The Levels of Communication

Adapted from Mastering Public Speaking, by George L. Grice and John F. Skinner

To Communicate . . .

The Latin verb communicare means to make common to many, share, impart, divide.

Simply stated . . .
When you communicate you share, or make common, your knowledge and ideas with someone else. Communication, then, is the sharing of meaning by sending and receiving symbolic cues.

Charles Ogen & I. A. Richards Triangle of Meaning

The interpreter
The person who is communicating, with words or symbols

The symbol
Anything to which people attach or assign a meaning

The referent
The object or idea for which the symbol stands

The Triangle of Meaning Interpreter (Speaker or Listener)

Symbol

Referent

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

1)

intrapersonal

Intrapersonal Communication

The type of communication a person has with himself, thus the prefix intra- which means within.
As soon as a human being awakens, he begins an internal thought process and dialogue, almost always silent, but sometimes aloud.

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

2)

interpersonal

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication takes place between two people.

This type of communication varies depending on the relationship between the two individuals.

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

3)

group

Group Communication

Group communication occurs when three or more individuals, who have a common goal, interact either formally or informally.

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

4)

public

Public Communication

Public communication takes place when one or more individuals communicate with a large group in a more onedirectional approach.

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

5)

mass communication

Mass Communication

Mass communication occurs when extremely large groups receive information, like a television audience watching a news broadcast, as well as the intermittent commercial advertising.

Five Levels of Public Speaking:

1)

intrapersonal 2) interpersonal 3) group 4) public 5) mass communication

Linear Model of Communication

Linear Model of Communication

The speakerthe sender, the encoder, or source of the message.

The Speaker

Linear Model of Communication

Encodingthe process of putting ideas into symbols to carry a message.

The Speech Text

The Speaker

Linear Model of Communication

Messageideas communicated verbally and nonverbally.

The Message The Speaker

A speaker sends a message to a listener.

Linear Model of Communication

Listenerthe receiver or decoder of the message

The Message

The Speaker

A speaker sends a message to a listener.

Linear Model of Communication

Decodingthe process of attaching meanings to symbols received.

Decoding

The Message

The Speaker

A speaker sends a message to a listener.

Linear Model of Communication

The speakerthe sender, the encoder, or source of the message. Encodingthe process of putting ideas into symbols to carry a message. Messageideas communicated verbally and nonverbally. Listenerthe receiver or decoder of the message Decodingthe process of attaching meanings to symbols received.

Linear Model of Communication

The Speaker

The Message

The Listener

A speaker sends a message to a listener.

Problems with Linear Model of Communication

#1The assumption that a person is either the sender or a receiver of messages. Actually, we perform both of these roles simultaneously.

Problems with Linear Model of Communication

#2The suggestion that communication involves only one message. Actually, there are as many messages as there are communicators involved, and the message the sender intends is never identical to the one received.

Interactive Model of Communication

When scholars began to see the limitations of the linear model of communication, they added other components to the speaker, message, and listener making a total of 7 components: channel, feedback, environment, and noise

Interactive Model of Communication

Channelthe medium, or the way the message is sent.

Interactive Model of Communication

Feedbackincludes all messages, verbal and nonverbal, sent by listeners to speakers.

Interactive Model of Communication

Environmentthe physical setting and the occasion for communication.

Interactive Model of Communication

Noiseanything that distracts from effective communication; some form of noise is always present.

Interactive Model of Communication

Channelthe medium, or the way the message is sent. Feedbackincludes all messages, verbal and nonverbal, sent by listeners to speakers. Environmentthe physical setting and the occasion for communication. Noiseanything that distracts from effective communication; some form of noise is always present.

Noise

Physical noisedistractions originating in the communication environment.

Noise

Physiological noisedistractions originating in the bodies of communicatorscold, headache, hunger, fatigue.

Noise

Psychological noisedistractions originating in the thoughts of communicatorsanxiety, daydreaming, worry.

Noise
Physical noisedistractions originating in the communication environment. Physiological noisedistractions originating in the bodies of communicatorscold, headache, hunger, fatigue. Psychological noisedistractions originating in the thoughts of communicatorsanxiety, daydreaming, worry.

CHANNEL

Message

SPEAKER
Encoder

LISTENER
Decoder

Decoder

Encoder

Feedback

CHANNEL

Interactive Model of Communication

The Levels of Communication

Adapted from Mastering Public Speaking, by George L. Grice and John F. Skinner