Our ancestors hunted and lived as a collective, in which they depended on each other to feel protected, accompanied and to survive. Our success as a species and as individuals depends on our ability to communicate effectively. Communication is a natural phenomenon, it is an act of interaction with people in which we share information. There are two types of communication: verbal and non-verbal.
Verbal and non-verbal communication shape our interactions with others in business and interpersonal relationships, as well as our financial and personal success, and our physical and psychological well-being. Understanding the different aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication, and the important roles they play in our interactions with others, is the first step to improving communication. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain the differences between verbal and non-verbal communication.
Verbal communication: characteristics
Verbal communication is one in which the sender uses words, whether spoken or written, to transmit the message to the receiver. It is the most effective form of communication because the exchange of information and feedback is very fast. There is less chance of misunderstanding since the communication between the parties is clear, that is, the parties are using words to express what they want to say.
Communication can be done in two ways:
- Communication face to face: oral, conferences, telephone calls, seminars, etc.
- Written: letters, emails, text messages, etc.
There are two main types of communication:
- Formal communicationalso called official communication: it is a type of communication in which the sender follows a predefined channel to transmit information to the receiver.
- Informal communication: It is the type of communication in which the sender does not follow any predefined channel to transmit the information.
Non-verbal communication: examples and types
Non-verbal communication is based on the understanding or interpretation of each of the parties that are part of the communicative act, since the transmission of messages does not occur through words but through signs. Therefore, if the receiver fully understands the message and adequate feedback occurs, the communication will be successful. A very clear example of this type of communication is gestures and body position when speaking.
In many situations it complements verbal communication to obtain a more global vision of the situation, understand the state of the people (if they are nervous, relaxed, sad…) and certain personality characteristics (if the person is shy, extroverted…). Therefore, it serves to obtain that information that the speech does not provide us with. They are the following:
- Chronemia: It is the use of time in communication. For example: punctual or unpunctual people, speed of speech, etc.
- Proxemic: It is the distance maintained by the person with respect to others during the communicative act. Proxemics tells us when the communication is intimate, personal, social and public.
- Vowel: the volume, tone and timbre of voice used by the sender
- Haptics: is the use of touch in communication that expresses emotions and feelings
- Kinesia: It is the study of a person’s body language: gestures, postures, facial expressions…
- Artifacts: It is the appearance of the person that shows aspects of their personality, for example: the way they dress, jewelry, lifestyle, etc.
Differences between verbal and non-verbal communication
Verbal communication is a form of communication in which words to exchange information with other people, whether in the form of speech or in writing. On the contrary, non-verbal communication does not use words, but other modes of communication are used such as body language, facial expressions, sign language, etc. These are some of the differences between verbal and non-verbal communication:
- Verbal communication uses words, while non-verbal communication is based on signs.
- There are less opportunities for confusion between sender and receiver in verbal communication while in non-verbal communication understanding is more difficult since language is not used.
- In verbal communication, the exchange of messages is faster, which means that feedback is received very quickly. Non-verbal communication relies more on understanding, which takes time and is therefore slower.
- In verbal communication, the presence of both parties in the place is not necessary, since it can also be done if the parties are in different places. On the other hand, in non-verbal communication both parties must be there, at the moment of communication.
- In verbal communication, documentary evidence is maintained whether the communication is formal or written. But there is no conclusive evidence of non-verbal communication.
- Verbal communication fulfills the most natural desire of humans, talk. In the case of non-verbal communication, feelings, emotions or personality are communicated through the acts carried out by the parties in the communicative act.
- It is important to comment that both types of communication complement each other and, on many occasions, occur simultaneously.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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