Seven (7)

Types of
Communications
 Lesson Overview
7 Types of communication:

1) Verbal communication:
-1a. Intrapersonal Communication
-1b. Interpersonal Communication
-1c. Oral Communication
-1d. Public Communication
 Lesson Overview
2. Non-verbal Communication:
- Functions of Non-verbal Communication
- Types of Non-verbal Communication
- How to improve Non-verbal Communication Skills

3. Written Communication
4. Visual Communication
5. Feedback Communication
6. Mass Communication
7. Group Communication
Introduction

• Communication is the act of transmitting information, ideas,

and attitudes from one person to another.

• Thus communication takes place among individuals,

belonging to various categories and backgrounds, they put
into operation various types of communication.
7 Types of Communication
Communication takes place at different levels and accordingly we can
speak of different types of communication :

1. Verbal Communication
2. Non-Verbal Communication
3. Written Communication
4. Visual Communication
5. Feedback Communication
6. Mass Communication
7. Group Communication
Source: https://getuplearn.com/blog/types-of-communication/?expand_article=1
7 Types of Communication

Source: https://getuplearn.com/blog/types-of-communication/?expand_article=1
1. Verbal Communication
1. Verbal Communication
• Verbal communication is defined as communication to express our views, information, and
ideas in the form of sound and words.

• The spoken part usually involves face-to-face communication and when people ponder the
word communication, they often think about the act of talking.

• We rely on verbal communication to exchange messages with one another and develop as
individuals.

• The term verbal communication often evokes the idea of spoken communication, but written
communication is also part of verbal communication.

• In other words, it is defined as the exchange of information with the use of words, either
spoken or written.
These are the following types of verbal communication :

1a. Intrapersonal Communication

1b. Interpersonal Communication

1c. Oral Communication

1d. Public Communication

1a. Intrapersonal Communication

• Intrapersonal communication is the kind of communication that occurs within

us.

• It includes individual reflection (self-thinking, analysis thoughts assessments),

meditation, contemplation and etc. associated with the inner state of mind.

• The person’s internal thoughts or feelings play a vital role in intrapersonal

communication.

• It also includes various activities, such as solo speaking, solo writing, solo
dancing, concentration, and self-awareness.
1b.Interpersonal Communication
• Interpersonal communication takes place between two persons.

• In other words interpersonal communication is the communication

between us and others over the channel.

• This can include dialogue, conversation, or exchange of views between

two persons without using any technological devices like the telephone.

• The communication can be online, face-to-face, or video conference on

mobile.
1b.Interpersonal Communication

• Interpersonal communication is direct, intimate, and consists of

verbal interaction or gestures.

• Interpersonal skills are essential, whether we are a manager,

employee, or looking for work.

• Such skills are also known as soft skills that determine how well a
person can communicate, behave, and relate to others.
1c. Oral Communication
• This is the communication that employs the spoken word, either
direct or indirect as a communication channel.

• This verbal communication could be made on a channel that passes

information in only one form i.e. sound.

• You could converse either face to face, over the phone, or via voice
notes or chat rooms. It all comes under oral communication.

• This form of communication is an effective form.

1d. Public Communication
• In public communication, the sender-receiver (the speaker) sends a
message (the speech) to an audience.

• The speaker usually delivers a highly structured message, using the same
channels as in interpersonal and small-group communication.

• The voice is louder and the gestures are more expansive because the
audience is bigger.

• The speaker might also use additional visual channels such as slides, flip
charts, and so on.
1d. Public Communication

• Generally, the opportunity for verbal feedback in public

communication is limited.

• The audience members may have a chance to ask questions at the

end of the speech, but usually, they are not free to address the
speaker as he or she is talking.

• However, they can send nonverbal feedback. If they like what the
speaker is saying, they may interrupt the speech with applause.
 2. Non-Verbal
Communication
2. Non-Verbal Communication

• Non-verbal communication refers to communication that is produced by

some means other than words (eye contact, body language, or vocal
cues.

• In other words, communication without using words, such as gestures,

body language, the facial expressions is called non-verbal
communication.
For example:
• Expression of Emotion: Emotions are expressed mainly through the face, body, and
voice.

• Communication of Interpersonal Attitudes: The establishment and maintenance of

relationships if often done through nonverbal signals (tone of voice, gaze, touch, etc.).

• Accompany and Support Speech: Vocalization and nonverbal behaviors are

synchronized with a speech in conversation (nodding one’s head or using phrases like
“uh-huh” when another is talking).

• Self-Presentation: Presenting oneself to another through nonverbal attributes like

appearance.

• Rituals: The use of greetings, handshakes, or other rituals.

 Functions of
Nonverbal
Communication
 1) Nonverbal communication conveys meaning
• Nonverbal communication conveys meaning by reinforcing, substituting
for, or contradicting verbal communication.

• Verbal and nonverbal communication are two parts of the same system
that often work side by side, helping us generate meaning.

• In terms of reinforcing verbal communication, gestures can help describe

a space or shape that another person is unfamiliar with in ways that
words alone cannot.
2) Nonverbal communication influences others

• Nonverbal communication can be used to influence people in a

variety of ways, but the most common way is through deception.

• Deception is typically thought of as the intentional act of altering

information to influence another person, which means that it extends
beyond lying to include concealing, omitting or exaggerating
information.
 3) Nonverbal communication regulates conversational
flow

• Nonverbal communication helps us regulate our conversations so we

do not end up constantly interrupting each other or waiting in
awkward silences between speaker turns.

• Pitch, which is a part of vocalists, helps us cue others into our

conversational intentions.
4) Nonverbal communication affects relationships
• To successfully relate to other people, we must possess some skill at
encoding and decoding nonverbal communication.

• The nonverbal messages we send and receive influence our relationships

in positive and negative ways and can work to bring people together or
push them apart.

• Nonverbal cues communicate intimacy and signal the connection

between two people.

• These relational indicators can be objects such as wedding rings or tattoos

that are symbolic of another person or the relationship, actions such as
sharing the same drinking glass, or touch behaviors such as hand-holding.
5) Nonverbal communication expresses our identity
• Nonverbal communication expresses who we are.

• Our identities (the groups to which we belong, our cultures, our

hobbies, and interests, etc.) are conveyed nonverbally through the
way we set up our living and working spaces, the clothes we wear, the
way we carry ourselves, and the accents and tones of our voices.

• Our physical bodies give others impressions about who we are, and
some of these features are more under our control than others.
 Types of
Nonverbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is of the following types:

• Body Language (Kinesics)

→Facial Expressions
→Head Movement and Posture
→Gestures
→Eye gaze/ eye contact
• Proxemics
• Appearance and Artifacts
• Paralanguage
Types of Non-verbal Communication

Kinesics
• The word kinesics comes from the root word kinesis, which means
“movement,” and refers to the study of hand, arm, body, and face
movements.

• Specifically, this section will outline the use ofgestures, head

movements and posture, eye contact, and facial expressions as
nonverbal communication
Facial Expressions
• Our faces are the most expressive part of our bodies.

• Think of how photos are often intended to capture a particular

expression “in a flash” to preserve for later viewing.

• Even though a photo is a snapshot in time, we can still interpret much

meaning from a human face caught in a moment of expression, and
basic facial expressions are recognizable by humans all over the
world.

• For example happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust.

Head Movements and Posture

• Head movements and posture are often both used to acknowledge

others and communicate interest or attentiveness.

• In terms of head movements, a head nod is a universal sign of

acknowledgment in cultures where the formal bow is no longer used
as a greeting.

• In these cases, the head nod essentially serves as an abbreviated bow.

• An innate and universal head movement is the head shake back and
forth to signal “no.” This nonverbal signal begins at birth, even before
a baby has the ability to know that it has a corresponding meaning,

For example:
1. A head-up typically indicates an engaged or neutral attitude.
2. A head tilt indicates interest and is an innate submission gesture
that exposes the neck and subconsciously makes people feel more
trusting of us.
3. A head down signals a negative or aggressive attitude.
• In posture there are four general human postures: standing, sitting,
squatting, and lying down.

• Within each of these postures, there are many variations, and when
combined with particular gestures or other nonverbal cues they can
express many different meanings.

• Most of our communication occurs while we are standing or sitting.

• One interesting standing posture involves putting our hands on our hips
and is a nonverbal cue that we use subconsciously to make us look
bigger and show assertiveness.
Gestures
• There are three main types of gestures: adaptors, emblems, and
illustrators.

• Adaptors are touching behaviors and movements that indicate

internal states typically related to arousal or anxiety.

• Adaptors can be targeted toward the self, objects, or others.

• In regular social situations, adaptors result from uneasiness, anxiety,

or a general sense that we are not in control of our surroundings.
• Emblems are gestures that have a specific agreed-on meaning.

• These are still different from the signs used by hearing-impaired people or
others who communicate using American Sign Language(ASL). Even though
they have a generally agreed-on meaning, they are not part of a formal sign
system like ASL that is explicitly taught to a group of people.

• A hitchhiker’s raised thumb, the “OK” sign with the thumb and index finger
connected in a circle with the other three fingers sticking up, and the raised
middle finger are all examples of emblems that have an agreed-on meaning
or meanings with a culture.
• Illustrators are the most common type of gesture and are used to
illustrate the verbal message they accompany.

• For example, you might use hand gestures to indicate the size or
shape of an object.

• Unlike emblems, illustrators do not typically have meaning on their

own and are used more subconsciously than emblems.
Eye Gaze/ Eye Contact
• Looking, staring, and blinking can also be important nonverbal
behaviors.

• When people encounter people or things that they like, the rate of
blinking increases, and pupils dilate.

• Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions, including

hostility, interest, and attraction.
Proxemics
• Proxemics refers to the study of how space and distance influence
communication.

• We only need to look at the ways in which space shows up in common

metaphors to see that space, communication, and relationships are
closely related.

For example:
1. When we are content with and attracted to someone, we say we are
“close” to him or her.
2. When we lose connection with someone, we may say he or she is
“distant.”
• In general, space influences how people communicate and behave.

• Smaller spaces with a higher density of people often lead to breaches

of our personal space bubbles.

• If this is a setting in which this type of density is expected beforehand,

like at a crowded concert or on a train during rush hour, then we
make various communicative adjustments to manage the space
issue.
• Thus, there are different spaces depending on the relationship
between the persons communicating.

• In general, there are four types of space people use while

communicating:
Public Space
Social Space
Personal Space
Intimate Space
Appearance and Artifacts
• Believing that others “do not judge a book by its cover” is a naive
frame of thought.

• How one dresses and presents themselves proclaims a persona and

creates a first impression.

• For example, if a person is sloppily dressed some may assume their

work is also sloppy. If one’s appearance is well kept and professional
others might assume their work follows suit.

• To be successful, one needs to look at the part and “appear

corporate”; doing this will lead to a better first impression.
Paralinguistics
• Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual
language.

• This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch.

• Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of
a sentence.
When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and

enthusiasm.

• The same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval
and a lack of interest.
 How to Improve
Non Verbal Communication
Skills
The following steps can help you learn to read the nonverbal signals of other
people and enhance your own ability to communicate effectively.
 Steps to improve non verbal communication skills
i. Pay Close Attention to Non Verbal Signals:

1. Avoid giving conflicting signals.
2. Try to be as honest as possible in
communicating your emotions.
3. Smile genuinely. Faking a smile is
obvious to the observer.
4. Maintain the eye contact your
audience expects.
5. Be aware of your posture and of
the gesture you use.
6. Try to use appropriate vocal signals while
minimizing unintentional messages.
7. Imitate the appearance of the people
you want to impress.
8. Respect your audience’s comfort zone.
9. Adopt a handshake that matches your
personality and intention.
10. Be aware of varying attitudes towards
time.
11. Use touch only when appropriate.
 Steps to improve non verbal communication skills
ii) Interpret Nonverbal Signals Carefully

1. Be aware that people may give false nonverbal cues.

2. Remember, few gestures convey meaning in and of themselves.

Consider nonverbal signals in the context of situation and culture.
 3. Written
Communication
3. Written Communication
• This kind of communication involves any kind of exchange of
information in written form.

• To put it simply, written language communication is communication

by means of written symbols that are communicated by or to, or
between people or groups.
3. Written Communication
• Thus, written communication is the presentation of ideas or essays
that make a clear point, supply details supporting that point, and
demonstrate unity and coherence of thought.

• When the information is lengthy and comprises images, pictures,

charts, graphs, statistical data, and so forth, then it cannot be
imparted orally to the individuals.

• In such cases, written communication disregarded as one of the

indispensable ways of imparting information.
 4. Visual
Communication
 4. Visual Communication
• Visual communication is also the type of communication that is common
in the daily lives of individuals.

• The main areas through which visual communication takes place are
televisions, radios, social networking, and so forth.

• When individuals are watching television or listening to radio programs ,

then also they are engaged in a form of communication.

• In some cases, they are not only utilizing these for leisure and
recreational purposes, but they are also augmenting their knowledge and
understanding in terms of various aspects.
4. Visual Communication
• When individuals are communicating with others, then in most cases,
their objective is to enhance their knowledge and understanding.

• Therefore, through some television shows and radio programs as well,

individuals are able to augment their knowledge and understanding.

• Facebook is visual with the use of memes, videos, images, and so

forth.

• Instagram is the only image platform, and advertisers make use of this
platform to market their products.
 5. Feedback
Communication
5. Feedback Communication
• When individuals, who are in leadership positions in educational
institutions and in various forms of organizations, such as instructors,
supervisors, heads, directors, employers, and so forth, put into
operation various types of assessment methods to evaluate the
performance of the individuals.

• After evaluating the performance, they provide feedback in terms of

their performance.
5. Feedback Communication
• Hence, the communication that takes place is termed feedback
communication.

• Therefore, within educational institutions at all levels and various

types of organizations, this type of communication is regarded as
crucial and beneficial.
 6. Mass
Communication
6. Mass Communication
• Mass communication is the process of delivering information, ideas,
and attitudes to a sizeable and diversified audience.

• This is done through the use of media developed for that purpose
namely newspapers, magazines, radio, television, websites, and social
media networks.

• The act of mass communication is much more complex than that of

face-to-face communication.

• It is addressed to the masses, to an extremely large audience.

7. Group Communication
7. Group Communication
• Communication by many persons in a face-to-face situation is
described as group communication.

• Here, as the group grows in size communication tends to become

more and more of a monologue reducing participation.

• The degree of directness, therefore, depends on the size of the group,

the place where it meets, and also the relationship of the members of
the group to one another.

• In a group, communication feedback is more difficult to measure and

respond to.
Sources:

https://getuplearn.com/blog/nonverbal-communication/