Transactional Communication

Summary

This presentation delves into the transactional communication model, illustrating how communication occurs in various settings. It emphasizes the encoding and decoding process, the importance of the channel, and the impact of context on communication. The speaker discusses the challenges of perfect communication due to individual differences and introduces the concept of noise, which includes physiological, psychological, physical, and semantic interferences. The transactional model is highlighted as a dynamic, simultaneous process involving feedback and the interplay between the source and receiver.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Communication is a process involving a sender and receiver, with the aim to influence or be influenced.
• 👤 Harold Lasswell's definition of communication emphasizes who is communicating, the message, the channel, and the effect on the audience.
• 📚 The study of communication as an academic field gained prominence after World War II, particularly due to the need for propaganda and persuasion.
• 🔄 The transactional model of communication is distinct from other models like the action or linear models, focusing on the interactive nature of communication.
• 💡 The source's role in communication is to encode the message, which is the act of translating thoughts into a transmittable form that the receiver can understand.
• 🌐 The message can be verbal or nonverbal, and the channel, or medium, through which it is sent can greatly affect how it is perceived.
• 👂 The receiver's task is to decode the message, interpreting the meaning from the encoded message sent by the source.
• 🔕 Noise can interfere with the communication process and comes in four types: physiological, psychological, physical, and semantic.
• 🔁 Feedback in the transactional model is simultaneous with the message, as the receiver also acts as a source by responding to the initial message.
• 🌐 The context, including the setting and the relationship between individuals, plays a crucial role in shaping the communication process.

Q & A

What is the definition of communication according to Harold Lasswell?

Harold Lasswell's definition of communication is 'Who, says what, to whom, in what channel, with what effect.'

How did the field of communication become prominent in modern academia?

The field of communication became prominent in modern academia after World War II when various academic disciplines came together to create propaganda and persuasion campaigns, leading to the creation of a new discipline.

What are the different models of communication mentioned in the script?

The different models of communication mentioned are the action model, the linear model, and the transactional model.

What is the role of the source in the communication process?

The source is the sender of the message and has the job of encoding meaning into the message to ensure it is understood as intended by the receiver.

Why is perfect communication considered impossible?

Perfect communication is considered impossible because individuals have unique life experiences and perspectives, making it difficult to perfectly translate one's thoughts from one brain to another.

What is the difference between verbal and nonverbal messages?

Verbal messages are spoken or written words, while nonverbal messages are communicated through body language, facial expressions, and other non-linguistic cues.

How does the channel of communication affect the message?

The channel of communication, or the medium used, affects how the message is perceived and understood. Different channels can alter the impact and interpretation of the message.

What is the role of the receiver in the communication process?

The receiver is responsible for decoding the message sent by the source, interpreting its meaning, and providing feedback.

What are the four types of noise that can interfere with communication?

The four types of noise are physiological noise, psychological noise, physical noise, and semantic noise, which can all interfere with the clarity of message transmission.

How is feedback incorporated in the transactional model of communication?

In the transactional model, feedback is the message sent back from the receiver to the source, indicating that the source and receiver are simultaneously communicating with each other.

What is the significance of context in the communication process?

Context is significant as it includes the setting and the relationship between individuals, which can greatly influence the communication process and the type of conversation that occurs.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Transactional Communication Overview

This paragraph introduces the concept of transactional communication as a model for understanding how communication occurs. It emphasizes that communication is a process that involves encoding and decoding messages, regardless of the context, whether it's a one-on-one conversation or a public speech. The paragraph highlights the definition of communication by Harold Lasswell, which focuses on who is communicating, what is being communicated, to whom, through what channel, and with what effect. It also touches on the historical development of communication as an academic field, particularly its rise in prominence after World War II due to the collaboration of various disciplines in the creation of propaganda and persuasion campaigns. The paragraph concludes by discussing the components of the transactional model, including the source, message, channel, receiver, and noise, and the challenges associated with encoding and decoding messages.

05:00

🔁 The Dynamics of Transactional Communication

The second paragraph delves deeper into the transactional model of communication, illustrating how the source and receiver are often the same person in a dynamic, simultaneous exchange of messages and feedback. It explains the role of the channel or medium in shaping the perception of the message and how different contexts, such as professional settings or social gatherings, can influence the nature of communication. The paragraph also expands on the concept of noise, which includes physiological, psychological, physical, and semantic interferences that can disrupt the clarity of communication. The discussion concludes with an emphasis on the importance of understanding the transactional nature of communication, which is not a linear process but a complex, interactive one that is influenced by various factors.

Keywords

💡Transactional Communication Model

The transactional communication model describes communication as a dynamic, simultaneous process where the sender and receiver are both actively involved in exchanging messages. Unlike linear models, which see communication as one-way, the transactional model shows how both parties send and receive messages at the same time. This model is central to the video as it emphasizes that communication is not sequential but rather a continuous exchange influenced by feedback, context, and noise.

💡Encoding

Encoding is the process where the sender of the message translates their thoughts or ideas into a form that can be understood by the receiver, such as words, gestures, or other symbols. In the video, encoding is mentioned as a crucial step where the speaker aims to make their communication clear and understandable. The speaker also notes the difficulty of perfect encoding due to differences in individual experiences and perceptions.

💡Decoding

Decoding is the process by which the receiver interprets or makes sense of the message sent by the sender. It is the reverse of encoding and involves understanding the meaning intended by the sender. The video highlights decoding as an equally challenging process since the receiver has to interpret the message within their own context and experiences, which may differ from the sender’s intent.

💡Noise

Noise refers to any interference that affects the clarity or accuracy of a message being communicated. The video categorizes noise into four types: physiological, psychological, physical, and semantic. Each type of noise can distort the message in different ways, such as a headache affecting concentration (physiological) or complex vocabulary creating confusion (semantic). The concept of noise is essential in understanding the barriers to effective communication in the transactional model.

💡Feedback

Feedback is the response given by the receiver back to the sender after decoding the message. In the transactional model, feedback occurs simultaneously as both parties are involved in the exchange. The video emphasizes the importance of feedback in communication, illustrating how it allows for adjustments, clarifications, and the continuous flow of information between the sender and receiver.

💡Channel

The channel is the medium through which the message is transmitted from the sender to the receiver. This could be face-to-face communication, text messages, emails, or any other form of media. The video points out that the choice of channel can significantly affect how a message is perceived, using the example of a compliment given in person versus through a text message to demonstrate how different channels can change the meaning or tone of the message.

💡Context

Context refers to the surrounding environment and relationship between communicators that influence the communication process. The video describes context as both the physical setting (like being in a meeting or at a social event) and the nature of the relationship between the parties involved. It explains how context shapes the way communication is conducted and understood, such as how formality levels may vary depending on the situation and the relationship.

💡Source

The source in communication is the person who originates and sends the message. The source is responsible for encoding the message in a way that the receiver can understand. The video discusses the role of the source in detail, noting that effective communication depends on the source's ability to encode messages clearly and consider the potential barriers, such as noise, that may affect the receiver's understanding.

💡Receiver

The receiver is the person or audience to whom the message is directed and who interprets (decodes) it. In the transactional communication model, the receiver is also seen as a sender because they provide feedback, making the communication process continuous and dynamic. The video highlights the receiver's role in interpreting messages and how their understanding is shaped by their personal experiences and the context in which the communication takes place.

💡Communication Models

Communication models are theoretical frameworks that help explain how information is transmitted from a sender to a receiver. The video mentions several types of models, such as the action model, linear model, and transactional model. It explains that earlier models, like the linear model, were more simplistic, viewing communication as a one-way process, whereas the transactional model is more comprehensive, viewing communication as an interactive, simultaneous exchange.

Highlights

Transactional communication model is a universal model applicable to various communication scenarios.

Communication is defined by Harold Lasswell as 'Who says what, to whom, in what channel, with what effect.'

Communication as an academic field emerged after World War II with the collaboration of various disciplines.

Transactional model is one of several models of communication, differing from action and linear models.

The source in communication is responsible for encoding meaning into the message.

The concept that 'perfect communication is impossible' due to individual differences.

The message can be verbal or nonverbal, with nonverbal communication playing a significant role.

The channel, or medium, of communication affects how the message is understood.

The receiver's role is to decode the message, interpreting the intended meaning.

Noise in communication includes physiological, psychological, physical, and semantic noise.

Transactional model shows source and receiver as the same person, indicating simultaneous communication.

Feedback in communication is integral and occurs in real-time within the transactional model.

The context of communication includes the setting and the relationship between individuals.

The dynamic nature of communication is emphasized, as it is not a sequential process.

Noise can interfere with the communication process at any point, affecting the clarity of the message.

The transactional communication model highlights the importance of understanding the communication process in various contexts.

Transcripts

This presentation will review transactional communication.

This is one model of how communication occurs.

Essentially what does it look like when we talk to one another?

If I was going to draw it out on paper, what does the communication process look like?

It doesn't matter if you're talking to a friend one-on-one or you're giving a public speech.

The drawing, the model, is essentially the same.

But first of all, what is communication?

My favorite definition of communication (every textbook has their own) is from one of the

founding fathers of communication.

He said, "Who, says what, to whom, in what channel, with what effect."

And that's what happens.

Who's talkin' to who?

How are they saying it?

And what actually happens?

What's the result or the outcome which is the whole purpose of communication.

We hope to effect other people around us.

Harold Lasswell, as I said, is one of the founding fathers of communication.

Communications is an interesting - more of a recent academic field.

Obviously it's been studied since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, but in colleges

and universities modern day, it really didn't come around until after World War II.

A bunch of academic disciplines came together during WWII to help with creating enemy propaganda,

campaigns to get Americans to do things like start victory gardens or recycling materials.

All of these scholars, as they came together and looked at ways of persuasion, they created

a new discipline in the process of it.

So that's when communications started becoming more prominent in colleges and universities.

The model we're going to talk about today is the transactional model.

There are several other models - the action model, the linear model, but we're not going

to cover those.

I'm going to stick to this one.

Perspectives have changed across time.

If you look at the action model, it's how they first drew-up communications.

They had problems with it and moved on to the interaction and later the transactional

model.

Let me talk about the pieces of the model.

First of all you have your source.

The source is the sender.

They send the message.

Now a source has a job.

You as a speaker have a job of ENCODING meaning into the message.

Basically what that means is, I have something I want to say, and I want to say it in just

such a way that you understand it, just as I want you to understand it.

But that is sooo much easier said than done.

First of all, we like to say in communication that "perfect communication is impossible."

Remember, we're all unique individuals.

I have a different set of life experiences than you do.

And for me to translate what's in my brain, and imprint it on your brain...it's just not

gonna happen.

I can do a pretty good job of it, and I can communicate it as best as I can so that it's

clear to you.

But nonetheless, encoding is a difficult process and that's where you're really trying to make

things snap.

That's where you're trying to make your communication as effective as possible.

The message is actually what you say.

It may not be a verbal message, it may be a nonverbal message.

In fact, a large part of how we communicate, is nonverbal versus verbal.

The channel is how I communicate that message to you.

What medium do use to communicate it?

Is it a voice mail? is it a text message?

Is it face to face?

The channel does effect how we understand the message.

If you've listened to a song on the radio, vs. listening to a song at a live concert,

you know that the venue, then you know it's a lot different than it is on the radio.

Now let's say I'm walking down the hall one day, and one of my coworkers says, "hey, you

look nice today."

I would say, "thank you" and not think much of it.

It was a nice compliment.

But let's say the same person sends me a text message and says, "hey, you look nice today."

Ok.

Suddenly that has gone from a nice compliment to kinda creepy.

The channel does make a big difference in how we perceive the message.

The receiver is the person receiving the message.

Remember the source had to encode meaning into the message?

Now the receiver has the job of DECODING the message.

So they have to figure out "what did they mean by that?"

A lot of what we study in communications is the encoding and the decoding process.

Finally we have noise.

Noise are all the different things that can possibly interfere with the message getting

communicated clearly.

There are four basic types of noise.

First you have physiological noise.

Maybe I have a hear impediment.

I need to use a hearing aid, and I have difficulty hearing.

Or maybe I have a migraine headache - a roaring in my head and my ears.

It's totally getting in the way of me hearing.

That would be physiological noise.

You could also have psychological noise.

Say I had a big fight with my boyfriend.

I just can't concentrate in class because I'm too sad and upset about this fight I just

had.

That would be psychological noise.

You could have physical noise.

Somebody's working on the roof.

There's a bulldozer outside the window.

You have static on your cell phone.

There's physical, literal noise getting in the way of you hearing the message.

Finally we have semantic noise.

Semantic noise are the words themselves.

Maybe I'm using really hard to understand words (like semantic).

Or maybe I'm giving a lecture in class and one day I just start cussing up a storm.

You would be like, "Did Ms. Davison really just say that?"

It would probably interfere with you listening for the next five minutes because you were

shocked about me saying that.

That would also be semantic noise.

So those are the basic elements of the communication model.

Now let me show you the actual transactional model.

Here's what it looks like.

Notice our source and our receiver are the same.

Those are the same person.

The reason that is, is because this is a synchronized process.

If I'm sitting there talking to you, you're probably looking at me and nodding and occasionally

talking back to me.

But it's happening at the same time I'm talking to you.

So you're sending a message back to me while I'm sending a message to you.

It's all going on at the same time.

Feedback is normally the receiver sending the message back to the source.

But it's really all the same thing.

So the message and the feedback, are the source and the receiver simultaneously communicating

with one another.

We've also got the channel down there.

Sometimes it's also called the code.

But the channel, again the medium that the message is being communicated through.

And one more thing has been added at the top.

The context.

The context is the greater situation in which this communication is taking place in, as

well as the relationship between the individuals.

Let's say I'm at work.

I"m in a meeting with my boss.

We have a pretty good relationship.

But it's a big meeting, so I'm going to be serious and I'm not going to talk too much.

I'll be professional.

Then maybe afterward I'm going to sit in my boss's office and chit chat and laugh about

a few things.

Maybe we'll talk about a few things in the meeting more candidly than I would have in

the meeting itself.

And then maybe my boss and I go out for drinks on a Friday night after work.

It's a whole different setting, and it's a whole different kind of conversation that's

going to take place at happy hour, than in the business setting.

So the same person, depending on the context will have different conversations.

Or let's say I had a fight with my boss.

I was really upset about a decision they made, and I didn't like it.

So there's this tense air around the relationship.

That's also part of the context.

That's certainly going to affect my next interaction with that person.

It might get smoothed over eventually, but at least temporarily, that's part of the context.

So context is the location, as well as the relationship between the people involved.

You've also still got the noise getting in the way all throughout this whole communication

process.

So this is the transactional -- I should have had this up there -- this is the transaction

communication model.

The main things I want you to know about this are that first of all message and feedback

are going on at the same time - it's all one and the same.

The source and the receiver are the same person.

Communication again is really dynamic.

It is not a sequential process, because it's all going on at the same time.

So I hope this has been helpful in helping you to understand the transactional communication

process.

Thank you very much.