ORAL COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

DRILLS ON THE VARIOUS MODEL OF COMMUNICATION

MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

1. Shannon-Weaver Model
Known as the mother of all communication models, the Shannon-Weaver model (1949) depicts
communication as a linear or one-way process consisting of five elements: a source (producer of message); a
transmitter (encoder of message into signals); a channel (signals adapted for transmission); a receiver
(decoder of message
from the signal); and a destination.This model, however, has been criticized for missing one essential element
in the communication process: feedback. Without feedback, the speaker will not know whether the receiver
understands the message or not.

2. Transaction Model
Unlike the Shannon-Weaver Model, which is one-way process, the Transaction Model is a two-way process
with the inclusion of feedback as one element. This model is more interactive.There is a collaborative
exchange of messages between communicators with the aim of understanding each other. It also shows that a
barrier, such as noise, may interfere with the flow of communication.
3. Schramm Model
Schramm (1954) modified the Shannon-Weaver Model. What has Schramm added to the Shannon-Weaver
Model? Is the new model more comprehensive? Why do you think so? How is it different from or similar to
the Transaction Model?

4. Aristotle Model

Aristotle, a great philosopher, introduced the earliest mass communication model called “Aristotle’s Model of
Communication”. This model discovered the importance of audience role in communication chain.
Furthermore, this is more focused on public speaking than interpersonal communication.

Aristotle Model of Communication is formed with 5 basic elements: Speaker, Speech, Occasion, Audience
and Effect.

Aristotle advises speakers to build speech for different audience on different time (occasion) and for different
effects.
5. Eugene White Model
The Eugene White model implies a step-by-step sequence of events that starts with thinking in the mind of the
speaker and ends with monitoring also by the speaker. Communication is a repetitive,cyclical event but the
dynamic quality of interaction is not depicted.The speaker is the originator of the communication process and
the listener is a passive reactor who does not initiate communication.

Eugene White Model has eight stages of oral communication:

1. Thinking– a desire, feeling, or an emotion provides a speaker a stimulus to communicate a need.
2. Symbolizing– before he can utter sounds, a speaker has to know the code of oral language with which to
represent his ideas and in order to make his selection.
3. Expressing– the speaker then uses his vocal mechanism to produce the sounds of language accompanied by
his facial expression, gestures, and body stance.
4. Transmitting– waves of sound spreading at 1,000 feet per second and waves of light traveling at a speed of
186,000 miles per second carry the speaker’s message to his listeners.
5. Receiving– sound waves impinge upon the listener’s ears after which the resulting nerve impulses reach the
brain via the auditory nerve; light waves strike the listener’s eyes after which the resulting nerve impulses
reach the brain via the optic nerve.
6. Decoding– the listener interprets the language symbols he receives and thinks further.
7. Feedbacking– the listener may manifest overt behavior like a nod, smile, or yawn or he may not show any
behavior at all (covert behavior like fast heartbeat, a poker face, etc.)
8. Monitoring– while the speaker watches for signs of reception or understanding of his message among his
listeners, he is also attuned to what’s going on inside him; the speaker is receiving and decoding messages
about himself from his audience in order to adjust to the particular situation.