Verbal communication differentiates humans and makes them unique from all creatures. "Verbal communication involves using speech to exchange information with others," according to Jeff Butterfield, author of "Verbal Communication." By talking with another person or persons, you are verbally communicating. All humans need to interact, and the most obvious form of communication is verbal, or oral, communication. When you communicate verbally, you forge and maintain relationships, express opinions, share knowledge, improve businesses and develop an understanding of your culture.
Process
The verbal communication process requires several steps. It begins with the source delivering a message via a channel. That means that you speak to someone face-to-face, on the telephone, via video conference or another source. The receiver then decodes the message and provides feedback. The person with whom you are speaking then listens, understands and responds to your message. This process occurs each time you engage in a discussion and will repeat itself until the conversation is completed. You will likely alternate between the roles of source and the receiver.
Goal
The goal of verbal communication is "all about conveying your messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. It's also about receiving information that others are sending to you, with as little distortion as possible" according to MindTools.com a management and leadership training resource. That means as the sender, your goal is to clearly state your message. As the receiver, your goal is to fully understand the meaning of the message. If the message is misunderstood, the goal is not met.
Types
There are two types of verbal communication, informal and formal. Formal verbal communication most often occurs in the workplace in the form of a presentation or seminar. The intent of formal verbal communication is for the sender to provide a series of information in an organized format. The receiver is usually allowed feedback at the end of the presentation. Informal verbal communication is casual or everyday conversation. Informal verbal communication is probably the most common type of verbal communication you use.
Principals of Language
The author of "Creating Communication" describes five principles of language. The first principle is language is symbolic and words have no meaning. We assign meanings to the words. Second is that language is rule-governed. Rules are designed to arrange words in a sentence. The third is language is subjective. If someone says the word "car," each receiver will have a different idea of the kind of car. The fourth is language defines and limits. For instance, the sentence "My neighbor is a runner" defines the neighbor as athletic but limits the receiver from any other information. The last principle is that language lets us create. Our conversations are only limited by the number of words we know.
Barriers
If the sender's message isn't clear, the receiver might not understand or misunderstand the message. A barrier can also be formed if the receiver does not understand the context or intent of the message. The sender needs to be concise and clear. The receiver needs to offer feedback or question the sender if he does not understand the message. Other barriers are language and cultural differences.
References
- "Verbal Communication"; Jeff Butterfield; 2009
- MindTools: Communication Starts Here
- "Creating Communication, 2nd Edition"; Randy Fujishin; 2009
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