The Shannon-Weaver Communication Model : The First Theories of Modern Communication

Chapter 1 

Introduction

The first theories of communication in modern communication established by Claude Shannon. This theory is based on mathematical theory of communication, the theories developed by the Chicago School. This paper will discuss how the mathematician Claude Shannon could established the first theories of modern communication, what the situation in the context of these theories came from and why this theory still works at this moment. 

Key Words : The Shannon-Weaver Communication Model, The Impact of Theory, Advantage of theory

Chapter 2

The Shannon-Weaver Communication Model

Communication science is very broad in scope.  This wide scope then tries to make mapping according to the issue and the objects in focus. Then came the division of the 7 main traditions in the science of communication developed by (Craig, 2007)  For the students who are studying the science of communication this division makes it very easy for to see the big picture of a communication science and helps the students/scholar in conducting studies related to communication science.

Communication Expert categorized communication science into social sciences and applied sciences. Communication science is cross-disciplinary because the material object of communication science has similarities with other sciences, humans.

If we talked about the history of communication science, the development of communication science began since the 5th century BC which was marked by the development of the term Rhetoric in Ancient Greece as a term for the science that studies the process of human statements.  Georgias was the first person to study and study the process of statements between humans. Other figures who also studied the science of human statements were Protagoras, Socrates, Plato, Demosthenes, and Aristotle. In addition to Greece, the science of human statements also developed in Rome known as Rhetorical.

Picture 2.1

Source: www.google.com (communication illustration)

Communication theory in the modern era began with the birth of the first theory of communication which was established by establish by Claude Shannon (an American mathematician) and Warren Weaver (an electrical engineer). The theory is The Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication.

The Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication is a mathematical theory of communication that argues that human communication can be broken down into 6 key concepts: sender, encoder, channel, noise, decoder, and receiver (Drew, 2021). This communication model is known as “the mother of all (communication) model" or the "Information theory", and in some communication science literature is referred to as "Shannon Theory" because she was the main person in developing the communication model. 

Shannon developed this theory to support his work as an engineer at The Bell Telephone Company to help engineers find the most efficient way of transmitting electrical signals from one place to another.  The main point of study is how to determine the way in which channels of communication are used very efficiently. According to them, the main channels in the communication in question are telephone cables and radio waves (Wikipedia, 2019). According to (Shannon, 1948), the fundamental problem of communication is that of reproducing a message sent from one point, either exactly or approximately, to another point.

Picture 2.1

Source: (Shannon, 1948)

The Theory highlights the process of delivery of messages from communicator to communicant (which consist of 6 key element) including the factor that affect/impact to the quality of receiving information, the noise (Unplanned disruption that occurs in the communication process as a result of the message received by the communicant is different from the message conveyed by the communicator to the communicant). 

Below the description of each element according to (Shannon, 1948):

1. Information source: which produces a message or sequence of messages to be communicated to the receiving terminal.
2. A transmitter: which operates on the message in some way to produce a signal suitable for transmission over the channel
3. The channel: is merely the medium used to transmit the signal from transmitter to receiver
4. The receiver ordinarily performs the inverse operation of that done by the transmitter, reconstructing the message from the signal.
5. The destination: is the person (or thing) for whom the message is intended.

“Shannon's Theory of Communication Mathematics also argues that information can be calculated in number, and that information is sourced or originated from an event. The amount of information that can be attributed to, or generated by, a state or event is the degree of reduction (reduction) of uncertainty, or choice of possibility, that may arise from that state or event. In simpler words, this theory assumes that we obtain information if we get certainty about a particular event or thing (Wikipedia, 2019)”

Chapter 3

The Impact of theory

Shannon-Weaver Communication models enrich theories in communication science so that human civilization can improve the quality of communication and also provide a foundation on the development of theories or sciences in the communication science be it basic science or applied science.

Identify problems in communication

Shannon-weaver's theory reveals to the surface some of the problems that arise in communication:

1.Technical Problem: how the channel used in the communication process causes the problem

Picture 3.1

Source: www.google.com

2.Semantic Problem: Errors in understanding messages due to inaccuracies in understanding symbols (signs) in communication. So, the message is interpreted differently.  

Picture 3.2

Source: www.google.com

3.Effectiveness Problem: How effectively does the message cause reaction. 

Picture 3.3

Source: https://theinvestorsbook.com/effective-communication.html

Advantages of Shannon Weaver Model

 The model unveils important element that can disrupt the quality of communication. the Concept of noise. We can improve the quality of communication (in any context, objective etc) by removing the noise or problem causing noise. There two sources of noise:

- internal noise: it happens when a sender makes a mistake encoding a message or a receiver makes a mistake decoding the message. (for example, when we misunderstand a message read when receiving an email)

-  external noise:  It happens when something external (not in the control of sender or receiver) impedes the message. (for example, when we talk in a rowdy public place so that our hearing is disturbed)

 The model explain that the communication is a two-way process. (its applicable in our daily communication practices). This confirms that an effective communication process involves two parties reciprocally.

 Communication is taken as quantifiable in Shannon Weaver model.

The term Shannon–Weaver model was widely adopted in social science fields such as education, communication sciences, organizational analysis, psychology (Wikipedia, 2019)

Chapter 4

Conclusion

Shannon-weaver communication model as the initial theory of communication contributes to the development of communication science and encourages the emergence of other communication studies. His theory that seeks to explain simply a communication process helps the development of other sciences involving elements of communication. As well as teaching science / pedagogy, communication psychology etc.

This fairly old communication model is partly still relevant in the context of communication, some are also considered irrelevant and are considered to oversimplify the problem. No theory is truly perfect in and contemplates all reality.  Some critics:

“The model isn't really a model of communication, however. It is, instead, a model of the flow of information through a medium, and an incomplete and biased model [to technical media]. The model suggests that communication within a medium is frequently direct and unidirectional, but in the real world of media, communication is almost never unidirectional and is often indirect (Foulger, 2004)”

(Al-Fedhagi, 2012) quoted Kaminski (2012) enumerates various weaknesses in the model: Not analogous to much of human communication, only formal, does not account for content, Static and linear.

Some other critics also revealed that Shannon and Weaver's communication model can only be applied well to interpersonal communication, rather than mass communication or group communication, the model is its linear shape; communication is described as a one-way event; There is no feedback.

References

Al-Fedhagi, S. (2012). A Conceptual Foundation for The Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication. International Journal of Soft Computing .

Craig, R. (2007). Theorizing Communication : Reading across traditions. Sage.

Drew, C. (2021, October 24). Helpful Professor Website. Retrieved from helpfulprofessor.com: https://helpfulprofessor.com/shannon-weaver-model/

Foulger, D. (2004). Models of The Communication Process. Oswego State University.

Shannon, C. (1948). A Mathematical Theory of Communication. The Bell System Technical Journal vol.27, 623–656,.

Wikipedia. (2019, June 23). Wikipedia website. Retrieved from wikipedia.org: https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teori_matematikal_komunikasi