Basic forms of communication

• Verbal communication:
1. Oral 2. Written
• Non verbal communication:
• Sign language
• Body language
• Para language
• Space, Surrounding, Time
• Silence
Basic Forms of
communication
 Verbal communication
• Oral communication:
• Advantages of oral communication.
• Situation for oral communication.
• Disadvantages for oral communication.
• Elements / Essentials to make an
effective oral comm.
 Oral communication
• Advantages of oral communication:
• Immediate feedback
• Time saving
• Economical
• Personal touch
• Flexibility
• Secrecy
• Immediate clarification
• Group communication
 Oral communication
• Situations for oral communication:
• Face to face.
Gesture, Voice, Posture.
• Public speech.
• Telephone / mobile.
• Presentation.
• Radio.
• Interview.
• Grapevine.
• Meeting.
 Oral communication
• Disadvantages:
• Poor retention
• No record
• Time consuming
• Misunderstanding
• Lengthy messages
• Lack of responsibility
• Imprecise
• Distance factor
 Oral communication
• Elements / Essentials to make an effective
oral com:
• Clarity
• Brevity
• Precision
• Right words
• Avoid hackneyed phrases & cliches
• Understand listener
• Natural voice
• Logical sequence
• Conviction
• Seven C’s
 Verbal communication
• Written communication:
• Characteristics
• Situation
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
 Written communication
• Characteristics:
• Creative & conscious activity
• Time consuming
• Lack of continuity
• Demands precision
• Length of message
 Written communication
• Situation:
• Memorandum
• Notice
• Telegram
• Telex
• Circular
• Minutes
• Letter
 Written communication
• Advantages:

• Wide access - Precision & accuracy

• Repeated reference - Mechanical efficiency
• Helps in control - Permanent record
• Legal evidence - Lengthy messages
• Fixed responsibility - Convenience
 Written communication
• Disadvantages:
• Time consuming
• Costly
• Lack of secrecy
• Rigidity
• Impersonal
• Delayed feedback
• Delayed clarification
Non Verbal Communication
a glance through a video…!!
 Non Verbal Communication
• Sign language:
• Audio signals ( Sound ).
• Visual signals.
• Advantages of visual
signals.
• Audio – visual
communication.
• Disadvantages of sign language.
 Sign language
• Audio (Sound) signals.
• Drum beating, fire alarm,
buzzer, clock alarm,
an electric bell, etc.
• Convey the message very
quickly (hooting of siren).
• Useful for time
management.
 Sign language
• Visual signals:
• Facial expressions,
printed pictures, posters,
slides, film, cartoons, maps,
flags, flowers etc.
• No words are uttered, no signs are made
and yet the message get across effectively.
visual communication alone is not always
enough, but can be useful to communicate
very simple ideas.
Sign language
• Advantages of visual signals.
• Convey the message very
easily and economically.
• Make the communication
interesting and motivating.
• Reflects the mental make
up and cultural back ground
of the communicator.
• Useful for informing and educating
illiterate people.
• Effective means of advertisement.
 Sign language
• Audio – visual communication:
• Combination of sight and sound.
• Useful for oral & written words.
• Powerful medium of communication on
cinema screen and video tapes.
• Most suitable for mass publicity.
 Sign language
• Disadvantages of sign
language:
• A great amount of skill
and effort is required to
draw effective pictures
and cartoons or poster.
• Only simple and elementary
ideas can be communicated.
• Only a supplement to verbal
communication.
• It may be misunderstood some times.
• On the spot correction is not possible.
 Non Verbal Communication
• Body language:(kinesics)
Face .
• Head.
• Eyes.
Non Verbal Com.
• Gesture.
movements of
body parts.

• Body shape & posture.

standing or sitting erect, leaning
forward or backward.
 Body language

Openness

Cooperation

Defensiveness

Confidence
Body shape & posture
 Non Verbal Communication
• Para language: (like a language)
• The non-verbal aspects of the spoken words
known as Para language.
• It includes the quality
of the voice, sound,
accent, stress.
• Voice.
• Word stress.
• Advantages.
• Disadvantages.
Para language
• Voice:
• Speaking speed.
• Pitch variation.
• Volume variation.
• Pause.
• Space-fillers
(ah, oh, ok, you see.)
 Para language
• Word stress:
• Are you going to the temple ?
• Are you going to the temple ?
• Are you going to the temple ?
 Para language
• Advantages:
• No oral communication is complete
without para language.
• Speaker’s education background can be
known.
• Indicates person’s place in hierarchical
structure.
• Knowledge of para language helps in
dealing with others.
• Para language can be improved by
listening to good speaker.
 Para language
• Disadvantages:
• Para language is like a language but
not the language. Can’t be relied fully.
• Unless the listener is open minded, it
may prejudice him.
• As speakers belong to different speech
communities, uniformity becomes
difficult.
 Non Verbal Communication
• Space (Proxemics) :

• Intimate.
• Personal.
• Social.
• Public.
 Space (Proxemics) :
• Intimate space language.
• Space of 18 inches.
• Suitable for body language.
• Family members, relatives,
close friends enter in this zone.
• Suitable for highly confidential
talks.
• Hand shakes, a pat on back, eye contact etc.
are commonly used in this zone.
 Space (Proxemics) :
• Personal space language:
• Space extends from 18 inches to 4 feet.
• Normal conversation with close friends
and colleagues.
• Is largely personal
but relaxed, casual.
• Important decisions
can be taken.
 Space (Proxemics) :
• Social space language:
• Space is from 4 feet to 12 feet.
• For formal and official
relationship. Most of the
business communication
is in this zone.
• Is done by reason and
planning than emotions
and feelings.
 Space (Proxemics) :
• Public space language:
• Extends beyond 12 feet.
• Is highly formal and objective.
• Public announcements,
election rallies etc.
• High pitch of voice is used
for larger group.
 Non Verbal Communication
• Surroundings:
• Colours.
• Layout and Design.
• Time language.
• Time saving devices in office.
• Silence.
• Disapproval, anger, lack of interest
• Pause before and after speech.