Forms of

Communication
Verbal & Non-Verbal
Forms of Communication
 Communication takes two forms:

 Verbal

 Non- verbal
Verbal Communication
Section 1
Verbal Communication
 This involves the use of speech and writing to communicate. (Lord Et. Al.,
2012)

 Verbal communication refers to the use of sounds and language to relay a

message. It serves as a vehicle for expressing desires, ideas and concepts and
is vital to the processes of learning and teaching.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/150573
Verbal Communication

• Oral communication - all

spoken exchanges.
• feedback typically follows the
initial message whether in the
form of a question or
comment.

Oral/Spoken • Casual conversations among

friends
• political debates
 Verbal Communication

 requires no speech.
 technically nonverbal, commonly falls under the
umbrella of verbal communication for the use of
words (language) to convey ideas.

Written  Books,
 letters,
 email,
 Texts
 memos,
 magazines,
 newspapers
 personal journals
Verbal Communication

• Meeting strangers
• Within a business or legal setting.
• Official corporate communications such as
• meetings

Formal
• speeches
• conferences
• letters and
• Memorandums
 Verbal Communication
 Casual spoken and written
exchanges.
 Informal conversations
between
 friends,

Informal  co-workers and even

strangers.
 It requires a common bond;
it takes place most frequently
between close friends and
family members.
 Characteristics of Verbal
Communication
 Language is symbolic – By themselves, language elements
usually have no meaning: the symbols are arbitrary(randomly
selected).
 Meanings are in people not in words.
 Language is governed by rules
 Phonological rules –govern how sounds are combined to
form words
 Semantic rules – define the meaning of specific words
 Syntactic rules – govern the structure of the language, the
way symbols can be arranged
 Pragmatic rules – govern the appropriateness of words in
given contexts
 Functions of Verbal
Communication
Verbal communication satisfies basic functions
such as:

 describing ideas

 Making requests

 solving problems
 Functions of Verbal
Communication
Verbal Communication shapes attitudes: attitudes towards
others and ourselves.
It is manifested through naming

It influences our credibility

It influences our status

It informs issues of racism and sexism

 Functions of Verbal
Communication
Verbal Communication reflects our attitudes:
Power (feelings of control)

Affiliation (establishing relationships)

Attraction

Responsibility
Types of Verbal
Communication
Verbal includes both spoken and written communication:
Equivocal language
Slang
Jargon
Argot
Overly abstract language
Emotive language
Evasive language
 Advantages of Oral
Communication
Speedy exchange
Immediate feedback
Clarification/face-to-face
flexible
 Disadvantages of Oral Communication

• Depending on context: time- consuming

• Poor presenting of message leads to
misunderstanding
• Influenced by non-verbal communicative
behaviour
• No record
 Advantages of Written Communication

• Good for instruction

• Less chance of misunderstanding
• Record of communication
• Message can be carefully prepared
• Promote uniformity in policy
 Disadvantages of Written
Communication
• Impersonal
• Not always read
• No immediate feedback
• No immediate clarification
• Mountain of paper work
• Poor expressed if writing is ineffective.
Non-verbal Communication
Section 2
 Non-verbal Communication
• Non-verbal communication refers to a wide array
of behaviours by which we communicate
messages without the use of the voice
(McDermott, 2008).

• Non-verbal communication is when information

is transferred from sender to receiver without
the use of words (Lord Et. Al., 2012).
 Non-verbal Communication

• According to McDermott, 2008 such

behaviours are also termed
communicative behaviours since they
consistently and inevitably convey
meaning.

• It can be conscious and deliberate or

unconscious and accidental.
The Characteristics of Non-
verbal Communication
• It exists

• It has communicative value

• It is primarily relational

• It is ambiguous

• It is culture –bound
 Non - Verbal Communication
• The most obvious non- • Movement
verbal behaviours are • Dress
seen in our:
• Use of our five sense
• Vocalics
• Haptics
• paralanguage
• Oculesics
• Proxemics
• Chronemics
• Artefacts
Vocalics/
paralanguage
Non-verbal Communication

 Refers to the use of:

 volume
 tone
 pitch
Vocalics/
 rate of speaking
 emotions
to give additional
meaning or emphasis
to what is spoken.
 Paralanguage

• Revealed in emotions and attitudes

• Stress
• Intonation
• Speed of voice
• In text- emoticons
• COLOUR FOR BACKGROUND OF MESSAGE
• LOWER/UPPERCASE
• Seen in face to face dialogue
 Non-verbal Communication
• Activity

• Say “come here” using a variety of tone,

volume and pitch to highlight different
meanings.
Proxemics
 Non-verbal Communication

• Refers to the use of

space to convey an
idea or image.
Proxemics • Our use of space or
proximity is a
significant indicator of
how close or intimate
we feel toward others.
Proxemics

• Everyone observes the space around

them, this is called personal space.
• The concept of personal space is
determined by cultures.
• Eastern cultures: a kiss on the cheek is a
common form of greeting
• Western cultures: a handshake is the
common form of greeting.
Chronemics
Non-verbal Communication

• This is the use of and attitude to time

which discloses information about:
• our status
• relationship with others

Chronemics
• our self-concept
Chronemics

 Being late for appointments duties and

responsibilities is almost always read as
a sign of
 disrespect or
 lack of commitment.
Chronemics

• To be punctual suggests that one is:

• focused on and committed to the task at

hand,

• or that one respects those with whom

one is meeting.
Artifacts
Non-verbal Communication

• The things we own, use,

wear and even discard all
convey messages about
us:
Artifacts • Our preferences
• Tastes
• Resources
• Or lack of resources
 Dress
• Dress communicates:
• Social standing
• Colour symbolise power,
• black –mourning
• Robes-Catholic priest
• Hair- locks
• uniforms
Movement
 Non-verbal Communication

 Posture
 Gestures
 Facial expressions and
Movement  Body language
are perhaps the most
obvious in communicating
messages about our
attitudes and feelings.
Haptics
• ways in which people and animals communicate
and interact via the sense of touch.
• it is vital for survival
• allows one to experience different sensations
such as: pleasure, pain, heat, or cold.
• to convey and enhance physical intimacy
Haptics -
 • Communicate by the eye
• Indicate
• Attention
• Interest
• Emotions
• Define power and status
Oculesics
Functions of Non-verbal
Communication
Section 3
 Functions of Non-verbal
Communication

• A word is replaced or substituted by an

action or movements may be used to
build sentences and communicate
sophisticated concepts.

Substituting • E.g. Traffic officers, Traffic signs

 Co
he me
re
…
 Functions of Non-verbal
Communication

• The use of non-verbal communication to

compliment or add to our verbal sounds.

• E.g. pointing and nodding head while

Reinforcing
speaking
Functions of Non-verbal
Communication

 The use of non-verbal signs to show

interest or regulate the flow of
interaction.

 E.g. hand signal of drivers, raising of the

hand to show that you want to say

Regulating
something, traffic cop
 Functions of Non-verbal
Communication

• To change or contradict your verbal

message you can display an opposite non-
verbal behaviour.

• E.g. Sarcasm, facial expression – bored

but you nod and keep eye contact.

Contradiction
Functions of Non-verbal
Communication

• The creation and control of the way

others perceive you by the way in which

Managing
you dress, speak, walk.

• The use of a car, dog, house, and jewelry

to create an impression about yourself.

Impressions
Functions of Non-verbal
Communication

• Non-verbal messages are used to

establish or reveal a relationship.

• If, when, how and where you touch

someone will communicate information
Establishing about the relationship you have.

Relationship
Adapters
 These are gestures that satisfy some
personal need.
EXAMPLES
1. Scratching to relieve an itch

2. Moving your hair out of your

eyes.
SELF- ADAPTERS
 These are self-touching movements

EXAMPLES
1. rubbing your nose.
2. scratching your head
Alter-adapters
 These are movements directed at the
person with whom you are speaking

EXAMPLES
1.removing lint from a person’s jacket
2.straightening his/her tie or collar
3.folding your arms in front of you to keep a
comfortable distance from you.
Object-adapters
 These are those gestures focussed
on objects which help someone
concentrate or which redirects
someone’s focus
EXAMPLES
1. doodling on something
2. shredding a cup etc.
Emblems

 These are body gestures that

directly translate into words or
phrases, but may differ among
different cultures.
Fun facts:
Did you know that…
 in Ghana, young children are taught
not to look adults in the eye as this is
considered disrespectful?

 that in Argentina standing with the

hands on the hips suggests anger or
a challenge?
Did you also know that…
 slouching in some cultures is
considered disrespectful?

 during the Renaissance period

(Shakespeare) biting one’s thumb
was considered an insult and
disrespectful?
Did you know too that…
 red clothing, or the colour red is
symbolic of power

 bowing in the USA is generally not

done or is criticized if done but is
acceptable in Japan as it shows
respect? (I am not even going to
comment on that)
In addition…
 having your hands in your pocket is
a sign of disrespect in Turkey…
 in Ghana and Turkey sitting with
your legs crossed is very offensive…
 showing soles of your feet is a
highly offensive act in Thailand and
Saudi Arabia…
 many Asian cultures suppress facial
expressions as much as possible…
Class activity
IDENTIFY THE FORM OF COMMUNICATION
EVIDENT IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS.
Lauren leaves the house with her brother Brad.
They are going to different schools so they
embrace _________ and Brad tells his sister ‘Do not
talk to strangers’ ________.
Lauren wants to take the 16B from Portmore and
so she raises her hand as the bus approaches
__________. As she enters the bus she sees Girvin and
shouts ‘Hi G, you made it’. _________.
Class activity Cont’d
They converse __________ until the bus stops by the
school’s main gate.

They stand by the pedestrian crossing and

Paul, as soon as the red light comes on, ________
walks towards the children with his
pedestrian stop sign in his hand ___________.
Class activity cont’d

He puts up his hand facing the motorists

and beckons for the children to
cross______________. The children tell him
thank you as they cross ____________As the
children enter the campus, the bell rings
_______ signalling the beginning of school.
What do the following communicate?

(a)David’s mother is about to leave home and

reminds him to take out the garbage. He throws his
hands into the air and frowns.
(b)Maya and Zoe are sitting on a bench talking to
about their coming weekend activities. Kemi sits
next to Zoe and greets both girls. Zoe and Maya
slide further along the bench away from Kemi.
Activity cont’d

Jhoelle sits slumped in her chair at her

(c)

desk in the classroom during class What

might the teacher infer that Jhoelle is
communicating?
Activity cont’d
(d) What different meanings might the following
nonverbal behaviours communicate?

1.lack of eye contact

2.swinging of the legs
3.slouching
4.winking of the eye
Activity cont’d

(e) When we listen to someone speaking, what

are some of the ways in which the

speaker’s emotions may be betrayed?

Explain what each means.

Watch the following video and identify as many
non-verbal behaviours as possible
Further Readings
• McDermott, H. (2008) CAPE Communication Studies. Pg. 158 – 163

• Lord, L. et. al. (2012) CAPE Communication Studies. Pg. 130, 139-140.