ORAL COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

LESSON 2: UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK
MODELS OF COMMUNICATION



Time Started : ___________

Time Ended : ___________

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this lesson, the students must be able to:
1. differentiate the different models of communication;
2. distinguish the unique features of each communication model; and
3. demonstrate a deeper understanding of how communication works.

INTRODUCTION
There are many different ways we can communicate. Communication is considered an important aspect of
mankind because we engage in it constantly, every single day of our lives. From the grunts, cave drawings, and
body language of our ancient ancestors up to the development and use of advanced language, communication
has vastly changed. Throughout the years, experts have developed various models to explain the ways in which
we express ourselves. Each of these models presents and tries to explain a different view of communication and
the purposes it serves to humankind.

CORE CONTENT

The Aristotelian Model of Communication (The Linear Model)

This model of communication was first developed among the Greeks and was
named after the famous philosopher, Aristotle. Among the different models of
communication, the Aristotelian Model is considered to be the most simple and basic. It
only contains 3 main elements: the speaker, message, and audience. In this model, the
speaker plays the key role in communication. The speaker (active member) communicates
in such a way that the listeners (passive member) get influenced and respond
accordingly. This is why the Linear Model is considered to be the golden rule in public
speaking, seminars, lectures, and sales talks.

The Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication

Considered to be the mother of all communication models, the Shannon-Weaver Model
was in fact originally designed for telephone communication. Despite still following the linear
sequence of message transmission and reception, it was the first model to recognize and identify
factors that may affect communication which they referred to as noise.

The Lasswell Model

Proposed by Harold Lasswell (1948), this verbal model of communication was one of the earliest models
used to describe the process and uses of communication. This model identified three functions of communication to
society: surveillance, correlation, and cultural transmission. Lasswell believed that communication is being

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MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

utilized by the government in order to alert the society to

potential threats (surveillance). In return, society form
meaningful responses towards these changes in their
environment (correlation). Eventually, institutions like
family, church, school, and community hand down values,
norms, customs, and traditions brought about by these
changes and their reactions to them from one generation
to another (cultural transmission). Figure 1. The Lasswell Model of Communication

Schramm’s Model of Communication

Figure 2. Schramm's Model of Communication
This model of communication captures the notions of
process and interaction. Wilbur Schramm, the proponent of the
model, believed that people interact in a constant cyclical fashion.
According to this model, encoding and decoding are the two
essential processes of communication. He also emphasized that
communication is incomplete unless the sender receives a
feedback from the listener, thus making it a two-way process.

Berlo’s Model of Communication (SMCR Model)

In 1960, David Berlo proposed a model of communication that focuses on factors affecting the different
individuals and elements in communication.

Figure 3. Factors Affecting Individuals in Communication

White’s Model
This model of communication implies a step-by-step sequence of events that takes place in communication.
This sequence includes (in order): thinking, symbolizing, expression, transmitting, receiving, decoding, feedbacking,
and monitoring.

Dance Model
Advanced by Frank Dance, this model of communication is represented by a spiraling figure or a helix.
According to this model, communication evolves and it moves in a constant cyclical fashion. Therefore, what we say
or communicate now influences the future.

Symbolic Interaction Model

This model simply reflects the nature of communication as a dynamic, systemic process in which
communicators construct personal meanings through their symbolic interactions. It is believed that a given interaction
serves as a starting point for the next and future interactions.

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MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

The Speech Communication Transaction Model

Considered as an interactive model, communication is believed to be a two-way process wherein feedback
is an essential element. There is a collaborative exchange of messages between communicators in which
understanding is the main goal of communication. However, this model recognized that barriers may interfere with
the flow of communication.

Figure 4. The Speech Communication Transaction Model

ACTIVITY
Choose three (3) different models of communication. Using a Venn Diagram, compare these models of
communication.

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SELF-CHECK
Write your answers to the following questions:

1. How do these models help you understand the different elements and features of communication?
2. How do you think communication has changed throughout the years?
3. What have you learned today that you had not thought of before about communication?

ASSIGNMENT
Draw or illustrate where do you see communication going or how it is going to develop or change in the
future.

REFERENCES
Bulan, C. T. (2002). Comm 3: Practical Speech Fundamentals (Experimental Edition). Quezon City: College of Arts
and Letters, University of the Philippines.
Oral Communication in Context. (2017). C&E Publishing, Inc.

Images courtesy of Google Image Search

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