Since you have already been introduced to public speaking from the previous lesson under the public speaking category, there is a need to know the models of communication in public speaking. One may ask why communication is so important in public speaking. Well other roles do have their ethics and so does public speaking and one of these ethics in public speaking is communication.
The meriam-webster.com defines a model as a pattern or figure of something to be made. Models of communication here indicate the various ways communication is achieved in our day-to-day life and especially in public speaking. It would be uncivilized on the part of a public speaker who knows not the models of communication and this is why mymediajourney.com has come to help solve all these issues in the media world.
Shannon and Weaver propounded the first ever communication model in history. Their main aim was to use the propounded model of communication on radios and televisions but by the time they realized this, humans have adopted it into their day-to-day life of communication. The models broadened and eventually, two other models were added later. The three models are the linear model of communication, the interactional model of communication, and finally, the transactional model of communication.
The Linear Model of Communication
The Oxford Learners Dictionary explains mathematically that, linear can be represented by a straight line on a graph. The definition here talks about a straight line in peculiar and straight lines run straight without a curve and so does the linear model of communication. It is done in one way. The linear model here suggests that communication can be done in a single or one way.
There is always a sender who sends the message. In other terms, the sender is also known as the encoder. The message here in context is the information being carried to whoever the receiver may be. The information is supposed to be broken down to fit into the medium the encoder uses. There are many channels or mediums in the linear model of communication. Some are e-mails, television, radio, newspapers, and others. The receiver who decodes the information he or she has received then reviews the message and in this model, feedback is sometimes not achieved.
The Interactional Model of Communication
The Longman Dictionary defines interactional as a process by which two or more things affect each other. Anything that affects two sides who are involved in a situation can be termed interactional. Now let us look at a practical example and relate it to communication. As you are reading this article, I am indirectly interacting with you in such a way that you read to grab what the writer writes and you are free to question back maybe through the comments section about anything you may not understand. When two lovers or enemies are exchanging meaningful words, then the interaction is said to have taken place.
This model was propounded by Schramm and the model explains communication as a two-way process. Whiles the former model thus a linear model of communication focuses only on the sender to the receiver through a medium, this model of communication rather broadens the ways of the former. Feedback is very essential in this type of communication. Feedback here refers to the reaction, gestures, or information the receiver sends back to the sender. With the example cited earlier, when two lovers are exchanging words of meaning, whatever the two sides hear from each other in the course of interaction is feedback.
The communication chain goes Sender———-medium————receiver——feedback to the sender from the receiver.
The Transactional Model of Communication
One model of communication that aids in the comprehension of public speaking is Barnlund’s transactional model of communication. People transact at the market areas, people transact at car stations, and others; What is Transactional?
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary explains transactional as relating to the process of buying or selling. What do people who buy and sell do? Buyers do bargain, sellers do insist and there is a kind of communication that goes on at such places and that is the transactional model of communication. Transactional as seen here depicts the circular process of communication in public speaking. It is a give-and-take model of communication and this model of communication is very common in our day-to-day lives.
Unlike the previously discussed two models, this model, in particular, has several elements that make it more unique. The encoding and decoding process, the sender or communicator, the information, and finally the medium and noise. Why noise? Every transactional communication has noise attached to it.
As a public speaker, you must take notes of these models of communication or this communication process since you may sometimes deliver to a heterogeneous group of people and by the experience gathered, you would be able to deliver irrespective of the people and the setting.
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