Eugene White’s Model of Communication: Example, Explanation, Components, Advantages, and Disadvantages. Examples of Eugene White’s Model of Communication.
Eugene White’s Model of Communication
In 1960, scientist Eugene White introduced a transactional communication model with eight elements, including feedback. Therefore, it is known as Eugene White’s transactional model of communication. It is a useful model for explaining oral communication between senders and receivers. Consequently, it is known as Eugene White’s model of oral communication or verbal discussion. The most important component of this theory is feedback, which makes it a transactional model of communication.
According to Eugene White’s model, the communication process is circular rather than linear (White, 1960). Feedback exists as the most important component of the oral discussion.
Eugene White’s model shows that communication occurs in two directions. It also indicates communication is a circular, not a linear, process. The discussion occurs between two people, and it is reciprocal. It represents that communication is a cyclical process. Conversation on social media is a real-life example of the Eugene model of communication.
According to Eugene White’s model (1960), people think in terms of symbols, then speak to convey the message to the receivers. The receivers decode the message to provide feedback to the senders. The sender and receiver monitor the context to continue the conversation. It is the most effective way to describe a talk show and a debate program.
Five Examples of Eugene White’s Communication Model
The five examples of Eugene White’s model are the talk-show program, debate, bargaining between buyer and seller, small-group discussion, and interview session.
Talk-show program
The talk show program exemplifies Eugene White’s stages of oral communication. In talk show programs, the speaker and host follow eight stages of communication: thinking, symbolizing, expressing, transmitting, receiving, decoding, providing feedback, and monitoring context.
Debating among students
Debating among students is another example of White’s communication model. The speaker and receiver follow a cyclical communication process in this context. Sometimes, the senders play the role of receiver. Consequently, the receivers play the role of the sender. They speak and listen simultaneously.
Negotiation Between Buyer and Seller
The bargaining between buyers and sellers is an example situation of Eugene White’s model. The buyer engages in multiple rounds of negotiation to purchase products and services. For example, in hardball negotiation, a circular conversation occurs between buyers and sales officers reciprocally. In this context, they go through the eight communication components to close the deal. Therefore, the conversation between the buyer and seller is a real-life example of Eugene’s communication model.
Group Discussion
In addition, a small-group discussion is an example of White’s model of communication. Many people converse recurrently. The group members monitor the discussion and provide their thoughts.
Interview Session
Finally, the interview session is an illustrative example of White’s communication model. The interviewer asks several questions to assess the applicant. Similarly, the applicants respond to the interviewer, thereby establishing two-way communication. The communication process is circular, with feedback from both parties.
Eugene White’s Model of Communication Elements
The eight elements of White’s model of oral communication are:
- Thinking
- Symbolizing
- Expressing
- Transmitting
- Receiving
- Decoding
- Feedbacking
- Monitoring
Eugene White’s model describes the face-to-face communication process as comprising eight components: thinking, symbolizing, expressing, transmitting, receiving, decoding, feedback, and monitoring. Communication is a continuous process in which the sender and the receiver interact simultaneously.
Thinking
Thinking is the sender’s thoughts and perceptions. The sender considers how to organize and deliver messages to recipients. Thinking is the initial stage of the communication process.
Symbolizing
Symbolizing means representing something to express thoughts. People symbolize words and utter them to communicate. For example, every word of a speech is a symbol of communication. In written communication, letters are the symbol of communication.
Expressing
Expressing is the process of articulating thoughts and messages to receivers. People express ideas by symbolizing them. For example, a physician delivers a speech to discourage smoking. He delivers a persuasive speech to influence people.
Transmitting
Transmitting is the process of conveying messages or thoughts from senders to listeners. In face-to-face communication, the sender transmits the message directly to the receiver without a channel. In mass communication, the sender uses TV, radio, or newspapers to transmit the message.
Receiving
Receiving is the process of receiving messages from the receivers. The receiver accepts ideas and decodes them to provide feedback. Usually, listeners receive messages from senders and respond to convey their opinions.
Decoding
Decoding is the way of interpreting an encoded symbol into intelligible language. It is an invisible process that we can not see.
It involves extracting the intended message from the symbols, words, or signals the sender transmits and interpreting it based on one’s knowledge, experiences, and cultural background.
In the communication process, decoding occurs after the receiver has received the message through the chosen channel.
Feedbacking
Feedback is the process of responding to a message from the sender. It demonstrates that the communication process is transactional rather than linear. Feedback ensures that the communication is transactional and that both parties respond. It also confirms that Eugene’s communication model is transactional.
In the verbal communication process, the sender and receiver exchange feedback orally. In nonverbal communication, communicators provide feedback through a smile, a yawn, a nod, posture, gestures, sweating, and covert behaviors such as a rapid heartbeat.
Monitoring
Speakers seek to determine whether listeners understand the message. It is all about observation. The speaker observes how the message impacts the audience. A good speaker should be able to monitor their audience to persuade them. This skill helps them avoid stereotyping, prejudice, and discriminatory speech.
Eugene White’s Model Strengths and Weaknesses
White’s Model of Communication Advantages
Feedback in Communication
Firstly, White’s communication model can explain the transaction communication process with feedback. Feedback is the most important element of communication. It is an ideal model for explaining oral communication.
Two-way communication explanation
Additionally, this model illustrates how two-way communication occurs, such as in debates and talk shows. It is a perfect model to explain two-way communication.
Effective Communication
Moreover, White’s model is well-suited to effective communication processes; therefore, organizations use it to communicate with clients. For example, the marketing team discusses with clients over smartphones to motivate them.
Best Model for Oral Communication
It is the best model for explaining oral communication, with 8 stages: thinking, symbolizing, expressing, transmitting, receiving, decoding, feedback, and monitoring.
Audience Monitoring
Eugene White’s model focuses on monitoring audience reactions to messages. It emphasizes the audience’s perception of the received message.
White’s Model of Communication Disadvantages
Unable To Explain One-Way Communication
First, the White model cannot describe a one-way communication process because it is a transactional model with feedback. Linear communication models can explain linear, one-way communication processes. For example, it cannot explain communication with radio, television, books, newspapers, and (no-reply) email.
Complexity
Eugene White’s model presents a more complex framework than linear models, such as Aristotle’s five-element model of communication. White’s model is difficult to understand and apply in real-life communication because of its multiple stages.
Overemphasis on Feedback
White’s model highlights feedback that is not compulsory in one-way communication, such as print media and no-reply email. The Eugene model overemphasizes feedback, whereas many forms of communication lack it.
Lack of Contextual Sensitivity
Eugene White’s model avoids communication contexts such as intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and mass communication. This model does not account for the context in which communication occurs.
Ignores Non-Verbal Communication
Eugene White’s model does not highlight nonverbal communication cues, including facial expressions, smiles, posture, and gestures. However, feedback can be a form of nonverbal cue.
Passive Receiver
Some interpretations suggest that, even with feedback, the model still views the recipient as more passive than the sender.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Eugene White’s model is a transactional communication theory with a feedback element. It is one of the significant models for describing the two-way oral communication process, comprising eight elements (Thinking, Symbolizing, Expressing, Transmitting, Receiving, Decoding, Feedbacking, and Monitoring). This article presents Eugene White’s model of communication, including its explanation, examples, strengths, and weaknesses.
References (APA 7th Edition): Eugene White’s Model
White, E. E. (1960). Practical public speaking. Macmillan.
M M Kobiruzzaman is a researcher, academic content writer, traveler, and the founding editor of Newsmoor.com. Specializing in communication, management, technology adoption models, and frameworks analysis, and journalism, his work bridges the gap between theory explanation and cultural communication. With a strong background in communication and management, he is dedicated to providing authoritative guides that elevate business and media literacy and academic writing standards.
