary increases.