Verbal and Nonverbal Communication: Principles and Cues

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Table of Contents

Verbal Communication
Principles of Verbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication
Principles of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Cues
Positive Influence of Words and Symbols
References

Verbal Communication

An act of verbal communication occurs when one of the participants uses words to convey a message. Words serve to represent ideas that the speaker wants to communicate, and they do not have inherent meaning by themselves (Simon et al., 2018). Humans give meaning to words, and the lack of clarity and subsequent misunderstanding in verbal communication might lead to severe consequences. For example, an inaccurate verbal communication between the NASCAR driver and their spotter on the stands might result in hitting another car and causing a serious accident. Therefore, verbal communication should be clear, concise, and correct to be effective.

An act of verbal communication occurs when one of the participants uses words to convey a message. Words serve to represent ideas that the speaker wants to communicate, and they do not have inherent meaning by themselves (Simon et al., 2018). Humans give sense to words, and the lack of clarity and subsequent misunderstanding in verbal communication might lead to severe consequences. For example, an inaccurate verbal communication between the NASCAR driver and their spotter on the stands might result in hitting another car and causing a serious crash. Therefore, verbal communication should be clear, concise, and correct to be effective.

Principles of Verbal Communication

When it comes to principles, verbal communication mostly revolves around the meaning of words given to them. For instance, there are two possible word meanings: denotative and connotative (Simon et al., 2018). A denotative meaning meets the dictionary article, while the connotative one can involve an emotional association. Words in denotative meaning can be used in verbal communication relatively safely. For example, using the word “pig” to define an animal would be perfectly acceptable. However, the same word also has a negative connotative meaning towards police officers. Therefore, one should exercise caution in using the connotative meaning of the words in order to avoid possible controversy.

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication may supplement verbal communication or may be used separately. Regardless of how nonverbal communication is used, it always utilizes body language to convey a message. Those nonverbal elements have a major impact on the interpretation of information (Hollinden, 2017). For example, a soccer referee might try to control the game by showing yellow and red cards to aggressive players. However, if the referee fails to supplement their decisions with confident body language, they might provoke violence on the pitch instead of calming the players’ temper.

Principles of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication has several key principles; however, fluidity and irreversibility seem to be the most important among them. The fluid nature of nonverbal communication means that it constantly occurs and makes nonverbal cues challenging to single out (Simon et al., 2018). That seamless transition from one cue to another requires extra attention during the communication process. For instance, when a politician gives a public speech, it is essential to look at their body language throughout its duration and consider the context. Otherwise, the sense of nonverbal message conveyed through the body language might be distorted.

Irreversibility of nonverbal communication means that unlike the words spoken in verbal communication, the messages sent through nonverbal cues cannot be retracted. This notion is crucial for people employed in any sphere of sales that requires interpersonal communication. A salesperson can be decent with words; however, if they cannot control their body language, they might scare the customer from making a deal.

Nonverbal Cues

There are multiple types of nonverbal cues used in body language. Most commonly, humans send nonverbal signals through facial expressions, gestures, and paralinguistics. Facial expressions include the universal portrayal of such emotions as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear (Cherry, 2021). A polite and welcoming smile is one of the most proven ways of making a positive impression in interpersonal communication.

Gestures commonly include but are not limited to waving, pointing, and indicating numeric amounts with fingers (Cherry, 2021). Gestures such as thumbs-up might become exceptionally useful for building trust and confidence. Finally, paralinguistics includes factors of vocal communication separate from the actual words, such as tone, loudness, and pitch (Cherry, 2021). For example, a teacher might speak in a louder voice to attract the attention of the students who are not listening carefully enough.

Positive Influence of Words and Symbols

Both verbal and nonverbal communication can bear a positive influence in case of success. For example, a coach can adjust a team’s tactics and improve performance by explaining the changes through effective verbal communication. In addition to that, a careful selection of words might motivate the team to play above its skill level. In regard to nonverbal communication, the cues such as a smile and a confident tone of voice can also transmit a positive influence. A smiling and welcoming doctor can keep the patient in a good mood, which is important for the positive outcomes of treatment. Overall, effectiveness in verbal and nonverbal communication represents a significant share of professional competence.

References

Cherry, K. (2021). Types of nonverbal communication. Verywell Mind. Web.

Hollinden, C. (2017). The 5 key principles of nonverbal communication. Association for Financial Professionals. Web.

Simon, D., Grimes, M., and Roch, S. (2018). Communication for Business Professionals. eCampusOntario.

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