LANGUAGE OF COMMUNICATION - COMMUNICATION THEORY

LANGUAGE OF COMMUNICATION

BY

SMART LEARNING WAY

The word of “communication” is derived from “communist" (Latin), meaning “common”. It stands for a natural activity of all human beings to convey opinions, feelings, information and ideas to others through words (written or spoken) body language or signs.

Communication is natural to all living creatures. Communication establish between human and non-human beings. Communication is central to everything that we do. Our activities succeed or failed and our goals are achieved or not achieved according to our ability to communicate effectively.

1.“Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons.”

                                      - George R. Terry

2. “Communication means a process of passing information and understanding to one person to another person”

                                                - Keith Devis

Introduction about Language Of Communication

There are two parts of language of communication

1   1.)   Verbal             2.) Nonverbal

In verbal language there are two parts

 1. Oral communication  

 2. written communication

In Non-verbal there are five languages

 1. Body language

 2. Para language   

3. Time language   

4. Sign language

Verbal language

Verbal communication means communication through use of words. We use words to share our thoughts, feelings and ideas with others. Words can be oral or written. When messages are sent through oral words it is known as ‘Oral Communication’ and when they are sent through written words, it is known as ‘Written Communication’. Verbal communication can, thus, take two forms.

Oral communication

Oral communication means transmission of messages through spoken words. Most of the communication in business and non-business world takes place orally. The way we talk reflects our personality, educational, background, emotional state and our relationship with the listener. oral communication is used :1. By choice

2. Nature of information

3. Situation

Formal oral communication takes place through

formal presentation,     

group discussions,

meetings,   

interview etc..

Informal oral communication takes place through

face-to-face conversation,

or telephone

Written communication

Written communication refers to transmission of messages, ideas and thoughts in writing with documentary proof in the form of notices, letters, circulars, manuals etc. It needs lot of deliberation, effort and thinking to put a message in writing. Similar to oral communication, written communication can be used in formal and informal channels.

   

Fax, Letters, Reports, Notices, etc, are the usual means for transmitting messages in writing.

Non-verbal language

‘Action speak louder than words.’ our gestures and facial expressions sometimes express what words cannot. We do not always communicate through  words alone. Body movements, gestures, voice, tones etc. account for about 93% of our communication. Only above 7% of communication that takes place without use of our words.

          Non-verbal communication is communication that take place without use of words. It conveys messages through body movements and audio-visuals signals. 

Non-verbal communication can take the following forms:

Body language

Para language

Space language

Time language

Other

Body language

Body language is the language of our body. It is the way our body communicates through its parts. Our face, eyes, posture, gesture etc. reflect our attitudes, emotions, mood, feelings (positive or negative) etc. a nod of your head, blinking of yours eyes, waving of your hands can indicate lot about your reflexes without your actually speaking anything. ‘face is the index of mind.’ Face can tell what you are thinking without you actually saying the same. 

Our body speaks through its parts as follows:

 1.Facial expression

 2.Eye

 3.Head

4.Gestures

5.Body shape

6.Posture

7. Appearance

Para language

Para means ‘like’ and Para language means ‘like language’. Words convey their intended meaning through Para language. It indicate how a speaker speaks. ‘Thanks’ said with a sad face and ‘sorry’ said with a happy face do not convey the right meaning. Sarcasm, criticism, nervousness, calmness, joy, anger etc. are reflected through tone and pitch of the voice.

Para language facilitates nonverbal communication in the following ways:

1.Voice

2. Proper steers on words

3. Mixed signals

Sign language

Signs are the symbols that convey almost 50% of what we want to say. Sign language is non-verbal form of communication where sender conveys his message to the receiver through symbols.

Sign language can be of the following types:

1      1.)    Visual signs:

          visual signs convey message through pictures and drawings. Use of postures, pictures, paintings, maps, diagrams, colours etc. is very commonly made to convey the intended messages.

       2. )Audio signs:

Use of audio signals is an effective tool that supports non-verbal communication.

     Alarm clocks, siren, bells, ambulance, fire brigades, and police vans have their peculiar sound which convey standard meanings.

 Space language

Study of communication through space around us is known as space language or ‘proxemics’. Say, we are standing four feet away from our boss and communicating with him. Can we reduce this distance or not depends upon how close and intimate we are with him ? If we wish to communicate with our friends and relatives, what is the distance we would like to maintain between them and us and whom would we tolerate that space are some of the questions that space language specify.

 How close we are to the person with whom we are communicating, what is his status, what is our relationship with him, are reflected through the space or distance that we maintain with him.

In which Edward T. Hall presents the space language through the following distances :

                   (a) Intimate space language

                   (b) Personal space  language

                   (c) Social space language

                   (d) Public space language

Time language

                   ‘Time is money’. Work done in time speaks a lot about the worth of the candidate. An employee who always reaches on time reflect his loyalty and interest in the job. People who value their high and also valued highly by others. Directors and secretaries of government organizations often give appointments to people to indicate the value of time for them.

Summary:

                    Language is considered both Verbal as well as Non Verbal Communication. Language can be in written, in oral, in signs or symbols, in space, in time, etc. in communication.

                   Language of communication is very important for all people. Foremost it is very useful for those people who involved with business, students, professional people and other people.

Bibliography

l  Managerial Communication

                        By Urmila Rai & S.M. Rai

l  Communication Today

                        By Reuben Ray

l  Communication 

                        By Dr. C.S. Rayudu