Verbal and Nonverbal Communication (Other (Not Listed) Sample)

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
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Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
From the time we wake up in the morning until the time to retire in bed in the evening, we have to communicate. Actually, in the course of the day, we communicate with our family, our life partners, our children, our parents, our friend, neighbors, workmates and even with complete strangers, we came across in our daily life. Some scholars define communication as important, like breathing; interchange is vital. Individuals communicate for survival purposes. It is a way of transferring vital information from one person to another. There are two imperative forms of communication essentially applicable in daily life, verbal and non-verbal communication. By verbal communication, we mean sharing or conveying information between people by using speech. It involves a way of using sounds and language to relay messages. It is a vehicle of expressing ideas, concepts and perceptions, and it is vital to the process of teaching and learning. Verbal communication can either be interpersonal communication and public speaking. Nonverbal communication is elements of speech and behavior aside from the use of words in transmitting meaning. It may include tone and volume of voice, gestures and facial expression, pitch, speed, proximity to the listener, eye contact and movement amid others.
It has become a universal trend for people to talk with their hands; they integrate hand gestures into communication as a way to get the point across. In this scenario, the use of words to express the meaning and idea is termed as verbal communication since it involves the utilization of speech and sound in transferring information. Hand movement, either on a consistent or non-consistent manner is a non-verbal communication. Nonverbal communication may or may not be consistent with the information shared through speech. For instance, the rolling eyes of the listener are an expression of boredom, although the listener may claim that he is concentrating. This is a scenario where actions are not consistent with spoken words.
In reality, verbal communication are heard through our ears while one only note non-verbal communication through seeing. For instance, when two people are talking, one can understand verbal communication by hearing their talks. When one person start moving away or is leaning back from the other person, it is an indication that the person feels threatened and is trying to put distance between him/her and the perceived threat.
Research identifies that only 5 percent effect is produced by verbal communication, 50 percent by eye contact and body movement and language and 45 percent by inflexion and tone. In this perspective, non-verbal communication is a vital aspect of communication in our daily life. Body language, gestures, tone and inflexion among other non-verbal communication are honest and powerful. As an earlier proverb says, “actions speak louder than words,” people tend to believe action more than mere words. Spoken words include the self-modification of the situation while action is an outer expression of what is in one’s mind or what a person believes. Nonverbal communication tends to build a better connection between individuals, and it helps in building better correlation. To this end, spoken words and non-verbal communication does not have the same weight, but rather the latter is more powerful.
It is possible to manipulate what one is saying (speaking) but is not possible to maneuver with a person’s body language and therefore predilection goes to body language. This exemplifies why gestures conveyed through body language are fundamentals when interacting with others. Individuals with a fake identity tend to manipulate the two (words and body language). For instance, when impersonating, individuals have a propensity to maneuver with one’s character and words in order to resemble a person of interest. As mentioned earlier, verbal communication is more effective in teaching and learning. It, therefore, goes without saying that in education as a profession, spoken words are important. Learning is acquired through assimilation of spoken information. Application of both verbal and non-verbal communication is crucial in education. Information and concept are well internalized when it is accompanied by consistent body language. The application of both forms of communication makes teaching and learning in either school or work, more effective.
Non-verbal communication is crucial in teaching special schools. It helps teachers to obtain information about the interaction and communication of students. Such students can not communicate or express their feeling by talking but rather they use body language to communicate. Teachers as well uses non verbal behaviors to communicate with special students and helps them to cope in such environments. In this perspective verbal communication is not applicable in this profession.
It is pertinent to note that non-verbal behavior does not decipher across cultures easily and can lead to serious misunderstanding. This is because human behaviors are driven by beliefs, attitudes and it i...