Oral and Written

Communication

Florma T. Manrique
 Difference between oral and written
communication
Oral Communicationis the oldest means of
communication, which is most commonly used as a medium
for the exchange of information. It involves gathering or
disseminating information through spoken words.
Oral communication can either be in the form of direct
conversation between two or more persons like face to face
communication, lectures, meetings, seminars, group
discussion, conferences, etc. or indirect conversation, i.e. the
form of communication in which a medium is used for
interchange of information like telephonic conversation,
video call, voice call, etc.
The best thing about this mode of communication is
that the parties to communication, i.e. sender or
receiver, can notice nonverbal cues like the body
language, facial expression, tone of voice and pitch,
etc. This makes the communication between the
parties more effective. However, this mode is backed
with some limitation like the words once spoken can
never be taken back.
Written Communication
The communication in which the message is
transmitted in written or printed form is known as
Written Communication. It is the most reliable mode
of communication, and it is highly preferred in the
business world because of its formal and sophisticated
nature. The various channels of
written communication are letters, e-mails, journals,
magazines, newspapers, text messages, reports, etc. 
There are a number of advantages of written
communication which are as under:
1. Referring the message in the future will be easy.
2. Before transmitting the message, one can revise or
rewrite it in an organised way.
3. The chances of misinterpretation of message are very
less because the words are carefully chosen.
4. The communication is planned.
5. Legal evidence is available due to the safekeeping of
records.
 But as we all know that everything has two aspects,
same is the case with written communication as the
communication is a time consuming one. Moreover,
the sender will never know that the receiver has read
the message or not. The sender has to wait for the
responses of the receiver. A lot of paperwork is there,
in this mode of communication.
Key Differences Between Oral
Communication and Written
Communication
CHARACTERISTICS OR PRECONDITIONS OR ESSENTIALS OF ORAL
COMMUNICATION
A good oral communication must have some characteristics as follows:
1. Clearness: The speech of the communicator must be clear in oral
communication. Language should be easy and understandable.
2. Pre-planned: Before communicating orally the speaker should take the
proper plan of the subject matter of the communication. Pre-planned
speech can make the communication effective.
3. Conciseness: The speech of oral communication should be concise and
meaningful. Short but informative speech makes the communication
effective.
4. Attractive: The message or the speech of the sender should be attractive.
The receiver gives more attention to attractive speech.
5. Realistic: The speech of oral communication must be realistic and relevant
to the subject matter. Irrelevant an unnecessary speech should be avoided.
6. Free form error: Another pre-condition of successful oral communication
is that the message must be free from all kinds of errors. Errorless speech
makes the communication fruitful.
7. Consideration for the receiver: The communication
should consider the receiver’s status, knowledge,
educational qualification and desire. That is to say the
speaker must be receiver oriented.
8. Maintaining neutrality: Neutrality is a pre-
condition of an oral communication both the sender’s
and receiver’s point of view.
9. Patience: Patience is necessary for successful oral
communication both the speakers and receivers point
of view.
10. Other: Avoiding pre-supposition, Attractive
presentation of the message, Regular practices etc.
THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR
ORAL COMMUNICATION:
1. Oral explanation: Where oral explanation is necessary to exchange
information, oral communication is better than those of others.
2. Illiterate audience: If the audience and the receiver of the message
are illiterate, written communication is not possible. Only the way
to communicate with illiterate person is oral communication.
3. Lack of time: If the sender of the message wants to communicate
rapidly, oral media is the best way of communication.
4. Direct relations: Where the direct relation is necessary to exchange
views and information, oral communication is better than written
communication.
5. Immediate feedback: If the message sender wants to get feedback
immediately, oral communication is the best way for him.
6. Maintaining secrecy: If the communicator wants to keep
the information secret, oral communication can help him.
7. Avoiding sluggishness: Sluggishness is the main
limitation of written communication. To avoid sluggishness
in exchanging information, oral communication is the best
way.
8. Large gathering: If the audience is large in number, it
takes time to communicate through written documents. In
this case oral communication is more effective.
9. Others: Motivate audience, Mutual cooperation, Easy
understanding, developing relation etc.
Thank You!!!