COMMUNICATION FORMS & CONTEXTS
Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication
In general, human beings communicate using two main
forms:
verbal communication and
non-verbal communication.
Verbal communication, simply put, is any form of communication that uses words in order to convey meaning or transmit messages. Essentially, verbal communication is either speech or writing. There are four main skills that human beings put into practice when engaging in verbal communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Any verbal communication involves at least two of these skills.
Language is the one thing that all four verbal communication skills have in common; it is a specifically human form of communication that uses symbols to represent ideas and concepts. Later on in the course, we will look more closely at the concept of language, its uses and variations.
Non-Verbal Communication is the form of communication that does not involve the use of speech or writing. In effect, non-verbal communication is the use of voice, space, objects, movement, time and the five senses to convey meanings that without using words. Because the types of non-verbal communication focus on physical actions and manipulations to convey meaning, they are often referred to as communicative behaviours.
Communicative behaviours comprise the following:
Vocalics refers to the use of voice in communicating messages. This does not include actual words, but modulations in tone of voice, rate of speech, pitch and non-verbal utterances. Because vocalics is often used in conjunction with speech communication (i.e. – verbal), it is often referred to as paralanguage.
Proxemics is the use of space to communicate. Standing close to someone may indicate that you like her; likewise, changing seat during an exam may indicate that you suspect your neighbour of cheating or some sort of discomfort.
Artifacts are objects that convey some sort of message about you. These include clothes, jewellery, home decorations, book bags etc.
Movement incorporates several movements of the body – eye contact, facial expressions, posture and gestures all communicate information. Failing to meet eye contact when speaking to a parent may indicate nervousness, shame or the possibility of untruthfulness; sitting straight in a chair could indicate attentiveness.
Chronemics refers to the use of time. By being early for class you show respect for the teacher and fellow classmates; similarly, a teacher who arrives consistently late for class is exhibiting a lack of respect for her students and profession.
The five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell) are also used in non-verbal communication. For example, a normally good cook who over-salts a dish for her cheating spouse may be using taste to indicate her unhappiness or displeasure.
There are also six functions of non-verbal communication. That is, we use non-verbal communication for six main reasons:
i.
Substituting is where we use non-verbal communication instead of, or to replace verbal communication. Waving goodbye instead of saying it out loud is one example of this.
ii. 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. 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. 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.
v. 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. 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.
More on ContextAs stated earlier, the context of communication is its
environment. Context is particularly important in choosing the types of verbal and non-verbal communication we use every day. A doctor does not wear short pants and slippers at the clinic; this would be inappropriate. A lawyer may choose to speak in simple language to a client while using more complex language to a colleague. A hip-hop star covers himself in “bling” and speaks a version of English that is not standard when addressing his fans. All of these are examples how
communication context influences form of communication.
* When deciding on which form of communication to use, always ask yourself this:
* Who am I communicating with?
* What is the attitude of my audience?
* Where is this communication act taking place?
Usually, communication contexts occur along a scale from
formal to
informal. Formal contexts require certain types of communication and communicative behaviours; informal contexts require others. A conversation between employer and employee, for example, is not the same as one between friends, even if the subject matter under discussion is the same.
Basically, a formal situation is one where behaviour is dictated by social norms and patterns, and an informal situation is one where there are no constraints on behaviour and communication.
REQUIRED READING
Zeuschner, Raymond. Communicating Today, Pearson Education, Inc., 2003. Chapters 5 & 6. for Worksheet 2
Labels: context, formal, informal, listening, module 3, non-verbal, process, reading, speaking, verbal, writing
