Topic 2 Communication Models: A Theoretical Perspective

Introduction

 Communication models help in understanding the nature of communication.

 They provide snapshots, not a full picture, of the communication process.
 Models are tools to begin exploring human communication and improve written
communication skills.

2.1 Claude Shannon's Model

 Developed in the 1940s by engineer Claude Shannon, based on information theory.

 Key Components:
o Source: Origin of the message.
o Channel: Medium through which the message is transmitted.
o Receiver: Destination of the message.
 Encoding & Decoding:
o Encode: Composing the message.
o Decode: Interpreting the message.
 Noise:
o Interference in the communication channel, can be external (e.g., static, bad
print) or internal.
 Limitations:
o Shannon's model is viewed as too mechanical.
o It overlooks the purpose behind communication (e.g., building relationships).
o Example: A condolence letter's importance lies in the gesture, not the message
content, which Shannon's model doesn't fully account for.

2.2 Roman Jakobson's Model

 Key Components:
o Writer: The sender of the message.
o Reader: The receiver of the message.
o Context: The background or situation in which the communication occurs.
o Message: The content being communicated.
 o Contact: The medium used for communication (e.g., a poster, the Internet).
o Code: The language or symbols used in communication (e.g., alphabet,
discourse conventions).
 Explanation:
o Jakobson’s model is tailored for written communication.
o Emphasizes the importance of shared code (language) between the writer and
reader for clearer communication.
o Example: Writing in Arabic with legal terminology to an Arab lawyer
simplifies communication.
 Borrowed Elements:
o Uses Shannon's concept of transmission through a channel (contact).
 Limitations:
o Does not account for the motives behind communication.
o Ignores the learning process involved in writing and reading.
o Simplified Model: Focuses on the interaction between writer, text, and reader,
but offers a more restricted view of communication.

2.3 Model Based on Ulric Neisser's Work

 Key Concepts:
o Neisser's model is based on the psychology of cognition and perception.
o It emphasizes exploratory and recursive processes in communication and
perception.
 Model Components:
o Guide: Our desires, needs, and ideas guide exploration.
o Exploration: We explore the world based on these guides.
o New Information: Exploration leads to new perceptions and information.
o Affect: This new information affects our beliefs, desires, and worldview.
 Cycle of Exploration:
o The exploration and learning process is continuous.
o As we perceive new information, it changes our needs and ideas, leading to
further exploration.
 Application to Writing:
o Writing is guided by ideas, beliefs, and motivations.
 o The act of writing generates new thoughts and insights, triggering more ideas,
thus making writing an ongoing cycle of learning and exploration.
 Combination with Other Models:
o When combined with Shannon and Jakobson’s models, Neisser’s ideas create
a comprehensive view of communication that is motivated, exploratory, and
recursive.

2.4 Model Based on Michael Polanyi's Work

 Key Concepts:
o Emphasizes active engagement in the process of knowing.
o Highlights the "tacit dimension"—we know more than we can express, and
often express more than we realize.
 Model Explanation:
o A person discovers meaning through an experience (e.g., watching a sunrise).
o They write a text (e.g., poem, novel, essay) to express that meaning.
o Another person reads the text in a different context and derives their own
meaning from it.
o Sometimes, the writer may also be the reader, revisiting their own writing in a
new context.
 Key Implication:
o The reader may not have shared the original experience but still finds meaning
in the text.
o The meaning discovered by the reader might differ from the writer's intention
—texts convey meaning, not experiences.
 Literature and Interpretation:
o Some texts, particularly literary ones, do not have a single, fixed meaning.
o Both Polanyi and Neisser's models stress the role of interpretation in
communication.
Summary of Communication Models (Table 2.1)

 Claude Shannon: Focuses on encoding and decoding information.

 Roman Jakobson: Contact (medium of communication) is central.
 Ulric Neisser: Communication is exploratory and recursive, guided by desires and
perceptions.
 Michael Polanyi: Meaning discovered by the reader may not align with the writer’s
intention.

2.5 Some Ideas About Communication

 Overview:
o Communication is a dynamic process that evolves with time.
o Changes occur in the way we communicate and in the "code" (language
forms) we use.
o Misunderstanding signs, symbols, and abbreviations can lead to
communication breakdowns.

2.5.1 Signs, Symbols, and Abbreviations

 Signs:
o Signs represent ideas, objects, feelings, and concepts.
o Words themselves are considered signs.
o Signs are useful because the actual objects they represent do not need to be
present.
o Example: A "No Parking" sign represents a restriction, but if placed in the
wrong context (e.g., next to a swimming pool), it causes confusion.
 Symbols:
o Symbols are signs that refer to complex things or ideas.
o They have both literal and cultural meanings, and interpretations may vary.
o Example: A rice stalk symbolizes fertility and abundance in countries like
Japan and Malaysia.
 Modern Written Communication:
o The rise of technology has introduced new forms of communication, like
emails and SMS.
 o Emoticons and shorthand notations (acronyms) are commonly used to convey
feelings and messages quickly.
 Emoticons (Table 2.2):
o :-) = Happy or “Don’t take me too seriously.”
o ;-) = Being cheeky or showing disbelief.
o :-( = Sad or disappointed.
 Shorthand Notations (Table 2.3):
o BTW = By the way.
o FYI = For your information.
o IMHO = In my humble/honest opinion.
o LOL = Laughed out loud.
o ROTFL = Rolling on the floor laughing.
o TIA = Thanks in advance.
o TTFN = Ta-ta for now.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is a key limitation of communication models?

a) They provide a complete picture of communication
b) They only provide snapshots of the communication process
c) They focus exclusively on verbal communication
d) They are too complicated to understand
2. Which model was developed by Claude Shannon?
a) Roman Jakobson's Model
b) Michael Polanyi's Model
c) Ulric Neisser's Model
d) Information Theory Model
3. In Shannon’s model, what does 'noise' refer to?
a) The receiver of the message
b) Interference in the communication channel
c) The encoding of the message
d) A loud sound during communication
4. What does Roman Jakobson's model introduce that is particularly suited for
written communication?
a) Encoding
b) Noise
c) Code (language used in writing)
d) Context
5. In Roman Jakobson’s model, what does 'contact' refer to?
a) The sender of the message
b) The channel or medium of communication
c) The background of the message
d) The code used
6. Ulric Neisser’s model emphasizes communication as a process that is:
a) Static and linear
b) Exploratory and recursive
c) Simplistic and straightforward
d) Focused on encoding and decoding
7. According to Ulric Neisser’s model, what guides our exploration of the world?
a) Previous experiences
b) Technology
c) Desires, needs, ideas, and images
d) The encoding process
8. Which concept is central to Michael Polanyi's model of communication?
a) Noise in communication
b) Active engagement in the process of knowing
c) Feedback from the receiver
d) Encoding and decoding
9. According to Michael Polanyi, what cannot be conveyed in communication?
a) Messages
b) Experiences
c) Feelings
d) Contexts
10. What does Michael Polanyi’s model emphasize about text?
a) Texts have one fixed meaning
b) A text can convey an experience
 c) A reader may derive meaning different from the writer’s intent
d) A writer and reader always share the same interpretation
11. Which model highlights the idea that meaning derived from a text may differ
depending on the reader’s context?
a) Claude Shannon's Model
b) Roman Jakobson's Model
c) Michael Polanyi's Model
d) Ulric Neisser's Model
12. What are 'signs' in communication?
a) Objects that always have only one meaning
b) Words or symbols representing ideas, objects, or concepts
c) Only visual cues
d) Only used in verbal communication
13. What distinguishes a symbol from a sign?
a) Symbols have more complex meanings
b) Symbols are only used in literature
c) Symbols are restricted to cultural interpretations
d) Signs and symbols are exactly the same
14. What is an example of shorthand notation used in modern communication?
a) No Parking sign
b) LOL
c) A rice stalk symbol
d) Static interference
15. Which of the following best describes a 'tacit dimension' according to Michael
Polanyi?
a) We can always say more than we know
b) We know more than we can say
c) Communication happens without signs or symbols
d) Written communication conveys the exact experience

Answers:
1. b) They only provide snapshots of the communication process
2. d) Information Theory Model
3. b) Interference in the communication channel
4. c) Code (language used in writing)
5. b) The channel or medium of communication
6. b) Exploratory and recursive
7. c) Desires, needs, ideas, and images
8. b) Active engagement in the process of knowing
9. b) Experiences
10. c) A reader may derive meaning different from the writer’s intent
11. c) Michael Polanyi's Model
12. b) Words or symbols representing ideas, objects, or concepts
13. a) Symbols have more complex meanings
14. b) LOL
15. b) We know more than we can say
Remember 4 types of model and its features