1.

1 Communication Defined

Communication: the process of creating meaning through symbolic interaction

Communication is a process
● Contextual cues is essential to being a good communicator
○ How? Communication is embedded in contextual cues such as history,
perceptions, relationships, and situations
Communication is irreversible
How? Once you’ve communicated something, you cannot take it back

Communication is Relational
How? Communication is not something people do to others, instead, it is relational,
meaning, it is something they do with others.
● Ex. “one cannot be ‘attractive’ without others who are attracted.” (Kenneth
Gergen)

1.2 Models of Communication

There are 2 main models of communication: linear and transactional.
● These models describe what happens when 2 or more people interact

Linear Model
In a linear model of communication, one person sends a message, and another person
receives it.
1. Senders encode messages that they send to receivers, who decode the message by
interpreting the meaning.
In other words, communicators take turns being either a sender/receiver.
In this model, communication is seen as a one-way process of transmitting a message
from one person to another.

Three Aspects of the Linear Model

1. Channel: the method in which a message passes from a sender to receiver.
a. Channels influence not only how people communicate but what they
communicate
 i. Ex. Using different words in person than you do through a phone call
2. Noise
The linear model also includes the concept of noise. This noise is not just sounds, but it is any
factor that interferes with effective communication.
● 3 types of noise that can disrupt communication:
○ External noise: outside factors that are distracting, making it difficult to hear.
■ Ex. noisy lawnmower
○ Physiological noise: biological factors within a person
■ Ex. Feeling tired, sick, or hungry.
○ Psychological noise: thoughts and feelings that distort/disrupt communication
■ Ex. Believing someone dislikes you, you make then perceive everything
that person says in a negative way
3. Communication occurs in an environment that includes both current circumstances and
the personal and cultural experiences each person brings to the encounter
a. Ex. if someone brings up immigration reform, your reaction may depend on how
long your family has lived in the country

Transactional Model
In contrast to the linear view, the transactional communication model depicts a process in
which people send and recieve messages simultaneously.
In other words, in this communication model, even though you are a “sender”, at the
same time, you are also a “reciever” who is aware of other people’s reactions
● Ex. If you tell your mom her new haircut looks “sick”, her facial expression might tell you
immediately that she is offended
● In some types of mass communication flow it is a one-way manner, but most person
communication involves a simultaneous exchange between 2 or more people
Feedback is the response or reaction of the receiver after perceiving or understanding the
message.
● Feedback can be
● Nonverbal
○ Ex. smiles and frowns.
● Oral
○ Ex. gasps and groans
● Written
○ Ex. Comments viewers add to a post
Difference between transactional and linear models: transactional communication include
messages that aren;t deliberately encoded. Such as your facial expressions and posture that
may offer information to others even when you are unaware of them.
For this reason, the transactional model does not use the word, encode, instead it uses
a broader term, responds that indicates both intentional and unintentional actions.

1.3 Communication Contexts

Intrapersonal communication: “communicating with oneself”. This involves the voice in your
head, reading aloud or thinking.
● intrapersonal communication affects almost every type of interaction

Dyadic Communication: Social scientists use this term to describe 2 person interaction
communicating in person
● This can be talking on the phone to your significant other

Interpersonal Communication: When people are involved they are part of a close relationship
in which they treat each other as unique individuals.
● Compared to dyadic communication, dyadic is not always personal
● texts with your significant other through a phone