Advantages of Verbal Communication

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Verbal Communication and its types. It mentions benefits or advantages of Verbal Communication and drawbacks or disadvantages of Verbal Communication.

Introduction : Verbal communication is one of the methods to exchange information or messages or ideas using spoken words between people. Usually verbal communication happens between one to one or one to many persons. It involves language, voice tone, intonation and non-verbal cues to convey meaning and to engage in conversation. The verbal communication is widely used as it allows immediate feedback and clarification. The common examples of verbal communication are phone calls, face to face meetings, real time conversations, video conferencings etc.

Following are the types of communication used by people.
• Written communication - formal, informal
• Verbal communication - formal, informal
• Non verbal communication
• Paralingual communication: It is the tone and pitch of your voice when you are talking to people.

What is Verbal Communication ?

It is considered as oral communication which takes help of words as medium for communication. Verbal communication requires speech organs in the human beings to produce the sound which is perceived by ears on the other side. In other words, it is spoken language, human speech or sounds. The different languages are used by people in order to communicate such as english, hindi, tamil, telugu, Slavic etc. In order to understand, both the persons should be familiar with the language. The figure depicts a man and a woman communicating using speech organs e.g. vocal cord and ear.

Formal verbal communication is used in professinal or official settings where exchange of information is very useful, structured and follows established standard guidelines. Informal verbal communication is used in casual, social and personal contexts.

EXAMPLES of verbal communication:
• Formal presentations, business meetings, job interviews etc. are formal verbal communication types
• Conversations with friends/family members, informal gatherings etc. are informal verbal communication types

Types of verbal communication

Verbal communication refers to exchange of information through spoken words. Some of the types of verbal communication are as follows.
• Face to face conversation : Two or more individuals engage in direct conversation. It offers ability to clarify any misunderstandings in real time.
• Telephone communication : Communication takes place using telephones or mobile phones (now-a-days). It enables individuals to speak and listen to each other without being physically present.
• Video conferencing : It allows people located in different parts of the globe to see and hear each other in real time. It facilitates remote meetings, interviews and collaborations. Mobile and desktop applications such as Google Meet, GoTo Meeting, WhatsApp Messenger, Skype are very popular among people.
• Public speaking: It involves delivering message or presentation to larger audience.
• Formal presentations: It involves visual aids such as slides or charts to spoken spoken message. It enhances audience understanding. It is a structured form of verbal communication where speaker delivers information to an audience.
• Job interviews: In this type, candidates are assessed based on their ability to answer questions.
• Group discussions : Multiple individuals are engaged in conversation to exchange ideas, share perspectives and reach dicisions collectively.
• The other types are debates, coaching and mentoring, interpersonal Communication etc.

Verbal communication improvement skills

It is better to have good verbal communication skills as it is essential for effective interpersonal interactions and to have success in professional career. Following tips will help individuals to enhance their verbal communication abilities.
• Practice active listening to others with full attention. Listening radio with your favourite choice of station is advisable.
• Expand vocabulary by learning new words daily and use them in your conversations. Read books, articles and written materials such as newspapers.
• Organize your thoughts before speaking and use simple and concise communication with straightforward language.
• Maintain open and confident body posture with appropriate eye contact and facial expressions while speaking.
• Actively seek feedback from others about your communication skills.
• Consider enrolling in public speaking courses or workshops.
• Participate in conversations and discussions to practice your verbal communication skills.
• Record yourself speaking and listen back to identify improvement areas. Use recording technologies to perform this task.

Following are the advantages of Verbal Communication:
➨It saves time in communication.
➨It is quick in obtaining feedback once delivered.
➨It provides complete understanding of communication delivered and there is chance to make it more clear in case of doubts in interpretation of words or ideas.
➨It is more reliable method of communication.
➨It is flexible and effective for all.
➨It is powerful means of persuation and control.
➨It is cheaper way of communication and hence saves money.

Disadvantages of Verbal Communication

Following are the disadvantages of Verbal Communication:
➨Emotions are visible and hence leads to trouble in certain cases.
➨It has no legal validity and hence will lead to problems in certain situations.
➨It does not provide permanent record unless it is recorded with modern means of storage.
➨It has issues when communicating with distant people.
➨It is difficult for certain people to understand speech due to various speech tones used in verbal communication.
➨This form of communication is not suitable for lengthy message.
➨There is chance of leak of secret information with the help of modern devices such as polygraph or lie detector. Often secret information can be obtained while the person is under the influence of alcohol.

What is non verbal communication?

The human beings without proper speech organs can not produce sound. Moreover human beings without ears can not be part of receiving end of verbal communication. For these kind of people, non verbal means of communication is employed to help them communicate and pass information.

Nonverbal communication refers to exchange of information without the use of spoken words. It involves facial expressions, gestures, body language, posture, eye contact, sign languages and other nonverbal cues. These techniques are used for communication between people in nonverbal communication method.

EXAMPLES of non verbal communication:
• Gestures
• Physical appearance
• Facial expressions
• Hand movements
• Leg movements
• Sitting posture
• Touch
• Dance

Advantages and disadvantages of non verbal communication

Following are the benefits or advantages of non verbal communication method.
➨This type of communication helps to clarify and reinforce spoken message. This makes it easier for receiver to understand the intended meaning. For example, "smile face" convey friendliness and warmth where as "frown face" convey disappointment.
➨It is effective in expressing emotions and attitudes.
➨It plays crucial role to build rapport and trust between people. For example, eye contact and nodding indicate sign of attentiveness and interest during conversation.
➨It is one of the means which helps listeners to provide feedback to the speaker during conversation.
➨It transcends language barriers and hence can facilitate effective communication in multicultural and diverse settings. This enhances cross cultural communication.

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of non verbal communication method.
➨Different individuals may interpret the same nonverbal cue differently which leads to misunderstanding in communication. Hence there is a potential for misinterpretation and ambiguity.
➨They may not provide specific details or convey complex tasks with the same level of accuracy as verbal communication. It often lacks the precision and clarity which can be achieved through verbal communication.
➨It has limitatations in expressing certain thoughts, concepts or abstract ideas using nonverbal cues. The verbal communication allows use of words which has power to convey nuanced meanings, intellectual concepts and complex thoughts.
➨The nonverbal cues have different meanings and interpretations in different cultural contexts. This can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts.
➨Unlike recorded verbal communication or written communication it generally lacks a tangible record which can be reviewed or referred to later stage.

Conclusion: Overall, verbal communication is a powerful tool for human interaction. It is often used along with nonverbal cues. By integrating verbal communication with nonverbal cues, individuals can convey their messages more effectively, establish rapport and deeper connection. It allows more nuanced and comprehensive exchange of information, ideas and emotions which enhances overall quality of communication.

Other communication methods

• Advantages and disadvantages of Visual communication >>
• Advantages and disadvantages of Written communication >>