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BERLO’S SMCR MODEL OF COMMUNICATION

Berlo’s model follows the SMCR model. This model is not specific to any particular communication.

Berlo’s model includes a number of factors under each of the elements:

Source: The source is situated where the message originates.

Communication skills – It is the skill of the individual to communicate. For example, the ability to read, write, speak, listen etc.

Attitudes – This includes attitudes towards the audience, subject and towards oneself. For example, for the student, the attitude is to learn more and for teachers, it is to help teach.

Knowledge– Communicating also means that the person needs to be knowledgeable about the subject or topic. For e.g. a teacher needs to know about the subject in detail that he or she teaches so that they can communicate properly such that the students understand here.

Note: It refers, not to the general knowledge, but to the knowledge of the subject that the person is communicating and their familiarity with it.

Social system – The social system includes the various aspects of society like values, beliefs, culture, religion and a general understanding of society. It is where the communication takes place.

For example, classrooms differ from country to country just like people’s behaviours and how they communicate, etc.

Note: We can communicate only to the extent that the social system allows. When we communicate, we take the social system into account.

Culture: Culture of a particular society also comes under the social system.

According to this model, people can communicate only if the above requirements are met in the proper or adequate proportion.

Encoder: The sender of the message, from where the message originates, is referred to as the encoder. So the source encodes the message here.

Message

Content – The body of a message, from the beginning to the end, comprises its content. For example, whatever the class teacher teaches in the class, from beginning to end, is the content of the message.

Elements – It includes various things like language, gestures, body language, etc. They constitute all the elements of a particular message. Any content is accompanied by some elements.

Treatment – It refers to the packing of the message and the way in which the message is conveyed or the way in which it is passed on or delivered.

Note: When there is too much treatment, communication will not go smoothly.

Structure– The structure of the message refers to how it is arranged; the way people structure the message into various parts.

Note: Message is the same, but if the structure is not properly arranged then the receiver will not understand the message.

Code– The code of the message refers to the means through which it is sent and in what form. It could be, for example, language, body language, gestures, music, etc. Even culture is a code. Through this, people give and receive messages and communication takes place.

Note:  Only when the code is clear, the message will be clear. The wrong usage may lead to misinterpretation.

Channel–  It refers to the five sense organs. The following are the five senses:

  • Hearing
  • Seeing
  • Touching
  • Smelling
  • Tasting

Communication occurs through one or more of these channels.

Hearing: The use of ears to receive the message. For example, orally transmitted messages, interpersonal communication etc.

Seeing: Visual channels, for example, Watching television so the message is conveyed through the scene/film.

Touching: The sense of touch can be used as a channel to communicate. For example, we touch, buy food, hugging our loved ones,etc.

Smelling: Smell also can be a channel to communicate. For example, perfumes, food, fragrances etc. Charred smell communicates something is burning. People can deduct which food is being cooked by its smell etc.

Tasting : The tongue is a muscular organ used in the act of eat and taste food. For example, while a food is being shared, the communication can happen regarding its taste.

Note: Despite not mentioning a medium, we need to assume that as communication is taking place, channels can be any of the 5 senses or combination.

Decoder : The person who receives the message and decodes it is referred to a decoder.

Receiver: The receiver needs to think all the contents and elements of the source, so as to communicate/responds to sender effectively.;

Berlo’s model believes that for effective communication to take place, the source and the receiver need to be on the same level. Only then communication will happen or take place properly. Hence, the source and the receiver should be similar.

For example, if the communication skill of the source is good, then the receiver should have equally good listening skills.

It cannot be said that the receiver does not receive the whole message because even though he may receive it, but may not be able to interpret its meaning. For effective communication, the source and the receiver need to be on the same level.

Note: Self-image differs from person to person. For communication, the person should consider the receiver, speak accordingly and give them what they need.

Criticism of Berlo’s SMCR model of communication:

  1. There is a lack of feedback. The effects are practically unknown.
  2. It does not mention the barriers to communication.
  3. There is no room for noise.
  4. It is a rather complex model.
  5. It is a linear model of communication.
  6. It requires people to be on the same level for effective communication to happen. However, that rarely happens in everyday life.
  7. The main drawback of the model is that it omits the usage of sixth sense as a channel of communication, which is an asset to human beings (thinking, understanding, analyzing etc.)
{ 200 comments… add one }
  • Jeri Vanvalkenbur February 26, 2010, 12:06 am

    Ive been lurking over here for the longest time and eventually have the urge to comment. First of all, I wish to thank you for the wonderful posts. Second, thank you for writing Top quality posts and not just rehashed posts discovered elsewhere. Absolutely a cool web page I’d advise….well, I’ve been bookmarking this web page, that need to be enough proof of me recommending this lol.

  • Usman August 8, 2010, 1:12 am

    very good attempt

  • Ranjani October 31, 2010, 8:25 pm

    I’d like to thank you for the article you’v published here. I’d also like you to publish aristotle’s and dance’s helical model of communication too

  • FEROUZ MOHAMEDY November 12, 2010, 2:24 am

    I support the mode of communication used by Berlo,as it entails everything that are required in communication.Its a very inetresting attempt.GOOD!!!

  • FEROUZ MOHAMEDY November 12, 2010, 2:26 am

    I support Berlo in his model of communication.

  • Bamboo November 21, 2010, 1:31 am

    Thanks for this article. very helpful 🙂

  • ash November 24, 2010, 10:00 am

    detail account…….like it

  • MOYO .I.S. December 12, 2010, 5:01 am

    Very interesting article and applicable to class room situation, big up. but how about putting receiver at the center so that to create interactive feedback.

  • IBRAHIM RAMADHAN December 16, 2010, 4:30 am

    The model is too good and helpful, only it doesn’t explain how ‘social system’ including ‘culture’ affects communication.

  • IBRAHIM RAMADHAN December 16, 2010, 4:36 am

    The model is good, only it doesn’tb explain how ‘social system’ including ‘culture’ affects communication.

  • BONIFACE KISHIMBO December 21, 2010, 6:50 am

    I suppots Berlo,s in his model of communication he explain well and clear………

  • satish December 24, 2010, 2:46 am

    Really this article is very helpful.
    i also suggested my students to read this…

  • sanoop December 24, 2010, 8:18 am

    plz publish communication models of schramm, lasswell, aristotle….. and news flow models od bass, mcnelly and mowlana

  • Rosanna Mendoza February 15, 2011, 12:22 am

    The demostration of Berlo’s is good but it need to be more expecific on the important and needs also recently the e-communication has captured all workplace and also family communication so its helpful but can have more info to give

  • Rhonda Mack April 1, 2011, 11:25 am

    This is very interesting, I like the terms and layout of Model Communication. I might start texting, I feel it is a waste of time when you can just call, it’s faster. Very helpful!
    Rhonda Mack

  • Alisha April 2, 2011, 4:50 am

    This post has been inspirational, exciting, and has struck all curiosity I can’t wait until class starts, I would definitely reccommend it

    Alisha H.

  • Dimetra Blakeley April 3, 2011, 12:39 am

    I thought it was very interesting how you break down the levels of communicating.

  • Billy Laws April 3, 2011, 5:17 am

    I have been looking over all this new stuff on commucications and it is really interesting to me. I will be ready to get started in class and explore more.

  • Elizabeth Torres April 4, 2011, 10:28 pm

    This is very good information, it’s a very detailed to let us know what the whole interaction process consists in social network. I have to give it to all those responsible for creating such and a extensive and complicated technology.

  • Ellen Jordan April 7, 2011, 7:31 pm

    I thought this to be a great post except where they state that the sender and the receiver must be on the same level for the message to work. Instead I feel that as the sender it is your responsibility to adjust your message to fit the level of your target in any situation. This is the key to good communication through a written message.

  • Tiffany Steel April 8, 2011, 8:14 pm

    I think this is a good way to explain the way that communications work for everyday life. I also think it is something good to learn for future references.

  • fonda balads April 13, 2011, 1:57 pm

    this is more than perfect.

  • Elonda Dixon May 17, 2011, 12:34 am

    This is a good way to be caution on how you communicate with someone. Sometimes we don’t realize that our facial expression gives a tone to it when we are communicating with someone. This can be very helpful in the future.

  • Nathan Fernandez May 19, 2011, 9:48 am

    Interesting I would like to know if someone can give us more details so that I can typed up a good essay?

  • Chapman May 20, 2011, 10:29 pm

    I enjoyed reading, it was very informative. I learned different model words of communication

  • Melva May 24, 2011, 11:35 am

    Im doing my thesis now, it will be helpful if some could give advice or suggestion of this concept:
    the title is “Parent Communication Practice with their adolescent about sexual and reproductive health” ….. (parent already trained about communication and reproduction health by local NGO).
    so..if how i use this model at my concept framework?

  • enjeiteke June 7, 2011, 3:32 pm

    i appreciate berlo for his great did i am in grate support with his communication modlee

  • enjeiteke June 7, 2011, 3:33 pm

    i appreciate berlo for his great did i am in grate support with his communication modle

  • Swapno June 13, 2011, 8:24 pm

    Elaborate discussi0n wid using simpliest language helped me a lot to undrstand. Thanks

  • MargaretJ July 10, 2011, 3:14 am

    I appreciate good information, especially when it is related to an assignment. It gives me a better understanding of what I am to include in my document.
    Thank You

  • eric stewart July 11, 2011, 6:35 am

    my name is eric stewart and i am writing to let you know that i like to get good information on how things are done so keep up the good work on helping us

  • bermoy, alfonso July 15, 2011, 9:03 pm

    really informative, such a big help to mine being a mass comm student… thanks a lot…. and more power to Berlo.

  • ladyjane August 23, 2011, 3:32 pm

    what are those advantages and dis-advantages of this model??

  • zama, September 28, 2011, 2:53 am

    am grateful for yr article,am writing my assignment now on a role of a source,medium and receiver,as a change agent to bring positive change and relating to the job i do. Plz help what to start with am currently mindmapping and drafting my thesis. Am police officer.

  • Stacey Mae Morrison October 4, 2011, 4:05 am

    This information given in the the reading was informative. The advancement of communication is overwelming and difficult to keep up with.

  • Eric October 20, 2011, 9:07 pm

    I’m not sure about the seventh criticism concerning the sixth sense.Is there anything called the sixth sense and can u really catergorize that under the normal senses.Isn’t analyzing and understanding encompassed by the attitude of the source and receiver.

  • Tammy Hammond November 13, 2011, 9:59 pm

    I have really enjoyed the information given by this website. I think that you have to keep up with the times and in doing so reading the information given will certainly keep you up to date. I think that we will find new and better ways of communication than we do at this time. It is always good to keep up with new communication because it changes so much and too often.

  • Aloyce David November 17, 2011, 11:41 pm

    I really appreciate you for you explanation on communication model, keep on keeping on for better knowledge

  • Lusekelo Boaz November 21, 2011, 10:16 pm

    What is a good model according to educationists?

  • Lusekelo Boaz November 21, 2011, 10:22 pm

    What is a good model of communication according to educationists?

  • jana November 22, 2011, 1:12 pm

    this is important for the people,, who needs information..

  • ayub khan December 8, 2011, 12:35 am

    simpliest language helped me a lot to undrstand. Thanks

  • praise December 9, 2011, 1:52 pm

    Nice one,so helpful, thanksssssss……….

  • Christie Mbadiwe December 31, 2011, 10:16 am

    I understood perfectly your explanation of Berlo’s theory, but how can a theory be human communication and yet no feed back and no technology is involved? It has five senses and yet no feed back. how can communication be effective when there is no room for comment or questions or opinions from the receiver (s)? This theory is good but needs improvement. In every communication context, there is feed back (either vocal or nonvocal feed back) feed back is feed back.

  • YUSUPH S MANDIA January 16, 2012, 5:22 pm

    its a good model, because it help to understand some of the issues concerning with the process of communication,such as the uses of all sense of organ in the communication,we can apply it in teaching and learning process

  • Emmanuel S Mwangosi February 1, 2012, 2:56 pm

    good explanation indeed!But on top of it i would like to know how a linear model is termed as complex.

  • MAHMOOD February 1, 2012, 3:13 pm

    This is helpful and intrusted topic of communication form old point of view. which farther help us to understand about communication skills.

  • MAHMOOD February 1, 2012, 3:15 pm

    This is helpful and intrusted topic of communication form old point of view, which farther help us to understand about communication skills.

  • Norman Golliday February 19, 2012, 7:29 pm

    I gatherd a great deal of information from this model of communications. It gave me cause for re thinking some of my ideas about effectively communicating with others, as I am pursuing my degree online, all enhanced knowledge will be useful to me, and I can see myself utilizing this model for future refference.

  • Balogun Nasimot March 3, 2012, 6:39 pm

    Very interesting and educative.

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