Establishing, interpreting, and negotiating to mean is known as communication. Verbal, nonverbal, and textual communication are all forms of communication. It could be audible, visible, or even bodily. Communication can be done in various ways, but it is always a taught behavior. People must learn to communicate using codes, symbols, and linguistic systems, although most humans are born with the physical capacity to speak, hear, see, etc. Communication is thus a group activity in which people employ symbols to create and interpret meaning.

1. What Are Models of Communication?

Theoretical or conceptual frameworks that explain how people communicate are known as communication models. It also represents the entire communication process between the sender and the receiver. The communication approach tries to reply to 5Ws, and 1H questions such as “What is it?” and “How do I know?” Who will be involved in this procedure? When will it take place? What is the event’s location? What causes it to happen in the first place? Last but not least, how does it happen?

Context, sender, receiver, encoding, decoding, channel, message, feedback, and noise are all parts of the communication process described in communication models. However, not all communication models contain all of these features or qualities. Feedback is not included in the linear communication paradigm, for example. The communication model also defines the factors that inhibit effective communication, referred to as communication barriers or noise. Communication barriers or noise obstruct effective communication operations.

2. What Is a Linear Model of Communication?

This paradigm, first proposed by Shannon and Weaver in 1948, depicts communication as a linear process. This model explains how a sender, also known as a speaker, sends a message to a receiver, also known as a listener. The sender, in this case, is the message’s originator. In a communication engagement, a message might be made up of sounds, words, or behaviors. The message is sent through a channel, a communication pathway or route, to a receiver, who is the message’s target or destination. There could be barriers in the way of communication, such as noise. Any disturbance in the channel or message distortion is referred to as noise. A message is passed from sender to recipient in this model. In a linear model, communication is viewed as a one-way process in which the sender is the only one who transmits the message, and the receiver does not respond or provide feedback. In noise, the message signal is decoded and transmitted via the channel. In a linear communication model, the sender is more prominent.

3. What Is the Transactional Model of Communication?

The sphere of experience is given more weight in this model of communication. While each communicator has their own experiences, they must also share a common ground. To put it another way, if people are to communicate at all, they must share at least some degree of cultural, linguistic, or environmental overlap. This model also acknowledges that communications impact the answers, or subsequent messages, generated during the communication engagement. This means that communications are interconnected rather than standing alone. The interconnections concept asserts that messages are linked and built upon one another. Because persons are considered dynamic communicators rather than simple senders or receivers, the transactional model provides the foundation for much communication theory.

In the Transaction Model of communication, the responsibilities of sender and receiver are significantly different from those in the other models. The participants in a communication encounter are communicators rather than senders and receivers. Unlike the Interaction Model, which assumes that participants switch roles as sender and receiver, the Transaction Model assumes that you are both a sender and a receiver simultaneously.

A fuller grasp of context is also included in the Transaction Model. Context, according to the Interaction Model, is defined as physical and psychological factors that help or hinder communication. Despite the importance of these factors, the model concentrates on message transmission and reception. The Transaction Model of communication must account for environmental influences outside of a single encounter because it defines communication as a force that alters your experiences before and after specific interactions occur. The Transaction Model does this by considering how social, relational, and cultural factors shape and affect communication encounters.

4. How Are These Two Models, I.E., Linear and Transactional Different?

There is an ample number of differences between them which are given in the points mentioned below:

1. The transactional model of communication differs from the linear one because it does not label the participants as communicators and senders. The interaction model implies that participants alternate between the sender and the receiver of messages. Both the sender and the receiver are communicating at the same time. This happens without conscious thought and is known as ‘catch and release’ communication. A conversation between two people that occurs in a physical or digital setting is an example of this type of interaction.

2. In a transactional model of communication, the process of communication is a back and forth exchange of messages and feedback. In a linear model, the process is one-way. In a transactional model, there is no back-and-forth interaction, while in a linear approach, the process is one-way. In an interactive environment, the transactional method is more appropriate because it allows the participants to be more self-governing.

3. The transactional communication model is more complicated than a linear one. In a transactional model, the sender and receiver are independent. Nevertheless, it allows for verbal communication through telephonic calls. This makes it an essential model in the business world. In a nutshell, the two communication models are similar, but the former is more complex and allows for more interaction.

4. A transactional model of communication is a dynamic process. It takes place between two individuals, and in a linear situation, the sender and receiver take on a different role. The recipient receives the message, which is useless until the recipient understands it. The transactional communication model shows that a conversation takes place between two people, who are both communicators and recipients.

5. In the transactional model, both the sender and receiver are responsible for communicating. It is possible to communicate without a human being, but that is not the same as a human. There are many differences between the two models. In a linear model, the sender can change and influence the message and vice versa. With the transactional version, both the sender and the receiver can be changed.

6. The transactional model is a more abstract form of communication. It does not consider the sender’s intention or intent. Instead, it focuses on the message’s purpose. The sender encrypts the message, and the receiver decodes it. As a result, a conversation happens with the two individuals exchanging messages. A conversation between two people can be more complex and efficient than the linear model.

7. The transactional communication model is more dynamic than the linear one. In a linear model, people send and receive messages. The two forms of communication are not the same. Often, both are dynamic. Depending on the situation, the person’s context and background influence how they communicate. During a conversation, the communication process is more complex. For example, a message can be received in face-to-face interaction, followed by an exchange of feelings.

8. Transactional communication is based on social roles. In other words, it refers to the process of sharing feelings. The difference between the two models can be found in the differences between the two types of messages. The relationship between the sender and the receiver is significant to a successful interaction more prevalent in a transactional communication model.

5. Is the Transactional Model Better than the Linear Model of Communication?

Is one communication model or style superior to the other? No, it cannot be. It’s a matter of selecting the most appropriate model for the situation and message type. You should also be aware that communication between the models can occur. A football match, for example, might begin with a prepped speech by the coach (the linear model), followed by a question and answer period (the transactional model). It may then return to some feedback from the coach (linear) before concluding with a hurdle by all the players and greetings. (transactional).

But since the transactional model involves a lot more dynamism than linear, it is often used much more than the linear communication model. The transactional model of communication has a unique set of characteristics that make it different from the linear one. For instance, the transactional system of communication emphasizes back-and-forth interactions. The two types of people are equally responsible for establishing mutual understanding between them. This means that the linear model is more important than the transactional one. This is the best way to understand the communication process and its dynamics.