Back to: UGC NET Paper 1 Unit 4
Types of Verbal and Non Verbal Communication and their Effectiveness in Different Environments
According to Louis Allen,
“Communication is a bridge of meaning. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding.”
“Effective communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is received and understood with clarity and purpose.”
R.W. Griffin states,
“Effective communication is the process of sending a message in such a way that the message received is as close in meaning as possible to the message intended.”
Verbal Communication involves the use of a speech in the form of speaking to convey a message or information. Non-Verbal Communication involves the use of gestures, facial expressions, and body language to exchange information.
“Effective communication means where we know what we are trying to communicate and the audience is getting exactly what we are trying to say.”
The different types of verbal communication are as follows:
1. Interpersonal communication: It is also known as dyadic communication and involves more than two people.
2. Intrapersonal Communication: In this type, a person talks to themselves.
3. Small Group Communication: It takes place in a small group between three or more people.
4. Public Communication: It involves one speaker conveying information to a large group of people.
5. Mass Communication: It involves a small group of people passing down information to a large number of varied populations.
Types of Non Verbal Communication
1. Kinesics: It involves body movements including gestures, head movements and facial expressions.
2. Chronemics: It refers to the effect of time on communication.
3. Proxemics: It deals with physical space and distance.
4. Haptics: It refers to the use of touch to convey emotions and communicate.
5. Physical Appearance: Wood comments,
“Physical characteristics such as skin colour, height, weight, facial features, facial and body symmetry and attractiveness influence how people perceive us—and vice versa.”
6. Vocalics: It deals with the pitch, volume, rate and vocal quality of a person.
Keith Davis states,
“Communication is a process of passing information and understanding from one person to another.”
William Newman and Charles Summer opine,
“Communication is an exchange of ideas, facts, opinions or emotions of two or more persons.”
