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Barnlund’s Transactional Model of Communication

According to Dean C. Barnlund communication is defined as "a word that describes the process of creating a meaning."
(Barnlund, 1962).
The Transactional Model of Communication proposed by Barnlund states that giving and receiving messages is
reciprocal. This means that both communicators (the sender and the receiver) are responsible of the effect and
effectiveness of the communication. People do not simply send meaning from one to the other then back again. They
need to build a shared meaning of the message. In addition, both verbal and non-verbal behavioural cues, the
environmental and noise are a part of the message. Barnlund broke down communication into two types: interpersonal
(encoding and decoding messages withing one's self) and intrapersonal (encoding and decoding messages with another).
Furthermore, he established seven communication postulates.

 Communication describes the evolution of meaning


 Communication is dynamic
 Communication is continuous
 Communication is circular
 Communication is unrepeatable
 Communication is complex
 Communication is irreversible

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