Difference Between Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication (With Table)

Communication is the process of passing or exchanging ideas, emotions, information, and thoughts between two or more people. When a meaningful interaction happens among people, then effective communication takes place.

In simple words, the way people perceive and understand the meaning of words or sentences or physical actions, and then a process of communication happens.

Communication is very essential at all levels in human life without which one can’t survive in this social environment encompassing personal as well as professional. The main purpose of communication is to correctly pass the information to the receiver, thus creating clarity of thoughts and removing misunderstanding, else the whole idea of the communication could be defeated.

But communication has discrete forms or types, the main are Verbal and Non Verbal Communication that is not clear to many.

Verbal vs Non-Verbal Communication

The main difference between Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication is that in Verbal communication, thoughts or emotions or information is exchanged between individuals through the use of speech. Non-verbal communication refers to signals transmitted through facial expressions, posture, eye contact, gestures, tone of voice, body language, and other ways.

Any interaction where a person uses the words to converse then it’s recognized as verbal communication. Nonverbal communication is also considered as an indirect method through which people communicate with others without using words or language.


 

Comparison Table Between Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication (in Tabular Form)

Parameter of Comparison

Verbal Communication

Non Verbal Communication

Definition

Verbal communication involves the use of words or speech or auditory language to express emotions or thoughts or exchange information.

Non-verbal communication involves the use of visual or non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, eye or body movements, gestures, and many more without speaking.

Communication Type

Formal as well as Informal

Informal

Impact of the Message

Very impactful as it is documented.

Very comprehensive as it shows the actual emotions of the person.

Communicates

Precise information.

Required and at times more information.

Conveyed Through

Emails, letters, notes, reports, i.e. Anything in written and oral format where words are used.

Through Body posture, gestures, eye contacts, face expressions i.e. any form of expression.

Transparency Status

Clear and Concise.

Complex and sometimes confusing.

 

What is Verbal Communication?

In Verbal communication,
a person uses words or speech to exchange information or messages. It takes
place in the form of oral as well as a written format between two or more persons.

Examples of verbal
communication
are meetings, letters, reports, emails, notes, memos, group
discussions, interviews, counseling, face-to-face conversations, telephone
calls, radio, etc.

Verbal communication plays an integral role in maintaining successful and positive relationships.

Doing effective and constructive communication always results in contented people, increased productivity, smoother operations, and decreased errors.

Verbal communication can also be done formally and informally,
where formal verbal communication is done in a structured format using defined
rules & guidelines, whereas informal communication does not precisely
follow the structured format of rules & guidelines.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

Non-verbal communication is the widely used method in the communication process where a person doesn’t use a single word or language to pass his/her message or information to other people.

When a person doesn’t use the words to converse with others rather uses visual cues such as facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, body language, tone of voice to express their feelings or convey the message, then it is called a Non-verbal communication.

When a person attending any meeting, appears
for an interview, gets into the group discussion or in any activity, then how
people carrying themselves through physical means explains their non-verbal
responses.

One has to understand how their expressions can impact the other person and thus need to be very careful.

Non-verbal communication works very well with verbal communication at times. It’s sometimes difficult to assess whether the recipient has understood the meaning or correct message is passed to the recipient or not.

Artifacts, Chronemics, Haptics, Vocalists, Proxemics, and Kinesics are forms of non-verbal communication.


 

Conclusion

Communication is a means used to
represent the psychology of people. Effectual communications help the person to
evolve better and help in minimizing the relationship issues, both personal as
well as professional.

Verbal and Non-verbal communication is ways to
convey messages or pass information with diluting the facts.

Both, Verbal and Non-verbal communications hold great importance as at times certain things can’t be passed using the structured methods of verbal communication and need to use non-verbal communication methods.

Also, at times a person needs to restrict themselves to structured methods of verbal communication.

Thus, both offer different values in
different scenarios. Hence one must understand the difference between Verbal
and Non-verbal Communication
to converse well.


 

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S006526010860369X
  2. https://academic.oup.com/joc/article-abstract/52/3/522/4110025
  3. https://www.tedcloak.com/uploads/4/5/3/7/45374411/electromagnetism2.pdf