ORAL COMMUNICATION – Learning Activity Sheet #2 1

OBJECTIVE : Differentiates the various models of communication.

TOPIC : COMMUNICATION: Models

Lesson
One of the best ways to understand the various models of communication is to show them graphically. Explaining a
concept using a graph can be very helpful because it simplifies the learning process and allows for better understanding.

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 communicates
with one another efficiently because they know each other and share the same social system. The model shows that
there is a continuous exchange 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 desired 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.
1
ORAL COMMUNICATION – Learning Activity Sheet #2 2

Decoder - The reception place of the signal which converts signals into message, a reverse process of encoding.
Note: The receiver converts those binary data or waves into messages which is comfortable and understandable for the
receiver. Otherwise, the 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.

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, and 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.

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

2
ORAL COMMUNICATION – Learning Activity Sheet #2 3

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. Berlo’s model of communication takes into account the emotional
aspect of the message.
Berlo’s model follows the SMCR model:
S – Source C – Channel
M – Message 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.

3
ORAL COMMUNICATION – Learning Activity Sheet #2 4

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.

Post Activity

Task #1
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the suitable words
1. Explaining a concept using a ___________ can be very helpful for it simplifies the learning process and allows for better
understanding.
2. Aristotle‘s model of communication is more focused on _________________ than interpersonal communication.
3. ______________________’s 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.
4. __________________ claims that communication can take place if and only if there is an overlap between the field of
experience of the participants in the communication process.
5. Eugene White’s model of communication says that communication is _____________ and ______________, without
a beginning or end.
6. Berlo’s model of communication takes into account the ________________ aspect of the message.
7. Helical model of communication claims that communication progresses as an individual gets older and his/her
experience and _________________increases.

Task #2
Direction: Identify the model of communication defined in the sentence.
1. The speaker is the one who drives the entire communication.
2. This model of communication operates on the SMCR model.
3. It is often called the Telephone Model because it is based on the experience of having the message interfered by noise.
4. This model asserts that communication takes place only if there is an overlap between the experience of both the
speaker and the listener.
5. The main characteristics of this model of communication is that it is evolutionary.
6. This model shows that communication is in circular and continuous motion without a beginning and end.

4
ORAL COMMUNICATION – Learning Activity Sheet #2 5