The 5 Differences Between Verbal And Non-verbal Communication
Communication is a process through which two or more people exchange information, and there are multiple ways to exercise it. Among this range of possibilities are verbal and non-verbal communication.
In this article We will see the main differences between verbal and non-verbal communication we will examine its characteristics, and give some examples referring to both modalities.
Verbal communication is everything that occurs through linguistic dialogue between people ; That is, it requires the exchange of words through oral and auditory means, which is in itself one of the main differences between verbal and non-verbal communication.
It does not matter if the conversation happens in person or remotely, through some communication device. The indispensable characteristic of this mode of communication is that it is carried out through linguistic rules, therefore there must be speakers and interlocutors exchange words with each other
In this type of communication there are certain rules that must be followed so that the process is carried out in the best way, these rules are known as the rules of the good listener and the good speaker. Let’s give them a review.
1. Rules of the good speaker (speaker)
This is an outline of the communication principles that the friend must follow.
As for the rules of the receiver or interlocutor, they are as follows.
What is nonverbal communication?
Non-verbal communication focuses on everything related to the movements we make with our muscles when expressing the thoughts and emotions of the moment
This type of communication can occur voluntarily or involuntarily. For example, while talking to a person, we could make a gesture of surprise with the features of our face, due to the surprise caused by the content of the conversation.
On the other hand, it is also possible make movements and modulate the voice to express ideas and emotions voluntarily
Some of the communicative rules of verbal communication also apply in this case, with the exception of the gaze, which in this case must be attentive to the gestures made by the sender.
Specific differences between verbal and non-verbal communication
In the following lines we will see a summary of the differences between verbal communication and non-verbal communication.
1. The predominance
Under normal conditions, verbal communication is the first to be used. Taking into account that in the early stages of life we communicate through sounds, it is generally a mix between crying and abrupt gestures, but the predominance is always in the sounds we emit.
2. The channels used
As mentioned above, verbal communication requires that information be directed through words, which will be interpreted by the interlocutor, while non-verbal communication is purely corporal
3. The level of consciousness
Another difference between verbal communication and non-verbal communication is that In the first, the level of consciousness and attention used is much higher than in the non-verbal one The tendency is for us to think more about what we are going to say than about the gestures we can make while we speak.
Generally, non-verbal language transmits emotions that the subject does not intend to express; That is, through the language of our body, emotions find a form of direct expression, which does not always pass through the higher levels of consciousness and many times they escape our control.
5. The level of inclusion
This point refers to the fact that verbal communication is more considered at all social levels. Currently, educational centers do not teach the importance of non-verbal communication within society, which is relevant to many essential aspects of people’s daily lives.
Some examples of contexts in which it is important to use non-verbal communication may be; job interviews, project presentations to the public etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion we can say that non-verbal communication, despite not being the most relevant within society, has a fundamental importance within it and should be taken more into account within the training of individuals, from the stages youth development.
