Verbal Communication

Mary Ann B. Quingking, Ph.D.

 Objectives

• • Define verbal communication and explain its main characteristics.

• • Understand the three qualities of symbols.
• • Describe the rules governing verbal communication.
• • Explain the differences between written and spoken
communication.
• • Describe the functions of verbal communication.
• Imagine for a moment that you have no language
with which to communicate.
Definition

• Verbal communication is about language, both

written and spoken. In general, verbal
communication refers to our use of words
while nonverbal communication refers to
communication that occurs through means
other than words, such as body language,
gestures, and silence.
Definition

• Verbal Communication as an agreed-upon and

rule-governed system of symbols used to
share meaning.
Points to fonder

• Both verbal and nonverbal communication can be spoken and

written. Many people mistakenly assume that verbal
communication refers only to spoken communication.
• However, you will learn that this is not the case. Let’s say you tell
a friend a joke and he or she laughs in response.
• Is the laughter verbal or nonverbal communication? Why?
A System of Symbols

• Symbols are arbitrary representations of thoughts, ideas,

emotions, objects, or actions used to encode and decode
meaning (Nelson & Kessler Shaw). Symbols stand for, or
represent, something else. For example, there is nothing
inherent about calling a cat a cat.
 3 distinct qualities of symbols
• The symbols we use are arbitrary and have no direct relationship to the objects or
ideas they represent. We generally consider communication successful when we
reach agreement on the meanings of the symbols we use. (C A T)(D O G)
• Not only are symbols arbitrary, they are ambiguous — that is, they have several
possible meanings. Imagine your friend tells you she has an apple on her desk. Is
she referring to a piece of fruit or her computer?
• The verbal symbols we use are also abstract, meaning that, words are not
material or physical. A certain level of abstraction is inherent in the fact that
symbols can only represent objects and ideas. This abstraction allows us to use a
phrase like “the public” in a broad way to mean all the people.(the more abstract
the word is, the more it creates confusion).
Rule-Governed

• Verbal communication is rule-governed. We must follow agreed-upon

rules to make sense of the symbols we share. Let’s take another
look at our example of the word cat. What would happen if there
were no rules for using the symbols (letters) that make up this word?
If placing these symbols in a proper order was not important, then
cta, tac, tca, act, or atc could all mean cat.
four general rules for verbal communication

• Phonology is the study of speech sounds. The pronunciation of the

word cat comes from the rules governing how letters sound,
especially in relation to one another. The context in which words
are spoken may provide answers for how they should be
pronounced.
• Semantic rules help us understand the difference in meaning
between the word cat and the word dog. Instead of each of these
words meaning any four-legged domestic pet, we use each word to
specify what four-legged domestic pet we are talking about.
 four general rules for verbal communication
• Syntactics is the study of language structure and symbolic
arrangement.
• Syntactics focuses on the rules we use to combine words into
meaningful sentences and statements. We speak and write according
to agreed-upon syntactic rules to keep meaning coherent and
understandable. Think about this sentence: “The pink and purple
elephant flapped its wings and flew out the window.” While the
content of this sentence is fictitious and unreal, you can understand
and visualize it because it follows syntactic rules for language
structure.
four general rules for verbal communication

• Pragmatics is the study of how people actually use verbal

communication. For example, as a student you probably speak more
formally to your professors than to your peers. It’s likely that you
make different word choices when you speak to your parents than
you do when you speak to your friends. Think of the words “bowel
movements,” “poop,” “crap,” and “shit.” While all of these words
have essentially the same denotative meaning, people make choices
based on context and audience regarding which word they feel
comfortable using.
SPOKEN VERSUS WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
SPOKEN VERSUS WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
• The first difference between spoken and written communication is that we
generally use spoken communication informally while we use written
communication formally.
• The second difference between spoken and written forms of verbal
communication is that spoken communication or speech is almost entirely
synchronous while written communication is almost entirely asynchronous.
Synchronous communication is communication that takes place in real time,
such as a conversation with a friend.
• The third difference between spoken and written communication is that written
communication is generally archived and recorded for later retrieval, while
spoken communication is generally not recorded. When we talk with friends, we
do not tend to take notes or tape record our conversations.
Informal vs. formal

• Text Version
FYI… we’re meeting on friday. wanna go to the office party after? its byob so bring w/e you
want.Last years was sooo fun. Your dancing made everyone lol! hope to see ya there ?
-T
• Letter Version
Ann,
For your information, we are having a meeting on Friday, November 6th. Afterwards, there will
be an officeparty. Do you want to go? It will be a Bring Your Own Beverage party, so feel
welcome to bring whatever you
like. Last year’s was so fun, your dancing made everyone laugh out loud!
I hope to see you there,
Tesia
 FUNCTIONS OF VERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Verbal communication helps us define reality. We use verbal

communication to define everything from ideas, emotions,
experiences, thoughts, objects, and people (Blumer).

• Verbal communication helps us organize complex ideas and

experiences into meaningful categories. Consider the number of
things you experience with your five primary senses every day. It is
impossible to comprehend everything we encounter.
 FUNCTIONS OF VERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Verbal communication helps us think. Without verbal

communication, we would not function as thinking beings. The ability
most often used to distinguish humans from other animals is our ability
to reason and communicate.

• Verbal communication helps us shape our attitudes about our

world. The way you use language shapes your attitude about the
world around you.
 CONSTRUCTING CLEAR AND VIVID MESSAGES
• Use Simple Language
• First, audiences can sense a fake message.
• Second, using a long word when a short one will do inhibits your ability to
communicate clearly.

• Use Concrete and Precise Language

• Another way to avoid language that obstructs communication is to avoid the
use of jargon. Jargon is the “specialized language of a group or profession.”
• Finally, another way to avoid confusion is to avoid using slang when it is not
appropriate. Slang is language that some people might understand but that is
not considered acceptable in formal or polite conversation.
 Non-verbal
Communication
Objectives

• Define non-verbal communication and explain its main

characteristics.
• Identify the different types of non-verbal communications.
• Describe the functions of verbal communication.
 Consider this scenario

• Your brother comes home from school and walks through the
door. Without saying a word, he walks to the fridge, gets a
drink, and turns to head for the couch in the family room.
Once there, he plops down, stares straight ahead, and sighs.
You notice that he sits there in silence for the next few
minutes. In this time, he never speaks a word.

• Is he communicating?
Non-verbal communication

• Like verbal communication, nonverbal communication is

essential in our everyday interactions.
• While nonverbal and verbal communications have many
similar functions, nonverbal communication has its own
set of functions for helping us communicate with each
other.
 Definition

• nonverbal communication is defined as meaning shared

through sounds, behaviors, and artifacts other than words.

• nonverbal communication is most often spontaneous,

unintentional, and may not follow formalized symbolic rule
systems.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VERBAL AND
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
• The first difference between verbal and nonverbal
communication is that we use a single channel (words) when
we communicate verbally versus multiple channels when we
communicate nonverbally.
• A second difference between verbal and nonverbal
communication is that verbal communication is distinct
(linear)while nonverbal communication is continuous (in
constant motion and relative to context).
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VERBAL AND
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
• A third difference between verbal and nonverbal
communication is that we use verbal communication
consciously while we generally use nonverbal
communication unconsciously.

• A fourth difference between verbal and nonverbal

communication is that some nonverbal communication is
universal.
 TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Kinesics is the study of how we use body movement and facial expressions. We
interpret a great deal of meaning through body movement, facial expressions, and
eye contact. Many people believe they can easily interpret the meanings of body
movements and facial expressions in others. The reality is, it is almost impossible
to determine an exact meaning for gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact.
• Haptics is the study of touch. Touch is the first type of nonverbal communication
we experience as humans and is vital to our development and health.
• Personal Appearance, Objects, and Artifacts are types of nonverbal
communication we use on our bodies and surroundings communicate meaning to
others. Consider your preferences for hair-style, clothing, jewelry, and
automobiles, as well the way you maintain your body.
 TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Proxemics is the study of how our use of space influences the ways we relate
with others. It also demonstrates our relational standing with those around us.
Our environment are nonverbal acts through our use of spaces we occupy like are
homes, rooms, cars, or offices. Think of your home, room, automobile, or office
space.
• Chronemics is the study of how people use time. Are you someone who is always
early or on-time? Or, are you someone who arrives late to most events? Levine
believes our use of time communicates a variety of meanings to those around us.
Think about the person you know who is most frequently late. How do you
describe that person based on their use of time?
 TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Paralanguage is the term we use to describe vocal qualities such as

pitch, volume, inflection, rate of speech, and rhythm. While the
types of nonverbal communication we’ve discussed so far are non-
vocal, some nonverbal communication is actually vocal (noise is
produced).
• Finally, silence serves as a type of nonverbal communication when we
do not use words or utterances to convey meanings. Have you ever
experienced the “silent treatment” from someone? What meanings did
you take from that person’s silence? Silence is powerful because the
person using silence may be refusing to engage in communication with
you.
 FUNCTIONS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

• We use nonverbal communication to duplicate verbal communication.

• We use nonverbal communication to replace verbal communication.
• We use nonverbal cues to complement verbal communication.
• We use nonverbal communication to accent verbal communication.
• We use nonverbal communication to contradict verbal communication.
• We use nonverbal communication to mislead others.
• We use nonverbal communication to indicate relational standing.
• We use nonverbal communication to demonstrate and maintain cultural
norms.
• We use nonverbal communication to communicate emotions.
Thank you!