Verbal communication
Verbal communication is the process of exchanging and passing ideas, information, emotions, and thoughts between two or more people through speech. It involves the use of words and sounds which enable people to interact and meaningfully communicate.
People can employ various means to communicate verbally. These include;
Interpersonal communication – this type of communication involves a one-on-one conversation between two individuals. Interpersonal communication occurs when two people regularly swap roles of the sender and the receiver to communicate in a seamlessly clear manner. For example, two friends walking home, having a conversation. This kind of communication is useful in scenarios where immediate response is required, or in negotiation and bargaining are employed.
Public communication – Is a type of communication that happens when one individual addresses many people. In public communication, there is a single sender and multiple receivers. Examples include a television presenter reading the news or a pastor preaching to the congregation. In these cases, public communication is useful in public speeches and election campaigns.
Nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication is the passing of thoughts, ideas, and emotions through signals, body language, gestures, eye contact, posture, or even facial expressions. It involves indirect means by which people communicate amongst themselves without using words or sounds.
Non-verbal communication has various examples which include;
Gestures – These are deliberate movements and signals of the whole or part of the body that seeks to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include pointing, waving, or even counting using fingers as an indication of numeric counts. Using gestures can be employed when communicating with someone at a distance or even in a quiet room.
Facial expressions – these are motions and positions that one makes using the face makes while attempting to communicate without words. Common facial expressions involve smiling, frowning, winking, or even raised eyebrows. Facial expressions can be used in emphasis or words or emotions, e.g., somebody frowning would indicate displeasure or boredom.