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Oral Communication
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 What is
Communication?
Etymology of Communication

1. Communication (from Latin word ‘communicare’

meaning , to share or to have something in common.
2. Communication provides central meaning to human
experience.
3. Communication is the process of expressing and
exchanging information, thoughts, ideas, and
feelings.
4. Webster defines communication as a process
by which information is exchanged between
individuals through a common system of
symbols, signs or behavior.
5. Communication is a process of sharing and
conveying messages or information from one
person to another using different means,
medium, context, media, and cultures.
 There are different ways and terms in which
communication can be manifested. It can be
through face-to-face, a phone conversation, a
group discussion, a meeting or interview, a
letter correspondence, a class recitation, and
many others. In other words, the basic
functions of communication are to achieve
understanding or shared meaning and to
persuade, inform, entertain and manage
relationships.
Keith Davis
Communication is a process of
passing information and
understanding from one person to
another.
John Adair
Communication is essentially the
ability of one person to make
contact with another and make
himself or understood.
Definition of oral Communication

★ Oral communication is the form of verbal communication,

which conveys the message from the sender to the receiver.
★ It is an exchange of information with the help of spoken words.
★ It is the process of exchanging information or ideas between
two or more persons using one’s voice.
★ It is the sharing of information between individuals by using
speech.
★ Communication is about passing information from one person
to another through stated words.
Lesson 1 Nature
of
Communication?
1. Communication is a process.

Communication as a process means it is a step by step

activity and it is essentially a two-way process that
involves the active participation of both the sender
and receiver. It is the act or process of using words,
sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange
information or to express your ideas, thoughts,
feelings, etc., to someone else
● Communication is a dynamic process which
is influenced by the communicator’s mood
and thinking.

● It is a complex process too. By complex

process it means one message may be
interpreted in many ways by different people.
In the sample image,
the teacher explain a
lesson in a class of 20
students. There may
also be a 20 different
understanding of the
lesson. That is why
there is a need to seek
for clarification called
feedback.
2. Communication is much more of an ART than a science.

There is no right or wrong way to

communicate – no set of absolute rules
to be followed but there are underlying
principles to guide us into effective
communication.
3. Communication has a sender and receiver.
Communication occurs between two or more people
acting as the speaker or the receiver of the message. In
other words, it is a two-way process of reaching mutual
understanding, in which participants do not only
exchange (encode-decode) information, news, ideas and
feelings but also create and share meaning. In general,
communication is a means of connecting people
or places.
4. Communication is verbal or non-verbal.

Communication can be expressed through written

or spoken words (verbal) or actions (non-verbal) of
both spoken words and nonverbal actions at the
same time. Communication is not all about sending
or receiving facts in words. It does involve ideas
and emotions that are expressed through signs,
symbols and gestures.
The sample image shows both
verbal or spoken words and
nonverbal actions. The man uses
both verbal and non-verbal cues
when he winked at the lady and at
the same time greeted her and
offered her a drink. On the other
hand, the girl’s smirk is a gesture of
disgust or dislike. Even without the
use of words, the lady’s gesture is
still understood as a form of
communicating her disapproval
towards man.
5. Communication is inevitable.

Inevitability means communication is taking place

even when someone does not want or intend to
communicate. This “does not want to
communicate” feeling of someone actually does
communicate something. What does this mean? It
simply means that you cannot avoid
communicating. Why?
 The truth is, we are communicating constantly because even
when you do not want to communicate, you are communicating!
Isn’t that ironic? Yes, you are sending a message by the way you
smile, or frown, sit or move or by the way you walk or dress up
yourself and by your actions. And even when you are sleeping in
class, you are communicating that you are either bored or sick or
whatever your reasons be!
This notion tells us that communication is everywhere.
Thus, it is impossible to not communicate. The dark clouds, the
deep blue sea, the howling dogs, your empty room or even the
silence of the night, these are all communicating and telling us
something. Try discovering that yourself.
6. Communication is irreversible.

This means that what you have said can never be

unsaid. Irreversibility happens the very minute you
click the “OK” button for a comment or post on your
social media and that it would be too late to take it back
when a lot of people have already reacted, and
commented to it. The same thing when you perhaps
throw a hurting or offensive word to your enemy
because of your anger.
7. Communication is Unrepeatable.

Unrepeatability means that an act of

communication can never be duplicated. We
may say the same thing over and over again
but the effect of what you said the second or
third or fourth time will not be the same as the
first time you said it.
Even if we intend to say the same thing again which is possible but
the ideas here is, the outer world has changed by the second
utterance. The listeners may be different, our mood may be
different, or our relationship might be in a different place. You don’t
get a second chance to make a first impression.
One of the best examples is at home when you hear your mother or
sister rants about your laziness. The first time you heard it, your
reaction would have been bad. You probably cried or stayed in your
bedroom for the whole day. But when you heard it the second time or
the third, there is that different effect. You probably wouldn’t react to
it at all, or perhaps just laugh it out! The sure thing is, you cannot
duplicate an act of communication
Importance of oral communication

1. Oral communication is important because the goal of

learning a language is to communicate in order to be
understood. Without understanding, there is no
communication.

2. Oral communication skills are fundamental to the

development of literacy. Literacy is the ability to read and
write.

3. Oral communication is essential for thinking and learning.

4. Oral Communication is the glue that puts all the components of a
language together.

5. Oral communication plays an important role in the development

of the country.

6. Oral Communication reduces the distance and makes the flow of

information faster.

7. Oral communication enables one to be a voice or instrument of

truth and a light of the world.
 Lesson 2. Elements of
Communication Process
 Communication process involves
elements such as sender, receiver,
encoding, decoding, channel/
media, noise and feedback.
1. Sender is the person who sends his ideas to another person.
For example, if a manager wants to inform his subordinates
about the introduction of a new product, he is the sender.

2. Message is the idea, feeling, suggestion, guidelines, orders or

any content which is intended to be communicated is message.
For example, message is the introduction of new product.

3. Encoding is the process of converting the idea, thinking or

any other component of message into symbols, words, actions,
diagram etc. For example, message is connected in words and
actions.
4. Media is the medium, passage or route through which encoded
message is passed by the sender to the receiver. There can be
various forms of media-face to face communication, letters, radio,
television, e-mail etc. For example manager inform about the
introduction of a new product in a meeting through presentation.

5. Decoding means translating the encoded message into

language understandable by the receiver.

6. Receiver is the person to whom the message has been sent. For
example, subordinates are receivers.
7. Feedback is the response by the receiver. It marks
the completion of the communication process.

8. Noise is the hindrance in the process of

communication. It can take place at any step in the
entire process. It reduces the accuracy of
communication e.g. 1) Disturbance in the telephone
lines, 2) An inattentive receiver 3) Improper Decoding
of Message etc.
Process of communication
Communication process consists of following steps:

(i) The sender formulates the message that he wants to

convey to the receiver.

(ii) He encodes or translates his message. He may take the

help of symbols, words, actions, diagrams, pictures etc.

(iii) He selects an appropriate channel or medium through

which the message is to be transmitted. It can be face to face
communication, letters, radio, television, e-mail etc.
(iv) The message is received by the receiver.

(v) Received message is decoded by the receiver

so that the receiver can draw the meaning of
the message.

(vi) The receiver sends his response to the

sender. In case of any confusion, the same is
conveyed and necessary clarification sought.
Significance of communication in an organization

Communication is to the organization

as blood is to the body. The success of
all the functions of management
depends upon the effective
communication.
1. Acts as Basis of Coordination:

Communication helps in coordinating the activities

of various departments and persons in an
organization by providing complete information
about organisational goals, ways of achieving them,
interpersonal relationship among persons etc.
Hence, communication acts as basis for
coordination.
2. Helps in Smooth Working of an Enterprise:

Communication ensures smooth functioning

of an enterprise. Existence of an organisation
depends fully on communication. The
activities of an organisation shall come to a
standstill if communication stops.
3. Acts as Basis of Decision Making:

Communication helps in the process of

decision making by providing all the
necessary information. In the absence of
communication of relevant information,
one cannot take any meaningful decision.
4. Increases Managerial Efficiency

The various functions of communication in an organization. the

manager involve:

(a) Providing information regarding the goals and objectives of an enterprise

(b) Providing instructions

(c) Allocating jobs and responsibilities

(d) Overseeing the work of the workers

All these functions involve communication. Thus, communication is essential for

effective performance of managerial functions.
5. Promotes Cooperation and Industrial Peace:

To ensure smooth and efficient functioning of

an organization is the main aim of the
management. This is possible only when there
is peace and harmony between the
management and the workers. The two way
communication helps in establishing same.
6. Establishes Effective Leadership:

A good leader must possess efficient

communication skills for influencing
the behavior of the subordinates. Thus,
communication is the basis of
leadership.
7. Boosts Morale and Provides Motivation

An efficient communication system helps

in motivating, inspiring and satisfying
the subordinates. Moreover, it also helps
in establishing participative and
democratic type of management.
Models of communication

Communication models are systematic representations of the process

which helps in understanding how communication works can be done

Models of communication are conceptual models used to explain the

human communication process. The first major model for
communication was developed in 1948 by Claude Elwood Shannon
and published with an introduction by Warren Weaver for Bell
Laboratories.[1] Following the basic concept, communication is the
process of sending and receiving messages or transferring information
from one part (sender) to another (receiver).
The original model of Shannon and Weaver has five elements:
information source, transmitter, channel, receiver, and destination.

Elwood Shannon and Warren Weaver were engineers who worked

for Bell Telephone Labs in the United States. Their goal was to
ensure that telephone cables and radio waves worked at maximum
efficiency. Therefore, they developed the Shannon-Weaver model,
which expanded a mathematical theory of communication. The
Shannon–Weaver model, developed in 1949, is referred to as
the 'mother of all models and is widely accepted as a main
initial model for Communication Studies.
The Shannon-Weaver model was designed to mirror the
functioning of radio and telephone technology. The initial
model consisted of four primary parts: sender, message,
channel, and receiver. The sender was the part of a telephone a
person speaks into, the channel was the telephone itself, and
the receiver was the part of the phone through which one can
hear the sender on the other end of the line. Shannon and
Weaver recognized that static or background sounds may
interfere with a telephone conversation; they referred to this as
noise. Certain types of background sounds can also indicate the
absence of a signal]
Shannon and Weaver's original model contains five elements:
information source, transmitter, channel, receiver, and
destination. The information source is where the information is
stored. In order to send the information, the message is encoded
into signals, so it can travel to its destination. After the message
is encoded, it goes through the channel which the signals are
adapted for the transmission. In addition, the channel carries any
noise or interference that might lead to the signal receiving
different information from the source. After the channel, the
message arrives in the receiver and is reconstructed (decoded)
from the signal before finally arriving at its destination.
In a simple model, often referred to as the transmission model
or standard view of communication, information or content
(e.g. a message in natural language) is sent in some form (as
spoken language) from an emissor/ sender/ encoder to a
destination/ receiver/ decoder. According to this common
communication-related conception, communication is viewed as
a means of sending and receiving information. The strengths of
this model are its simplicity, generality, and quantifiability. The
mathematicians Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver
structured this model on the basis of the following elements:
· An information source, which produces a message.

· A transmitter, which encodes the message into signals

· A channel, for which signals are adapted for

transmission

· A receiver, which reconstructs the encoded message

from a sequence of received signals and decodes it.

· An information destination, where the message arrives.

Shannon and Weaver argued that this concept entails
three levels of problems for communication:

1. The technical problem: how accurately can the message

be transmitted?

2. The semantic problem: how precisely is the meaning

'conveyed'?

3. The effectiveness problem: how effectively does the

received meaning affect behavior?
Daniel Chandler criticizes the transmission model in the
following terms:

· It assumes that communicators are isolated

individuals.

· It makes no allowance for differing purposes.

· It makes no allowance for differing interpretations.

· It makes no allowance for unequal power

relationships.
Aristotle Model

The Aristotle model of communication is a

wide accepted communication theory in
which the role of the speaker is the center.
Aristotle was the first to take an initiative
and design the communication model.
Aristotle Model is mainly focused on speaker
and speech. It can be broadly divided into 5
primary elements: Speaker, Speech, Occasion,
Audience and Effect. The Aristotle's
communication model is a speaker centered
model as the speaker has the most important
role in it and is the only one active.
Lasswell Communication Model

Lasswell describes verbal communication and

consists of five elements. Who says What, in Which
channel, to Whom, with What effect? This model
is also called a 'linear model of
communication', 'uni-directional process' or
'action model, because it describes a one-way
process within communication.
Schramm model of communication

Communication is usually described along a few major dimensions: Message (what

type of things are communicated), source / emissor / sender / encoder (by whom),
form (in which form), channel (through which medium), destination / receiver /
target / decoder (to whom), and Receiver. Wilbur Schramm (1954) also
indicated that we should also examine the impact that a message has (both desired
and undesired) on the target of the message.[14] Between parties, communication
includes acts that confer knowledge and experiences, give advice and commands,
and ask questions. These acts may take many forms, in one of the various manners
of communication. The form depends on the abilities of the group communicating.
Together, communication content and form make messages that are sent towards a
destination. The target can be oneself, another person or being, another entity
(such as a corporation or group of beings).
Schramm model of
communication
Communication can be seen as processes of information transmission
governed by three levels of semiotic rules:

Syntactic (formal properties of signs and symbols),

Pragmatic (concerned with the relations between signs/expressions and their

users) and

Semantic (study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they
represent).

Therefore, communication is social interaction where at least two interacting

agents share a common set of signs and a common set of semiotic rules. This
commonly held rule in some sense ignores auto communication, including
intrapersonal communication via diaries or self-talk, both secondary phenomena
that followed the primary acquisition of communicative competences within
social interactions.
 Berlo’s model of communication
In 1960, David Berlo expanded Shannon and Weaver's 1949 linear model of
communication and created the Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver (SMCR)
Model of Communication.[11]The SMCR Model of Communication separated
the model into clear parts and has been expanded upon by other scholars.

The Berlo's communication process is a simple application for person-to-

person communication, which include communication source, encoder,
message, channel, decoder, and communication receiver. In addition, David
Berlo presented some factors that influence the communication process
between two people. The factors include communication skills, awareness
level, social system, cultural system, and attitude.
The Berlo's Model of Communication process starts at the source.
This is the part which determines the communication skills, attitude,
knowledge, social system, and culture of the people involved in the
communication. After the message is developed, which are elements
in a set of symbols, the encoder step begins. The encoder process is
where the motor skills take place by speaking or writing. The
message goes through the channel which carries the message by
hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, or tasting. Then the decoding
process takes place. In this process, the receiver interprets the
message with her or his sensory skills. Finally, the communication
receiver gets the whole message understood.
Barnlund’s Transactional Model
In light of these weaknesses, Barnlund
(1970) proposed a transactional model of
communication. The basic premise of the
transactional model of communication is
that individuals are simultaneously
engaging in the sending and receiving of
messages.
In a slightly more complex form, a sender and a receiver are
linked reciprocally. This second attitude of communication,
referred to as the constitutive model or constructionist view,
focuses on how an individual communicates as the determining
factor of the way the message will be interpreted. Communication
is viewed as a conduit; a passage in which information travels
from one individual to another and this information becomes
separate from the communication itself. A particular instance of
communication is called a speech act. The sender's personal
filters and the receiver's personal filters may vary depending upon
different regional traditions, cultures, or gender; which may alter
the intended meaning of message contents.
In the presence of "noise" on the transmission channel (air,
in this case), reception and decoding of content may be faulty,
and thus the speech act may not achieve the desired effect.
One problem with this encode-transmit-receive-decode
model is that the processes of encoding and decoding imply
that the sender and receiver each possess something that
functions as a [code-book], and that these two code books are,
at the very least, similar if not identical. Although something
like code books is implied by the model, they are nowhere
represented in the model, which creates many conceptual
difficulties.
Advantages of Barnlund's Transactional
Model of Communication. The model shows
shared field experience of the sender and
receiver. Transactional model talks about
simultaneous message sending, noise and
feedback. Barnlund's model is taken by critics
as the most systematic model of
communication.
Interactive/convergence(Two-way process)

It is two linear models stacked on top of each other. The sender

channels a message to the receiver and the receiver then becomes
the sender and channels a message to the original sender. This
model has added feedback, indicating that communication is not
a one way but a two way process. It also has "field of experience"
which includes our cultural background, ethnicity geographic
location, extent of travel, and general personal experiences
accumulated over the course of your lifetime. Draw backs – there
is feedback but it is not simultaneous.
For example, – instant messaging. The sender sends an IM to the receiver,
then the original sender has to wait for the IM from the original receiver to
react. Or a question/answer session where you just ask a question then
you get an answer.
Constructivist Model of Communication

focus on the negotiated meaning, or common

ground and understanding we create when trying
to describe the process. C. Essential Components
of Communication. Source o Creates and sends
the message. ... Channel or the way in which a
message or messages travel between source and
receiver.
Lesson 2.1 Types of
Communication
5 Types of Communication

1) Verbal or non- verbal Communication.

2) Intrapersonal / Interpersonal communication.

3) Visual or Written Communications - best channel

when communicating with large numbers of people,
when transmitting large amounts of data, or when
you need a record of the communication.
4) Formal or Informal communication
5) Mass Communication which is either
broadcast or print media (Journalism)
Types of oral communication

1. One-on-One Speaking (Student-Student or Student-Teacher):

recitation, pair conferencing, one on one sharing with peers or
formal student conferences with their instructor.

2. Small-talk or casual conversation- This may occur in

corridors, parties, dinner table conversations, or on malls, subways
etc.

3. Team-Based Oral Work: Smaller-scale settings for discussion,

collaboration, deliberation, and problem solving.
4. Group meetings or group Discussions(Teacher- or Student-
Led): E.g. Face to face informal or formal conversations with a group,
classroom lectures or discussions.

5. Debates and Deliberations: Debates typically involve

participants who argue one side throughout, while deliberation allows
for movement by individuals within the process. Both are feature
reason-giving argument This. Can range from two participants to a
lecture hall.

6. Speeches and Presentations: Classically, the stand-up, podium

speech delivery, individual or group presentations as in seminars and
training activities, extemporaneous or impromptu speaking
7. Oral defense – e.g. title defense of a thesis.

8. Panel discussion – All the panelist will give their view on a certain
topic followed by question and an answer from the audience.

9. Oral quiz or oral Examinations: Can take place in the instructor’s

office, in small groups, or before a whole class. Range from one oral
question on an otherwise written exam to an oral defense of a written
answer or paper to an entirely oral quiz or examination. Difficult with
very large groups, but an excellent way to determine the depth and range
of student knowledge and to stimulate high levels of preparation. Face
to face communication allows considerable two-way communication to
take place, and usually elicits a quick response.
9. Face to face counseling with one or more students, .
monologue, declamation, dialogue or peer interview.

10. Broadcasting or conferencing using broadcast

media such as television, messenger, laptop, ipod etc.

11. Telephone, video call, landline etc. have more

impact and sense of urgency than written
communication.
What is Non-verbal
Communication?
 Nonverbal communication

A non-verbal communication is a communication that occurs

without using any oral or written word. Instead of written or
oral words, it relies on various non-verbal cues like physical
movements, tasks, colors, signs, symbols, signals charts etc. to
express feelings, attitudes or information. Although no word is
used in non-verbal communication, it can effectively
communicate many human feelings more accurately than
verbal methods of communication.
Types of nonverbal communication

This includes: Eye contact, Facial

expressions,Posture and body, orientation,
Body Language, Space and Distance, Proximity,
Para-linguistic, Humor, Touch, Silence,
Personal Appearance, Symbol, Visual
Communication.
Eye Contact
The eyes are the windows of the soul.
They are important channels of
interpersonal communication, helps
regulate the flow of communication.
And it signals interest in others. Eye
contact with audiences increases the
speaker’s credibility. Teachers who
make eye contact open the flow of
communication and convey interest,
concern, warmth, and credibility.
Facial expressions
The face is an important
communicator. It is commonly said
that face is the index of the mind.

It expresses the type of emotions or

feelings such as joy, love, interest,
sorrow, anger, annoyance, confusion,
enthusiasm, fear, hatred surprise, and
uncertainty.
Facial expressions are indicated through the mouth (open,
wide or closed), eyelids (raised or lowered), nose (wrinkled or
relaxed), cheeks (drawn up or back) and the forehead (lowered or
raised). Within the facial area, eyes are especially effective for
indicating attention and interest. However, interpretations of
facial expressions differ from culture to culture. Smiling is a
powerful cue that transmits: Happiness, Friendliness., Warmth.,
Liking., Affiliation. Thus, if you smile frequently you will be
perceived as more likable, friendly, warm and approachable.
Smiling is often contagious and students will react favorably and
learn more.
Gestures
A lively and animated teaching style captures students’ attention, makes the
material more interesting, facilitates learning and provides a bit of
entertainment.

Head nods, a form of gestures, communicate positive reinforcement to students

and indicate that you are listening. Gestures are movements of the arms, legs,
hands, and head. Some authors opine that gesture is the deliberate body
movement as because they express specific and intentional meaning. For
example, a wave of the hand has a specific meaning-“hello” or “good-bye”; a
forefinger and a thumb touching to form a circle have the meaning -“ok”. Just
like facial expressions, interpretations of some gestures also differ across
cultures. For example, in Europe, raising thumb is used to convey that someone
has done something excellent while in Bangladesh the same gesture means
something idiotic.
Posture and body orientation
You communicate numerous messages by the way you walk,
talk, stand and sit. Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning
slightly forward communicates to students that you are
approachable, receptive and friendly. Furthermore,
interpersonal closeness results when you and your students
face each other. Speaking with your back turned or looking at
the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates
disinterest to your class.
Body Language
Body language is another widely recognized form of non-verbal
communication. Body movements can convey meanings and
message. Body language may take two forms of unconscious
movements and consciously controlled movements. For example,
When a person is bored, he may gaze around the room rather than
look at the speaker or he may shift positions frequently. When a
person is nervous, he may bite his nails or mash hair. These are
usually made unconsciously. On the other hand, leaning forward
toward the speaker to express interest is the case of conscious body
movements.
Space and Distance
Space and distance are significant non-verbal tools in the
case of organizational communication. A spacious and
well-decorated room indicates a person’s position in the
organization hierarchy and external people gets a message
about his importance and authority only by visiting his
room.

Distance - is another communication tool, which

expresses the degree of intimacy and individual
Proximity
Cultural norms dictate a comfortable distance for interaction
with students. You should look for signals of discomfort
caused by invading students’ space. Some of these are:
Rocking, Leg swinging, Tapping, Gaze aversion. To
counteract this, move around the classroom to increase
interaction with your students. Increasing proximity enables
you to make better eye contact and increases the
opportunities for students to speak.
Para-linguistic
his facet of nonverbal communication includes such vocal
elements as: Tone, Pitch, Rhythm, Timbre, Loudness,
Inflection. For maximum teaching effectiveness, learn to vary
these six elements of your voice. One of the major criticisms is
of instructors who speak in a monotone. Listeners perceive
these instructors as boring and dull. Students report that they
learn less and lose interest more quickly when listening to
teachers who have not learned to modulate their voices.
Humor
Humor is often overlooked as a teaching tool, and it is too often
not encouraged in college classrooms. Laughter releases stress
and tension for both instructor and student. You should develop
the ability to laugh at yourself and encourage students to do the
same. It fosters a friendly environment that facilitates learning.
Obviously, adequate knowledge of the subject matter is crucial
to your success; however, it’s not the only crucial element.
Creating a climate that facilitates learning and retention
demands good nonverbal and verbal skills.
Touch
Touch is a widely used form of non-verbal communication
tool. By touching, one can express a wide range of
emotions. However, the accepted modes of touch vary
depending on the gender, age, relative status, intimacy and
cultural background of the persons. For example, in the
context of our culture, when one touches you from the back
of the examination hall, your understanding is that he
wants to know something.
Silence
a powerful tool for communication. It may have a positive or
negative meaning. In a classroom, silence indicates that
students are listening carefully and attentively. In the same
way, through silence one can communicate his lack of interest
or a failure to understand.

For example, silence often indicates that a person receiving

instruction does not understand the action required or
sometimes silence indicates consent.
Personal Appearance
Appearance is also an important non-verbal communication tool.
Appearance includes dress, hair, jewelry, makeup, belt buckles and
so on. Appearance indicates the degree of importance or interest a
person conveys to an occasion. By means of uniform, we can
identify a student, a doctor, a lawyer, a police officer etc.

In an organization, one’s dress is keenly observed to see whether it

conforms to accepted standards of appearance. As an example,
workers may wear different clothes when they are on strike than
they do when they are working.
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical
entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a
symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red
octagon may be a symbol for “stop”.

On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite.

Numerals are symbols for numbers. Personal names are
symbols representing individuals. A red rose symbolizes love
and compassion.
Visual Communication
When communication occurs by means of any visual aids, it is
known as visual communication. Thus, communication that occurs
through facial expression, personal appearance, gesture, posture,
printed picture, sign, signal, symbol, map, poster, slide, chart,
diagram, graph etc. is called visual communication. For example, to
indicate ‘danger’, we use red sign; to mean ‘dangerous’, we use a
skull placed between two pieces of bone put in crosswise fashion; to
indicate ‘no smoking’, we use an image showing a lighted cigarette
with a cross mark on it.
Importance of Non-verbal
Communication
1. Well expression of the speaker’s attitude.

Various non-verbal cues of the speaker like physical

movements, facial expression, a way of expression, etc.
play important role in expressing the inner meaning of
the messages in face-to-face conversation and
interview. For example, the facial expression of the
speaker indicates his attitude, determination depth of
knowledge etc.
2. Information provided regarding the sender of the written
message.

The format, neatness, language and the

appearance of the envelope used in a
written message send a non-verbal message
regarding the writer’s tests, choice, level of
education etc.
3. Expression about the attitude of the listener and receiver.

Sometimes the appearance of the

listeners and receivers conveys their
attitudes, feelings, and thoughts
regarding the messages they have read or
heard.
4. Knowledge gained about a class of people.

Clothing, hairstyle, neatness, jewelry, cosmetics,

and stature of people convey impressions
regarding their occupation, age, nationality,
social or economic level, job status etc. For
example; students, policemen, nurses etc. can
easily be identified through their dresses.
5. Knowledge gained about the status of a
person.
Non-verbal cues also help to determine the
relative status of persons working in an
organization. For example, room size,
location, furnishings, decorations, lightings,
etc. indicate the position of a person in the
organization.
6. Common message to all people.

In some cases, non-verbal cues can effectively

express many true messages more accurately
than those of any other method of
communication. For example; use of red,
yellow and green lights and use of various
signs in controlling vehicles on the roads.
7. Communicate with the handicapped people.

Non- verbal cues of communication greatly

help in communicating with the handicapped
people. For example; the language of
communication with the deaf depends on the
movements of the hands, fingers, and eyeball.
8. Message conveyed to the Illiterate people.

Communication with illiterate people through written media

is impossible. There may also be some situations that do not
allow the use of oral media to communicate with them. In
such situations, non-verbal methods like pictures, colors,
graphs, signs, and symbols are used as the media of
communication. For example; to indicate danger we use red
sign and to mean dangerous we use a skull placed between
two pieces of bone put in a crosswise fashion.
9. Quick expression of message.

Non-verbal cues like sign and symbol can also

communicate some messages very quickly than written
or oral media. For example; when drivers of a running
vehicle are to be communicated that the road ahead is
narrow or there is a turn in the road ahead, we
generally use signs or symbols rather than using any
written or oral message.
10. Precise information.

Sometimes quantitative information on any

issue may require a lengthy written
message. But this quantitative information
can be presented easily and precisely
through tables, graphs, charts etc.