Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication is defined as communication to express our views, information, and
ideas in the form of sound and words.
The spoken part usually involves face-to-face communication.
Communication through radio, television, or mobile phones is also called verbal
communication.
The series of words and grammar rules define the language.
Two or more persons can quickly communicate if they are aware of their languages.
It might be difficult for people to communicate without a common known language.
For effective communication, there must be a common language, which everyone present can
understand.
Effective verbal communication encompasses good relations at the workspace and home.
There are two aspects for effective verbal communication; one is 'what to say,' and another
is 'how to say.'
People good at verbal communication can easily ask some questions or express the
information with confidence.
They also know how to represent their words so that people can easily listen.
Verbal communication is defined as communication that includes the exchange of information
through spoken words, written messages, or sign language.
In the corporate world, effective verbal communication is an integral part of interpersonal
interactions as well as business and professional conversation.
Whether it’s about making phone calls, conference meetings, personal discussions,
presentations, or formal & information communication, excellent verbal communication is
necessary in every part of the corporate world.
From the tone of your voice to tailoring messages to your audiences, verbal communication
skills are one of the most important factors of accomplishing success in life.
1. It saves time: You can give direct orders to your subordinates. Get instructions on a matter
within a few minutes. Convey your message at a rapid speed. The verbal form of
communication gives you this facility to quickly send intended message thus saving you time.
Also, you won’t need to grope for sign languages. Just write or say it and you will understand
within a fraction of a second.
2. It saves you money: If most of the information is considered to be verbal then you won’t be
wasting energy and money on explaining things differently. All you need is a medium to
speak or write and your work would be done. Also, fewer chances of getting misinterpreted as
everyone receiving the instructions are able to understand the common language between you.
3. Feedback quickness: The distinct advantage of verbal communication is in the fact that the
receiver can ask and clarifies his doubt on the spot without any delay. The sender can get
quick feedback as to whether his intended message is received in its intended form or not and
can clarify the receiver, in the case of any doubt. Additionally, the difficulty is removed in
communication.
4. Most convenient method: Yes, verbal communication is the most widely adopted means of
communication globally. People prefer more of verbal communication due to the convenience
factor dominating over other types of communication. While communicating verbally, you are
more likely to convey matter simply in plain readable text and understandable language which
is widely preferred.
5. Persuasion in the act: Managers can use it to their advantage to make their point more
powerful and persuasive. In combination with non-verbal language, a person can peruse the
other on any matter.
6. Ease of preparation: Oral communication is the easiest way of communication as it does not
have any need for material to convey the message. Therefore casual conversations are usually
easy to conduct.
7. Maintain secrecy: It can be very useful in case you want to maintain secrecy about a matter as
there is no way to prove what you said. Private conversations can be easily conducted through
one to one discussions and privacy is well maintained if proper instructions regarding this
matter are provided to concerned individuals.
8. Clarity of message: If the message provided is in written format, the receiver can re-read the
contents and clarify any doubt on the later moment. Therefore sometimes written format can
have an extra edge over oral one in this matter.
9. Legality of the content: As the documents can be reproduced, the written format has legal
importance. Many people prefer to communicate in the written or oral format in case of
important discussion. These conversations can be stored or recorded for future use as evidence
to some crime or as legal documents which can be of very much important in many things.
Here are some types of nonverbal communication and the effects they can have on the success of
your communication:
Facial expressions: Your teenage cousin we referred to at the beginning of this section might
have told you he was happy, but his apathetic facial expression may have communicated
different information. Facial expressions—happy, sad, angry—help you convey your message.
Be aware of your facial expression when you talk and particularly when you listen, which is
when it’s easy to forget.
Gestures: When you speak, a gesture can make your message stronger. Pointing out
something you want your listener to look at more closely is an example of nonverbal
communication that makes your message understood. Motioning warmly toward a co-worker
who deserves special recognition, making a fist to show frustration or anger, such gestures
help further engage your audience when you speak.
Proximity: How close you are to your audience when you speak sends a nonverbal message.
If your size is imposing and you leave a very small distance between you and your listener,
it’s likely your nonverbal communication will be a bit threatening. On the other hand, giving
someone too much space is an awkward nonverbal communication that might confuse your
listener.
Touch: Shaking an audience member’s hand, putting your hand on his shoulder: these are
nonverbal cues that can affect the success of your message. Touch communicates affection,
but it also communicates power. In fact, when women touch a listener, it’s often assumed that
they’re being affectionate or conveying empathy, but when a man touches a listener, it can be
taken as a sign of communicating power or even dominance.
Eye contact: Making and maintaining eye contact with an audience when you’re verbally
communicating or listening communicates to the other party that you’re interested and
engaged in the conversation. Good eye contact often conveys the trait of honesty to the other
party.
Appearance: Your clothing, hair, and jewellery are also a part of nonverbal communication.
If you put a dachshund pin on your lapel each morning (because you have a pet dachshund),
that says something about you as a person. Similarly, the quality and condition of your
clothing, how it fits, if it’s appropriate for the season—all of these things speak nonverbally
about you as a communicator.
Nonverbal communication reveals a lot about you as a communicator and how you relate to other
people. It pays to be aware of the elements of your nonverbal communication so you can maximize
the impact of your message.
1. Provides clarity – Non-verbal communication has been around for centuries and it’s a way of
communicating that is not limited to just facial expressions or body language. It is also a way
to encourage clarity in conversations, especially with those who do not speak the same
language. With the rise of social media, non-verbal communication has become more
accessible and more connecting.
2. Non-verbal communication can substitute for verbal communication – The non-verbal
message conveys the same meaning as the verbal message. For example, if a person is visibly
upset then their face should show this emotion. It is also important for people to be aware of
how much non-verbal communication goes on around them so that they can adjust
accordingly.
3. Useful for illiterate people – A lot of people wonder why it’s important to have non-verbal
communication if you can’t read body language. Well, for the illiterate people, verbal
communication is not an option because they don’t know how to read. This means that their
communication is limited to the use of actions and gestures.
4. Useful for specially abled people – Communication is a huge part of life, and it is often taken
for granted. However, communication is difficult for some people who are unable to speak,
read lips or hear well. Verbal communication can be difficult for these individuals as well,
even when it’s just something simple like asking for directions. Non-verbal communication is
the most common form of communication and can help those who have special needs.
5. Impactful and effective – Non-verbal communication can often be more effective than verbal
communication because we unconsciously tend to pay more attention to non-verbal facial
expressions, tone of voice, and body language. Another advantage is that it’s less likely for
people to misread our non-verbal cues and misunderstand what we are saying.
6. Quicker transmission of messages – Language is one of the most important things to
communicate with others, especially in a business setting. With non-verbal communication,
you are able to relay messages more quickly and effectively than verbal. Moreover, non-
verbal communication is a powerful way of connecting with others. You can use non-verbal
messages to express what you are thinking or feeling without having to talk about it. Non-
verbal messages are able to carry more emotional weight than verbal ones.
7. Reduces wastage of time – Verbal communication can be a time-consuming activity,
especially when trying to convey complex messages or intentions. This is because verbal
communication takes up more effort than non-verbal communication. Non-verbal
communication, on the other hand, is economical of time and is easier for others to
understand.
1. Imprecise and vague – It is true that non-verbal communication is poor in conveying specific
information and often leaves people with a feeling of uncertainty. It is less precise than verbal
communication, which can increases chances of misinterpretation
2. Long conversations are not possible – Non-verbal communication is often used for
communication so verbal language can be saved for more important matters. People who have
a hard time understanding or expressing themselves verbally often use body language or facial
expressions to get their point across. However, non-verbal messages can only convey what
they want in the moment; they cannot keep up with the flow of dialogue between two people.
3. Meaning varies across cultures – Verbal communication is a lot easier to understand and
take in because it is explained with words. Non-verbal communication is often the opposite of
this and can be difficult to understand. For example, the hand sign where the index finger
touches the thumb while forming an ‘O’ refers to “okay” or “super” in Indian culture.
However, this same sign has a derogatory meaning in other cultures, notably in South
America.
4. Might Distort information – Non-verbal communication is very complex and relies heavily
on visual cues. One key challenge to non-verbal communication is that it can be
misinterpreted, which can lead to misinterpretations in verbal communication. Non-verbal
signals can also be confused with one another.
5. Continuous: It is possible to stop talking in verbal communication, but it is generally not
possible to stop nonverbal cues. Also, spoken language has a structure that makes it easier to
tell when a subject has changed, for instance, or to analyse its grammar. Nonverbal does not
lend itself to this kind of analysis.
6. Multi-channel: while watching someone’s eyes, you may miss something significant in a
hand gesture. Everything is happening at once and therefore it may be confusing to try to keep
up with everything. Most of us simply do not do so, at least not consciously.
7. Difficult to understand: Difficult to understand and requires a lot of repetitions in non-verbal
communication. Since it uses gestures, facial expressions eye contact, touch, etc. for
communicating with others which may not be understandable for the simple and foolish
people.
8. Not everybody prefers: Everybody does not prefer to communicate through non-verbal
communication with others. Sometimes it cannot create an impression upon people or
listeners. It is less influential and cannot be used everywhere. It is cannot be used as a public
tool for communication.
9. Lack of formality: Non-verbal communication does not follow any rules, formality or
structure like other communication. Most of the cases, people unconsciously and habitually
engaged in non-verbal communication by moving the various parts of the body.
Parameter of
Verbal Communication Non Verbal Communication
Comparison
Communication
Formal as well as Informal Informal
Type
Emails, letters, notes, reports, i.e. Through Body posture, gestures, eye
Conveyed
Anything in written and oral contacts, face expressions i.e. any form of
Through
format where words are used. expression.
Transparency
Clear and Concise. Complex and sometimes confusing.
Status