ORAL COMMUNICATION

VERBAL AND NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Communication is a process of sharing and conveying messages or information from one

person to another within and across channels, context, media, and culture
Verbal communication – This is the aspect that makes use of words. It may be oral, written,
formal or informal.
Non-verbal communication – This aspect does not makes use of word but may enhance or
change the linguistic code. It has the following three elements:
1. Nonlinguistic elements
These are the devices used conveying messages without entirely relying on
speech or language. These non- speech elements fall under seven categories.
They are as follows:

a. Kinesics is a language of the body

Kinesics refers to the study of hand, arm, body, and face movements. We
will look specifically at three different types of kinesics: facial expressions,
eye behavior (oculesics) and gestures.
b. Proxemics is the language of space

 Intimate space: The intimate zone is typically reserved for only the

closest friends, family, and romantic/intimate partners. It involves
any communication that is 18 inches or less from a person’s body. It
is impossible to completely ignore people when they are in this
space, even if we are trying to pretend that we’re ignoring them.
While some people are comfortable engaging in or watching others
engage in PDAs (public displays of affection) others are not.
 Personal space: The personal zone is typically reserved for friends,
close acquaintances, and significant others. Much of our
communication occurs in the personal zone, which is what we
typically think of as our “personal space bubble” and extends from
18 inches to 4 feet away from our body.
 Social distance: Communication that occurs in the social zone,
which is 4 to 12 feet away from our body, is typically in the context
of a professional or casual interaction. This distance is preferred in
many professional settings because it reduces the suspicion of any
impropriety. The expression “keep someone at an arm’s length”
means that someone is kept out of the personal space and kept in
the social/professional space. If two people held up their arms and
stood so that just the tips of their fingers were touching, they would
be around 4 feet away from each other, which is perceived as a safe
distance. Students in large lecture classes should consider sitting
within the social zone of the professor, since students who sit
within this zone are more likely to be remembered by the professor,
be acknowledged in class, and retain more information because
they are close enough to take in important nonverbal and visual
cues.
  Public distance: Public space starts about 12 feet from a person and
extends out from there. This is the least personal of the four zones.
It is typically used when a person is engaging in a formal speech. It
would be difficult to have a deep conversation with someone at this
level because you have to speak louder and don’t have the physical
closeness that is often needed to promote emotional closeness
and/or establish rapport
c. Chronemics is the language of time
chronemics refers to the study of how time affects
communication. Time can be classified into several different
categories, including biological, personal, and cultural time
(Andersen, 1999)
d. Haptics is the language of touch
Haptics is the study of communication by touch. Touch may indicate liking,
attraction, or dominance. It is a form of communication that can be used to
initiate, regulate, and maintain relationships. It is a very powerful form of
communication that can be used to communicate messages ranging from
comfort to power. Duration, frequency, and intensity of touch can be used to
convey liking, attraction, or dominance. Duration refers to the length of time
of a touch. Frequency is how often touch is used. Intensity is the amount of
pressure that is applied. Touch is a powerful interpersonal tool along with
voice and body movement.
e. Olfactics is the language of smell
The sense of smell communicates messages. The term olfactics refers
to the influence of scent on perceptions. Does the smell of gingerbread
bring back fond, positive memories of holidays when the kitchen was full
of those delicious cookies that you used to make (and eat!) when you
visited your grandparents? Have you ever purchased a candle or a
particular type of bubble bath because of its scent, which perhaps
reminded you of something positive?
f. Artifactual is the language of objects.
Artifacts are items with which we adorn our bodies or that we carry with us.
Artifacts include glasses, jewelry, canes, shoes, clothing, or any object
associated with our body that communicates meaning. That includes tattoos
and piercings!

g. Physical appearance is the language of looks.

The way a person looks reflect his/her status, health, mood, attitude, culture,
taste and above all grooming.
2. Paralinguistic elements
These include the following attributes of voice that accompany the words we say.
a. Vocal quality refers how pleasant or unpleasant a person’s
voice sounds.
b. Pitch is the highest or lowness of tone
c. Tempo refers how fast or how slow one speaks.
d. Volume points to the force of voice or how loud or soft it
goes.
e. Junctures are the pause or breaks applied between thought
units or at the end of utterances.
3. Metalinguistic element is the ability to talk about language, analyze it, think about it,
judge it, and see it as an entity separate from its content (e.g. phonemes, morphemes)