Types of Communication-1 Chapter 3

VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

There are different types of Communication. These are often categorised differently by different scholars. We will discuss different types of Communication in this blog. Since this chapter is a long one, I have split it into different volumes to help students. This will be a series called Types of Communication-1,2,3,4,5

1. Verbal Communication and Non- Verbal Communication
2. Inter-personal Communication and Intra-personal Communication
3. Small Group Communication and Public Communication
4. Mass-Line Communication and Mass Communication
5. Formal Communication and Informal Communication

VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Verbal Communication is communication based on Language and is verbal. However, we need to remember that verbal communication that uses words could be both

1. Vocal Verbal Communication and 
2. Non-Vocal Verbal Communication.

Vocal Verbal Communication 

Vocal Language includes communication which includes spoken Language. It includes Oral Communication. Vocal communication or oral communication refers to messages that are communicated or transmitted using sound waves from one individual to another. Speaking is verbal communication.  'The defining distinction of oral communication is that it involves the production and transmission systems of the human voice and is aimed towards the auditory reception system of one or more other persons.’(Introduction to communication and media studies, edited by John Joshva Raja and Samson Prabhakar) 

Non-Vocal Verbal Communication

Non-vocal verbal communication includes written communication. Written communication that uses language and is verbal is considered to be Non-Vocal Verbal Communication. It can also include Braille, or other similar alternatives to verbal language.


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NON- VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Albert Mehrabian, Professor  Emeritus of Psychology, UCLA,  known for his publications on the relative importance of verbal and nonverbal messages says, “There are basically three elements in any face-to-face communication:

• Words
• Tone of voice 
• Non-verbal behavior

Non- verbal communication includes communication without words. Communication need not be only with words. When persons are involved in verbal communication, we often observe other unspoken elements that happen simultaneously which include body movements or body language. A person may speak with a bright smile or with a frown. The smile or the frown add to the meaning of the message. Non-verbal language of communication is equally important as verbal communication.

Dance, architecture, artefacts, rituals, signs like the nodding of the head, etc are all part of Non-Verbal Communication.

Functions of Non verbal communication:

There are different functions of Non verbal communication. In his book, Bodily Communication originally published in 1975, John Michael Argyle, mentions what he calls the five primary functions of Nonverbal Behavior (Argyle, 1988). 

1. Expression of Emotion - emotions are expressed mainly through the face, body, and voice.
2. Communication of Interpersonal Attitudes - the establishment and maintenance of relationships if often done through nonverbal signals (tone of voice, gaze, touch, etc.).
3. Accompany and Support Speech- vocalization and nonverbal behaviors are synchronized with speech in conversation (nodding one’s head or using phrases like “uh-huh” when another is talking).
4. Self-Presentation - presenting oneself to another through nonverbal attributes like appearance.
5. Rituals - the use of greetings, handshakes or other rituals.

There are different dimensions of non-verbal communication. 

Dance as Non-verbal Communication

Dance is expressive. It communicates. Dance is often used to tell a story or narrate an event. It can also be simply entertainment or creativity. Dance is an integral element of many cultures. Different cultures have traditional dances that depict their cultural heritage and richness.

• Bhava: In India, Many of the classical dances have the element of 'Bhava' which expresses different feelings or emotions like anger, sorrow, anxiety, etc through facial expressions. In other western countries, it could be the expressions on the face of the dancers in a Ballet or  any other Dance performance. Albeit, the fact that the term Bhava is used in the context of Indian Classical Dance forms. 

• Mudra: One of the very important features of Indian classical dance is the Mudra.  Mudra are the hand or leg, gestures and movements made by the artists. These are made to narrate a story. Mudras are like sign language. They have a meaning. So, the Mudra for peacock is quite different from a Mudra that indicates a deer. So while Bhavas show expressions, Mudras show the action. Classical dance in India is beautifully manifested through Bhavas and Mudras, which are non-verbal by nature.

Arti-factual Communication 

Dress, Ornaments and personal artifacts reveal a lot about one's personality, taste and choices. Arti-factual communication basically means messages that are conveyed by hand-made objects. Thus, one's dressing, aesthetics, colour, jewellery, hairstyle, Clothes, etc are considered arti-factual. Often, our cultures and our society dictate the way we wear clothes, use ornaments or carry ourselves. For instance, in India, especially in Rural India, the symbol of a Married Hindu Woman is indicated by the red vermillion powder that she uses on her forehead on the hair partition. In some other states, the symbol of Marriage is either Red Bangles or Green Bangles or the Mangal Sutra. A funeral Dress code is often white in most corners of India, while for Christians in States like Goa, it is Black. These are all elements of Non-verbal Communication.

Body movements and Gestures and Kinesics 

A loving gaze from a mother for her child can be very consoling. A pat on the back for a great performance can be very encouraging for a student. An angry look can frighten a student who has done mischief. All these are examples of Body Movements and Gestures. In India, People join hands in a respectful manner while saying Namaste. In some other Asian Countries, people bow to welcome you. In Western countries, People give a warm handshake to welcome you. These are all elements of Non verbal communication.
Gestures are movements of the head, hand, leg or body that express an idea or emotion. The word 'Kinesics' means the study of body movements, facial expressions, childlike behaviours and gestures that was developed by Ray L. Birdwhistell in the 1950’s.
Facial expressions communicate feelings and emotions. Often expressions communicate the attitude of a person and give an idea regarding the personality of an individual. A laughter, smile, frown, narrowed eyes, etc could exhibit friendliness, anger or disbelief .

Eye-contact and Oculesics 

A look can often express emotions. An angry look leads to the narrowing of the eyes or the dilation of the eye lid. Children often have their eyes wide open when they are fascinated or surprised. The study of eye contact and pupil dilation in terms of Non-verbal communication is called Oculesics.

Personal Characteristics 

The way a person carries oneself does matter. Often, small elements like Body odour, choice of clothes, etc become non-verbal elements of communication.

Touch, Tactile Communication, Haptics 

A touch can indicate anything. A touch can be consoling, comforting, loving, romantic or even aggravating, especially when it is unwanted. A handshake, a kiss, a pat, holding hands, high fives, are all non-verbal communication. The study of communication using touch was termed as Tactile communication. Today, the study of touch is popularly called Haptics.
Touch in different cultures would mean differently. For instance, in India, in an urban set up like a city, you are permitted to hold hands as friends with either a boy or a girl. But this is totally unacceptable in the remote villages in India. Any element of non-verbal communication is enriched by the culture one lives in. The cultural context, signs and symbols, manner of touch, etc differs not just from country to country but from State to State.

Para-verbal communication, Para-language or Vocalics 

Para-verbals or para-language is an element of non-verbal communication and conveys emotions and attitudes, consciously or unconsciously. For instance a person who yells while saying that he is not getting irritated has already proved through the tone of his voice that s/he is actually aggravated or irritated. We often hear people saying, "that tone is so sarcastic!" A whistle, a tone, a raise in one's pitch while talking, a deliberately produced cough or sigh, are all indicators of Non-verbal communications that communicate much more than words alone.

Vocalics is the study of para-language, which includes the vocal qualities that go along with verbal messages, such as pitch, volume, rate, vocal quality, and verbal fillers (Andersen, 1999).

Luis Kumpiluvelil sdb and C. S. Rayudu have written on this topic in their books, 'Basics of Communication' and 'Communication'. They further divide Paralanguage into four parts:

• Voice Qualities: It includes factors such as pitch, resonance, volume, rate and rhythm.
• Vocal characteristics: Embracing laughter, coughing, throat-clearing and sighing.
• Vocal qualifiers: Referring to variations in pitch and volume
• Voice segregates: Including the silent sounds such as ‘ahs’, 'hmm',  and ‘ers’ and pauses. These clues influence meaning.

Silence 

Silence can actually communicate a lot. A silence could indicate anger, frustration, ignorance or attitude. It could mean a refusal. Silence is also an element of Non-verbal communication.

Space and distance or Proxemics  

Space or distance around us is an important factor that can speak volumes about individuals. O Minu Agnus says that Proxemics can be defined as the study of means in which individuals make use of the physical space in the interaction between the individuals. This process of owning the space by above said means differ from culture to culture. ( IRWLE VOL. 8 No. I)

If two people are standing close to each other and are communicating freely, it indicates they know each other well to be so close. But at a bus stop, even if you are standing in a queue, and you receive a push from a stranger, it could lead to a fight, if the stranger's push seemed deliberate and transgressing your space. A public speaker speaks from a podium which is at a distance with a crowd that knows him from far. The same public speaker after returning home, takes his baby on his lap and speaks to her. Space matters!

E T Hall, the most popular founder of Intercultural Communication, sets forth a theory about how people react to others at various distances from their own bodies, indicating thereby a sense of territoriality, similar to that shown by animals or birds and develops notation for this purpose.” (Blyth 1976; p 117)

Edward T. Hall described four levels of social distance that occur in different situations

• Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45 cm): This indicates the physical distance for the ones we are close to or we have an intimate relationship with, such as with close family or a partner. 
• Personal or friend distance - 1.5 to 4 feet (45 cm to 1.2 metres): Physical distance at this level usually occurs between people who are family members or close friends as you are comfortable standing in their presence.
• Social distance - 4 to 12 feet (1.2 metres to 3.6 metres): This distance is generally used with individuals who are acquaintances. For instance, it could be your baby sitter, or a co-worker in your company whom you feel free to talk to. 
• Public or audience distance - 12 to 25 feet (3.6 metres to 7.5 metres): This is the distance adopted by speakers, preachers, teachers in a classroom, etc. 

Chronemics 

Punctuality is often considered as a sign of discipline. Arriving on time and time consciousness are often used as standards to judge a person in today's world. This example indicates that 'Time and Punctuality' reveal something about a person's life style. Thus time is an element of Non-verbal Communication. The study of this role of Time in the field of Communication, is called Chronemics. 

We have just finished two types of Communication. In my next post, we will go for types of communication- 2 where I discuss 'Inter-personal Communication and Intra-personal Communication'. The only reason for doing this, is the length of the post. Thanks all!

P.S: The Books and Online materials have been mentioned for the convenience of the students. You may read them online, or read the books available on the mentioned authors from your library for further study or buy the same online.