Verbal communication:
Verbal communication takes place directly
between people/ superiors and juniors in organizations and between farmers and
extension functionaries in the field and is often known as face to face
communication. It takes the form of talks, a public address, verbal
discussions, telephonic talks, telecommunications and other artificial media,
such as audio-visual aids speeches and orders, holdings of meetings and
conferences, lectures, social get-togethers, training sessions, public address
systems, etc.
Merits of Verbal
communication
1. It
is the least time consuming, is more direct, simple and the least expensive.
2. It
is more communicative and effective.
3. It
provides an immediate feedback.
4. Since
every information cannot be put into writing, most of it is conveyed by means
of oral instructions, mutual discussions and telephonic conversations.
Demerits of Verbal
communication
1. Verbal
talks may often be distorted if there is some cause of indifference between the
receiver and the sender.
2. Due
to various communication gaps, as a result of status and other physical or
personal barriers communication is incomplete.
3. Not
convenient for long messages.
4. Spontaneous
responses may not be carefully thought.
5. The spoken words can be more easily misunderstood than the written words.
A message can be sometimes expressed
without the help of words. Nonverbal communication is the process of
communicating without the use of words. It is defined as nonword human
responses like facial expressions and gestures and the perceived characteristics
of the environment through which the human verbal and nonverbal messages are
transmitted. Nonverbal communication is also known as “silent language.” It
involves the use of cues, gestures, vocal characteristics, facial expressions,
and spatial relationship between the sender and the receiver to convey a
message.
Kinesics is the interpretation of body
language such as facial expressions and gestures or, more formally, non-verbal
behavior related to movement, either of any part of the body or the body as a
whole. Body Language is technically known as kinesics. Body movements include
gestures, facial expressions and other physical movements. Every body movement
conveys a certain meaning.
Advantages of
Non-verbal communication:
1. Easy presentation: Information can be
easily presented in non-verbal communication through using visual, audio-visual
and silent means of non-verbal communication.
2. Substituting: Non-verbal message may
substitute for the verbal message especially if it is blocked by noise,
interruption, long distance etc. for example; gestures-finger to lips to
indicate need for quite, facial expressions- a nod instead of a yes.
3. Help to illiterate people: This type of
communication use gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, proximity,
touching etc. and without using any spoken or written word. So, it is very much
helpful for illiterate people.
4. Help to handicapped people: Non-verbal
cues of communication greatly help in handicapped people especially to deaf
people. Deaf people exchange message through the movements of hands, fingers,
eyeball etc.
5. Attractive presentation: Non-verbal
communication is based on visual, picture, graph, sign etc. that can be seen
very much attractive.
6. Quick expression of message: Non-verbal
cues of communication like sign and symbol can also communicate some messages
very quickly than written or oral messages.
7. Reducing wastage of time: The message
of non-verbal communication reached the receiver very fast. For this reason it
reduces the wastage of valuable time of the communicator.
Disadvantages or
Limitations of Non-Verbal Communication:
Vague
and imprecise: Non-verbal communication is quite vague and imprecise. Since
in this communication, there is no use of words or language which expresses
clear meaning to the receiver.
1. Long conversations are not possible: In
non-verbal communication, long conversation and necessary explanations are not
possible. No party can discuss the particular issues of the messages.
2. Difficult to understand: Difficult to
understand and requires a lot of repetitions in nonverbal communication.
Since it uses gestures, facial expressions eye contact, touch etc. for
communicating with others which may not be understandable for the simple and
foolish people.
3. Costly: In some cases non-verbal
communication involves huge cost. For example, neon sign, power point
presentation, cinema etc are very much costly compared to others form of
communication.
4. Distortion of information: Since it
uses gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, touch, sign, sound,
paralanguage etc. for communicating with others, there is a great possibility
in distortion of information in non-verbal communication.