The transactional communication model is a theoretical framework used to understand the process of communication between individuals or groups. It emphasizes the interactive and dynamic nature of communication. The model consists of seven key elements, which are as follows:
1. Sender: The sender is the person or entity who initiates the communication process. They encode their thoughts, ideas, or information into a message to be transmitted to the receiver. The sender's goal is to convey a particular meaning or intention.
2. Message: The message is the information or content that the sender wants to communicate. It can take various forms, such as spoken words, written text, non-verbal cues, or visual representations. The message is encoded by the sender and carries the intended meaning.
3. Encoding: Encoding is the process of converting the sender's thoughts or ideas into a symbolic form that can be transmitted to the receiver. It involves choosing words, phrases, or other forms of expression to convey the intended message effectively. Encoding is influenced by the sender's cultural background, language proficiency, and communication skills.
4. Channel: The channel refers to the medium or means through which the message is transmitted from the sender to the receiver. It can be face-to-face conversation, phone call, email, text message, video chat, or any other communication channel. The choice of channel can affect the clarity and effectiveness of the message.