Types of Oral Communication: Verbal and Nonverbal

TYPES OF ORAL COMMUNICATION: VERBAL AND NONVERBAL

I. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Communication is essentially a social affair. Man has evolved a host of different systems of communications which render his social life possible - social life not in the sense of living in packs for hunting or for making war, but in a sense unknown to animals. Most prominent among all the systems of communication is, of course, human speech and language. Human language is not to be equated with the sign systems of animals, for man is not restricted to calling his young, or suggesting mating, or shouting cries of danger; he can, with his remarkable faculties of speech, give utterance to almost any thought. Like animals, we too have our inborn instinctive cries of alarm, pain, etc., say Oh! Ah! We have smiles; groans, and tears; we blush, shiver, yawn, and frown. A hen can set her chicks scurrying up to her, by clucking - communication established by release mechanism, but human language is vastly more than a complicated system of clucking.

The development of language reflects back upon thoughts; for with language thoughts may become organized, new thoughts evolved. Self-awareness and the sense of social responsibility have arisen as a result of organized thoughts. Systems of ethics and law have been built up. Man has become self-conscious, responsible, a social creature.

Speech and writing are by no means our only system of communication. Social interaction is greatly strengthened by habits of gesture - i.e. by the little movements of the hands and face. With nods, smiles, frowns, hand-shakes and other gestures, we can convey most subtle understanding. Also, we have economic systems for trafficking not in ideas but in material goods and services; the tokens of communication are bonds, letters, fax, electronic mail and so on. We have conventions of dress, rules of the road, social formalities, and good manners; we have rules of membership and function in business, institutions and families. But life in the modern world is coming to depend more and more upon "technical" means of communication, telephone and telegraph; radio and printing. Without such technical aids the modern city-state could not exist one week, for it is only by means of them that trade and business can proceed; that goods and services can be distributed where needed; that railways can run on a schedule; the law and order are maintained; that education is possible. Communication has enabled the social unit to grow from the village to the town, to the modern city-state, until today we see organized systems of mutual dependence grown to cover whole hemispheres. Communication engineers have altered the size and shape of the world.

TASK

1. Say whether the following statements are True/False:

i) Language is the only means of communication.

ii) Human language is like language of animals.

iii) Modern life is oriented towards technical means of communication.

iv) Language has its origin on thoughts.

2. Answer the questions briefly:

i) Suggest a suitable title for the text.

ii) Do you think that body language has any say in the communication process? How?

iii) How is animal language different from human language?

iv) Name the advancements that technology has brought to society.

3. Find the appropriate words that give the following meanings:

i) Inborn behaviour

ii) Distinguished

iii) Hard to describe /delicate

iv) Transfer

v) Rules and regulations

vi) Move hurriedly

4. Give the antonyms of the following words:

i) dependence

ii) restricted

iii) complicated

iv) organized

II. Read the text on Non verbal Communication and answer the questions that follow:

NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Man is the mind and the mind is man. Language, the ability to communicate, is arguably one of the greatest assets of the human mind. Civilisation is based on the spread of ideas and could not exist without it. However, language is, not the only form of communication the mind uses, i.e., the human mind does not speak only with the tongue. Rather, the whole body speaks. The muscles, the skin, the eyes and even the sweat glands... all communicate. For, while language is the communication pathway of the conscious mind, these other channels are largely the paths by which the unconscious expresses itself. The origins of these lines of communication dates back to our pre-human ancestors; back to before language developed. Communication through these channels - from the unconscious to the unconscious-lacks the width and flexibility of language but the fact that the unconscious does not lie can make this nonverbal communication as important as speech. Many a time we speak volumes without even ultering a word.

We sometimes use body language to make up our mind about somebody we do not know. We make a lightning judgement within the first ten seconds of meeting a person, not even realising what we have done. When concealment or deception is being attempted, body language is often more revealing as its signals arise in this subconscious and can hence be interpreted accurately. But such interpretations lack depth. The concept that isolated gestures can give a reading of a person's characteristics is not true. Only a careful study of both verbal and nonverbal signals will potentially allow us to accurately interpret a person's personality and motivation. There are voluntary and involuntary gestures, which tend to occur as parts of a group of gestures, accompanied by speech, posture, body position, facial expression and voice modulation.

There are many areas where a conscious reading of body language can be beneficial. Sales and marketing staff find it particularly useful. Similarly an employer's knowledge of body language can help him to read the unconscious clues provided by candidates to decide whether it would be beneficial to employ them or not. This requires a slightly deeper analysis and is more prone to error.

The above are passive uses of body language. Body language can be used actively as well. This requires even greater training and control. The conscious mind has to be made to overcome the unconscious and take over control of the body language signals. Candidates seeking employment can use body language to make themselves appear more confident, powerful, trusting, etc... depending on what the situation may require. This requires a thorough understanding of the signals.

Giving off negative signals could prevent a person from achieving their goal (e.g. a successful presentation, proposing an idea in a meeting, discussing a task with an employee, etc.). Some of the more negative signals to be avoided are: fidgeting shows boredom and restlessness, the crossing of arms that indicates unwillingness to listen; doodling which indicates inattentiveness; tapping one's feet which shows distraction, boredom or impatience; touching your face or playing with your hair can be a sign that you're hiding something; looking away or hesitating before or while speaking indicates that you're unsure of what you're saying; a fixed, unfocused stare shows your attention is elsewhere. While concentrated effort and observation can, in time, help in interpreting body language fairly accurately, it is well to remember that interpreting a person's personality, attitudes and feelings through body language is not as simple as reading a simple gesture or two. In particular one should never base a risky proposition on data from a reading of body language alone as communication is a package deal of verbal, non-verbal and vocal cues.

TASK

I. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false ones.

1. Language is the only form of communication.

2. Non-verbal communication is always genuine because it comes from the unconscious mind.

3. One's whole personality can be accurately judged through his body language.

4. Reading of body language helps one to be successful in business.

5. It is possible to control our body language.

II. Match the signals with the meanings they indicate:

tapping one's feet – boredom

doodling - hiding something

fidgeting - not willing to listen

crossing of arms - impatience

touching one's face - inattentiveness

III. Match the non-verbal cues in Column-B with the meanings given in Column-A.

A

1. Copying the other person's gesture to gain acceptance

2. Interested evaluation

3. Partial arm barrier to achieve a secure feeling

4. V for victory

5. Having negative thoughts

6. Decisive, masculine gait

7. Tough minded and stubborn individual

8. Defensive and cold

9. Posture exuding self-confidence and level headedness

B