Unit 2

Verbal
Communication
 Verbal Communication
Verbal Communication uses language to
communicate messages. Language uses
spoken and written words; therefore verbal
communication includes oral and written
communication.
 Oral communication
• Oral communication is communication by
means of the spoken word. It can take place as
a face-to face meeting or over the telephone.
It could be a personal and informal
communication or a formal interview, business
meeting, a conference or a speech before an
audience.
 Principles of effective oral communication

• Know your objective:

You must know what you want your message to do you may need
to inform, to entertain, to convince, to express an opinion or to
explain.

• Know your audience:

Consider carefully the nature of your audience – their age, level of
understanding, their occupations and their level of interest in your
message.

• Know your subject:

Prepare your message thoroughly. See that you know your main
ideas and key points. You must also know your facts and figures.
• Know (how to use) your voice:
Attention must be paid to volume, pitch, speed of speaking and
correct pronunciation of words. Voice must be clear, pleasing;
and varied in volume, pitch and speed, to be interesting.

• Know when to stop:

The length of the oral message has a lot to do with its success.
The message must aim for just the right length, neither too
short nor too long. All points must be covered and yet there
should be no repetitions or unnecessary elaboration.
 Advantages of oral communication
1. It is direct and time-saving. The listener understands the words as soon
as they are spoken.

2. It saves money. It is economical as it does not require costly equipment

or stationery.

3. It conveys the exact meaning of words. A great advantage of oral

communication is its use of nonverbal elements like body language and
paralanguage. Body language includes facial expressions and posture.
Paralanguage includes features like voice volume, pitch and speed of
speaking; it also includes the sounds we make while speaking, like
sighing or clearing the throat. These non-verbal elements allow the
speaker to express his/her meaning more accurately.
4. It provides immediate feedback from the
receiver. The sender gets the receiver‘s response
immediately, even on the telephone. This also
explains why oral communication is so effective in
teaching and coaching.

5. It is more persuasive in nature. Oral

communication is more useful when arguments
and reasons have to be given to convince
someone, as in sales and marketing, or in a court
of law.
6. On-the-spot additions and corrections are
possible. The speaker has the scope to change,
improve and add to her/his message as s/he is
speaking.

7. Confidential messages can be communicated.

When subjects of a delicate and confidential
nature cannot be written, one can take recourse
to oral communication.

8. It is informal and friendlier. It can build friendly

relations with people and develop social contacts.
Disadvantages of oral communication

1. It lacks legal validity. Oral messages have no

legal proof.

2. It lacks accountability. In oral messages, we

cannot fix responsibility. The speaker can deny
that he said something.

3. Possibility of misunderstanding. This happens

when the listener is not attentive to the message.
4. Problem of retention. People do not
remember oral messages for a long time. Or
they may retain only a part of the message.

5. Not always effective. Oral communication is

not effective when the distances are great or
when the message is very lengthy.

6. The need for good speaking skills. Oral

communication cannot be effective, if the
speaker does not have the necessary skills
 Essentials of effective oral communication

1. Think before you speak

2. Speak with confidence

3. Be clear and concise

4. Be aware of your non-verbal communication cues

5. Be a good listener

6. Think about the perspective of your audience

7. Vary your vocal tone

 Types of Oral Communication
• Face to Face communication

• Using of Mechanical devices for oral

communication
 Face to Face Communication

A. Presentations

B. Meetings

C. Group Discussions

D. Interviews
 Using of Mechanical devices

A. Telephone

B. Radiophones

C. Computer
 Speaking skills

Speaking is an act of making vocal sounds. We can say that

speaking means to converse, or expressing one's thoughts and

feelings in spoken language. To speak often implies conveying

information. It may be from an informal remark to a scholarly

presentation to a formal address.

 Speaking skills are the skills that give us the ability to

communicate effectively.

 These skills allow the speaker, to convey his message in a

passionate, thoughtful, and convincing manner.

 Speaking skills also help to assure that one won't be

misunderstood by those who are listening.

 Speaking is the productive skill in the oral mode. It, like the other skills, is

more complicated than it seems at first and involves more than just

pronouncing words.

There are three kinds of speaking situations in which we find ourselves:

1. Interactive

2. Partially interactive

3. Non-interactive.

 

Interactive speaking :-

Interactive speaking situations include face-to-face conversations and telephone calls, in

which we are alternately listening and speaking, and in which we have a chance to ask

for clarification, repetition, or slower speech from our conversation partner.


Partially interactive:-

Some speaking situations are partially interactive, such as when giving a speech to a live

audience, where the convention is that the audience does not interrupt the speech. The

speaker nevertheless can see the audience and judge from the expressions on their faces

and body language whether or not he or she is being understood.

 Non-interactive

Few speaking situations may be totally non-interactive, such

as when recording a speech for a radio broadcast.
 Pre-requisites of Speaking Skills

 Be an active listener

 Be a quick organizer of thoughts

 Structure your speech in your mind
a. Opening
b. Body
c. Conclusion
 Some Speaking Skills
1. Be prepared and practice
2. Know your audience
3. Pay attention to the old KISS principle that is Keep It
Short and Simple
4. Interact with your audience
5. Speak with sincerity and passion
6. Close your speech in a memorable way
7. Fluency
 Speaking skills required in meeting
1. Talk to the entire group

When speaking in groups moves your eyes around and

talk to anyone who's listening to what you have to say.
"When responding to a question, address the entire
group, not just the person who asked the question.”
2. Reach out and encourage feedback
Actively encourage comment and feedback based on
what you have to contribute.
3. Mirror the tenor of the meeting

Another business meeting basic is establishing a comfortable

atmosphere where everyone feels at ease. One effective way
to achieve that is to establish a consistency in
communication. If, for instance, most participants are
keeping their remarks short, do the same. If their tone is low
and reserved, follow their lead.

4. Don’t be a time hog

Be thorough, but don't take much time to get your message

across that you lose others' attention.