Verbal versus Nonverbal Communication

Introduction: Verbal-Nonverbal

There is always debate between verbal and nonverbal communication. Whatever you think it is a matter of complementary and supplementary. It is in the sense that nonverbal communication is an essential aspect of verbal communication. Students are encouraged to expose the meaning that way.

 

[Verbal versus Nonverbal]

Verbal Communication

Verbal the term suggests the use of words and sentences. There is a language that the user uses! For example if your guest say

 

Thank You in the response of your hospitality at star hotel is a typical example of verbal communication. Communication by using a language is verbal communication. Many people believe this is the one and only form of communication. While learning a second language people practice the vocabulary and structure of that language.

In English language the basic sentence pattern is SVO whereas SOV fits in Hindi language.

 

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal is popularly understood as the process of message exchange without using words and sentences. In the surface observation, nonverbal seems very limited or sometimes one can ask by the way when do we use nonverbal? As we communicate message through the language use.

Although, nonverbal communication is not a considerable factor for many people, it is secretly handling many affairs and becoming the mystery of success and satisfaction both in personal and professional life.

For example

A smile can express more than one hundred words! But for nonverbal context plays very vital role. The role of nonverbal is more highlighted in the business world. It is more preferable when we share emotions, feelings and attitudes. In the Indian context, a girl in the response of love proposal of the boy just nodding her head in the sense of accepting the proposal with gentle and shy smile is more favorable than the simple response the American girls have 'I love you too'.

 

If somebody asks me to compare the verbal with nonverbal communication or which is more powerful or effective then I would have the answer like which is more valuable and useful iron or gold?

It is really interesting to grasp the meaning and realities by comparing iron with gold. The layman may say gold is very desirous, expensive and attractive than iron. S/he is right. But how can you imagine the industrial growth and regulation in the absence of iron is highly considerable.

Comparison between verbal and nonverbal is displayed as follows.

Verbal Communication	Nonverbal Communication
Uses words and sentences.	Uses sign and symptoms
Primary forms of communication.	Secondary forms of communication
Use maximum in everyday communication	Use minimum in everyday communication
Highly priorities in schools and colleges	Less priorities in school and colleges
Examples. Use of sentences [I like it]	Examples. Use of facial expression [Smile]
Most of the time language specific i.e. language to language	Most of the time universal i.e. everywhere same
Most common in communicating information	Most common in communicating emotions and feelings.

 

The various types of nonverbal communications

As I have discussed above nonverbal is the use of signs and symbols. There are some important nonverbal communication in general.

a. Facial expression

It is useful to talk about facebook while dealing the term facial expression under nonverbal communication. You might be surprised by the statement how can we connect facial expression with facebook. Obviously, even though it is indirect, face is book where you can get many information, ideas, opinions, feelings and emotions etc.

By using facial expression we can share and receive a huge amount of information. It is more appropriate to understand whether the speaker is happy or sad, in a similar line excited or frustrated etc.

b. Eye contact

Eye contact is another required nonverbal forms of communication in both personal and public communication. Either you make eye contact or appeal to make eye contact to your audience is everybody's wish.

Eye contact with no doubt gives you better feeling in communication. Most of the time speakers or senders they require eye contact to better understand themselves. However eye contact is culture specific. For example

Making eye contact in present day world is in general is good or required. But culturally people do not entertain if you make eye contact in Japan mainly with seniors and teachers it is not easily acceptable. BUT the case is opposite in United States. People whoever juniors or seniors they appeal for the eye contact. It is like sugar in coffee in US! A professional communicator has to understand such culture specific things as well.

c. Body posture and movement

Communication with frozen body is almost the requirement in traditional and conservative thinking. During talking with the elite people and king and queen people would stand like a statue with little bowing the head would be taken as the best position but the time has changed a lot! Today neither you freeze your body nor you expect it. We simply have body movement while communicative orally. The body posture while presenting your ideas with mass and how the posture of your audience is communicates many things.

d. Physical Space/ Distance

What is the appropriate distance while greeting somebody by shaking hand? Have you ever think that way? Obviously not.

You are really encouraged to think and learn about it. The physical distance is another important aspects. It is determined by the subject matter and the relation of participants with each other. It means who is communicating what with whom is a great question to understand physical distance. For example if you are suggesting some feedback to your best friend about his/her more personal affair you certainly be in close or almost touching each other. But while delivering political speech in a more public scene automatically requires more distance.

e. Touch

Touching is another nonverbal communication. We touch people to show our love and attachment. For many people touch might have very limited scope in communication but that is not true!

We hug, tough, hold hand, tap etc mainly during conversation with friends and relatives. All those forms of communication have very strong impact to promote the bond in business as well.

Mainly children and loved ones entertain touch!

 

Concluding the idea, both verbal and nonverbal are important forms of communication. Communication is the life blood of any business organization and houses. It is equally important both for private and public communication, formal and informal communication everywhere!

 

 References

Timilsena (2020) Classroom Presentation and Discussion

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