F o r m s of

u n i c a ti o n
C o m m
Objectives:

distinguish between verbal and non-verbal

communication
give examples of both verbal and non-verbal
communication
explain what is paralanguage and give examples
define the following terms: body language;
proxemics; kinesics;
chronemics; dress; graphics
What is verbal
communication?
Verbal Communication
This form of communication is characterized by the use of oral
and written language. In this form of communication words
are used to bring across a certain message. There are two
main ways in which human beings communicate verbally,
that is, through speech and writing.
Verbal communication is
both oral and written.
Can you give some
examples of each?
 Written
Essays
Speaking Memos
conversation Reports
Tweets
Speeches blog
debates post
Letter
Sermon text
Preaching journals
minutes
Press conference/ books
briefing notice/ sign
Performance (singing,
play, spoken word poems,
dub poems)
Note

For communication to take place,

both writing and reading skills must
be employed.
Who do you agree with?
and why>
Jim: Let us do it in the form of a speech.
Joy: No, that will not be effective. Let us try a
discussion. We can have the class create a
circle and just talk.
Jim: Why are you making things complicated?
Let's just present our findings.
Joy: But Miss says we need to get the entire
class involved and hear their point of view.
Jim: Just add a question and answer section
at the end.
Features of Writing

Reflective
Professional
Academic
Creative/ entertaining
Context

Always remember that contexts plays a huge role in how we

used verbal communication. It can be formal or informal.
Next week we will look more at the contexts of
communication.

What would make communication formal vs informal?

Activity
An overseas student has just joined your school
as part of the school's annual student exchange
programme. She believes that she is not
welcome at the school.

State THREE verbal ways/ things the class could

do that might make the student feel welcome.

The overseas student has been asked to inform

an assembly of students about her culture.
Identify FOUR verbal means that the student
could use.
 Oral communication
Advantages
• Can enable speedy exchange
• Immediate feedback is possible
• People can ask questions and clarify Disadvantages
points • Depending on the context it can
• In face to face interactions, the effect of
the message on the audience can be
be time consuming
noted • Can be difficult to meet the
• The sender is able to check whether that objective of communication
message is clear or had created • Poor presentation of message
confusion. can result in misunderstanding
• Spoken instructions are flexible and easy and undesired responses
adaptable to many diverse situations. • Usually there is no record to
• some forms of oral
• communication
• •
•
Written communication
Advantages Disadvantages
• Good for complicated and or
vital instructions. They can be • People may not always read
given in precise uniform manner written communication
and they can be referred back to. • There is no immediate feedback
• There is less chance of that
message being misunderstood • It is not possible for the receive to
• Written communication provides obtain immediate clarification if
a record of communication they don't understand the
• The messages can be carefully
prepared and direct to a large message
audience through mass mailing. • It may create mountains of
• Written communication can also paperwork
promote uniformity in policy and
procedures. Can reduce cost in • It can be poorly expressed by
some cases ineffective writers
How to improve verbal
communication

Reinforcement
Questioning
Reflecting
Clarifying
 All these help to build rapport and
Reinforcement are more likely to reinforce
openness in others. The use of
encouragement and positive
reinforcement can:

Encourage others to participate in

discussion (particularly in group
Reinforcement is the use of work);
encouraging words Show interest in what other people
alongside non-verbal have to say;
gestures such as head nods, Pave the way for development
a warm facial expression and/or maintenance of a
relationship;
and maintaining eye Allay fears and give reassurance;
contact. Show warmth and openness;
Reduce shyness or nervousness in
ourselves and others.
 Reflecting and
Clarifying
Reflecting is the process of feeding back to another person your
understanding of what has been said.

Reflecting is a specialised skill often used within counselling, but it can also
be applied to a wide range of communication contexts and is a useful skill to
learn.

Reflecting often involves paraphrasing the message communicated to you

by the speaker in your own words. You need to try to capture the essence of
the facts and feelings expressed, and communicate your understanding
back to the speaker.
It is a useful skill because:

You can check that you have understood the message clearly.
Questioning

Questioning is broadly how we obtain information from others

on specific topics.

Questioning is an essential way of clarifying areas that are

unclear or test your understanding. It can also enable you to
explicitly seek support from others.

On a more social level, questioning is also a useful technique to

start conversations, draw someone into a conversation, or
simply show interest. Effective questioning is therefore an
essential element of verbal communication.
Activity
You are teaching a class and you see a
few students looking puzzled. Which two
methods if improving verbal
communication do you need to use and
why?
 Non verbal
communication/
communicative
behaviour
What is
non-verbal
communication
Non-verbal
communication

This form of communication relies on elements other than

speech and writing. Non-verbal communication is equal in
importance to verbal communication. According to Leathers
(1992), non-verbal communication is the use of interacting sets
of visual, vocal, and invisible communications systems to
convey and interpret meaning.
For example, if you are making an apology to someone for a
wrong done with a smirk on your face, the person may not
believe that you are serious and genuinely apologetic.
Time to think
An overseas student has just joined your school as part of the school's
annual student exchange programme. She believes that she is not
welcome at the school.
(a) Suggest THREE non-verbal cues from students that might make
the overseas student feel unwelcome.

What are three non-verbal cues could you do to make her feel
welcome ?
 KINESICS
Kinesics is the broad field of nonverbal
communication solely concerned with
the interpretation of nonverbal
behaviours that are associated with
body movement gestures posture,
facial expression, and eye contact.
Gestures

Gestures
Gestures are the movements of
hands, face, or other parts of the
body in a way that conveys
meaning, either in conjunction with
verbal communication such as
frowning while saying harsh words
against someone, or in isolation
such as smiling at a stranger to
express pleasure at ones presence.
 Posture
Posture communicates a great deal of
information about you. The way in which
you sit, stand, slump or slouch provides
information about your sex, status,
self-image, attitudes and emotional state.
For example, sitting with your head in your
hands often indicates that your are feeling
low, whereas sitting with your feet on the
desk may be interpreted by others as a
sign of your feeling of superiority.
Oculesics

Oculesics, a subcategory of
kinesics, is the study of eye
movement, eye behavior, gaze,
and eye-related nonverbal
communication.
Read and Think

What do you think the individuals in the following scenario

want to 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 wears a frown. What is he communicating?
(b) Vishnu sits slumped in his chair at his desk in the
classroom during
Communication Studies class. What might the teacher
infer that Vishnu is communicating?
Paralanguage
Paralanguage is the technical term for
the voice cues that accompany spoken
words. It is concerned with the sound of
the voice and the range of meanings
that people convey through their voices
rather than the words they use.
For example, the word “Yes”, can
completely convey different meanings,
even in the exact same sentence,
depending on how it is said—whether it is
spoken sincerely or sarcastically.
Proxemics
Proxemics

This is the use of space to communicate. For

example if someone comes to sit next to you in
the library when the whole table is empty it can
communicate a range of things about
relations/interests/personality types.

Personal space or proxemics, a form of

non-verbal communication, is the space
surrounding each person. Zones: Broadly, the four
distinct zones are: Intimate (0-2 ft.), Personal (2-4
ft), Social (4-12 ft.) and Public (more than 12 ft.).
 Maya and Zoe are sitting
on a bench talking about
their coming weekend
activities. Kemi sits next to
Zoe and says hi to both
girls. Zoe and Maya slide
further along the bench
away from Kemi.. What is
being communicated?
Chronemics

Time/Chronemics
The way you use time, or chronemics,
can communicate attitude or status.
For instance, one may
show/communicate respect by being
early for an appointment or job
interview. Conversely, lack of respect
may be communicated by turning up
half-an-hour late for a class.
Artifacts

Artifacts are those items, such as

jewelry, clothing or a vehicle that may
communicate something about the type
of person you are. If a male wears
extremely tight pants or shaves his
eyebrows, it may communicate
something about him to others.
Haptics is the study of touching as nonverbal
communication. Touches that can be defined as
communication include handshakes, holding
hands, kissing (cheek, lips, hand), back slap,
"high-five", shoulder pat, brushing arm, etc.
Each of these give off nonverbal messages as to
the touching person's intentions/feelings.

Haptics
 Senses-
Finally, messages can be
sent through the five
senses – taste, touch, smell
etcetera.
Others

Auditory symbols Sirens, whistles, bells and buzzers, beeps, tunes are used as
auditory symbols.
Diagram A diagram is a figure consisting of simple line drawing made to
accompany and illustrate the parts and the operation of something. The
different types of diagrams are: Graphs and charts: The different graphs and
charts are bar graphs, line graph (Compares two variables), pie chart
(Displays percentage), flow chart (Indicates the procedures).
Colour It has psychology effect; it is associated with diff. moods and feelings
It is an important means of communication; used for classification and
identification of different products; make products attractive
Activity
The overseas student has been asked to inform an assembly of
students about her culture.

Identify FOUR non- verbal means that the student could use to
enhance her presentation

.
State FOUR elements in the communication process that she
needs to consider before making her presentation. (recap)
 Functions of non-verbal
communication
Substituting is where we use non-verbal communication to replace verbal communication. Waving goodbye
instead of saying it out loud is one example of this.

ii. Reinforcement. We also use non-verbal communication to reinforce or complement our verbal communication.
Pounding your hand onto a table when arguing may reinforce whatever point you’re making.

iii. Regulating. The regulating function of non-verbal communication is used mostly in conversation to control the
flow of messages. Raising your hand to answer or ask a question in class helps to regulate the communication
going on in the room.

iv. Contradiction. Sometimes we use non-verbal communication to contradict our verbal communication. The
most common example of this is using vocalic sarcasm – when you say one thing, but your tone of voice says the
opposite.
Manage Impressions. We often manage impressions through the use of non-verbal communication. The way we
dress, for example, often coincides with the impression we want others to have of us.

vi. Establish Relationships. Finally, we use non-verbal communication to establish relationships. The wearing of a
wedding band is a non-verbal indication that the person is married.
Graded
Presentation:
Students will form groups of 4. Each group will create a scenario
where they use both verbal and nonverbal communication to
communicate within a specific context. Their presentation should
use at least three nonverbal communication methods and at least
two purposes of nonverbal communication should be seen.