Oral Communication in Context
Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
LESSON 1.2
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Table of Contents
Introduction
1
Objectives
2
DepEd Competency
2
Warm-Up
3
Learn about It
The Various Types of Nonverbal Communication
Proxemics
Kinesics
Chronemics
Paralanguage
Haptics
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
Key Points
7
Check Your Understanding
8
Let’s Step Up!
9
Photo Credit
10
Bibliography
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Lesson 1.2
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Fig. 1. Aside from using words, we also communicate through nonverbal cues like a firm
handshake.
Introduction
When receiving good or bad news, it is but natural for us to react with a smile or a frown.
This kind of feedback is an important part of communication that we tend to overlook. In
communication, there are verbal and nonverbal elements present. We have to understand
that both make up an effective means of communicating.
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
●
Distinguish verbal from nonverbal communication.
●
Identify various types of nonverbal communication.
●
Gain an appreciation for the importance of both verbal and nonverbal
communication.
DepEd Competency
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to distinguish verbal from
nonverbal communication.
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Warm-Up
Buddy Charades
Materials
●
pad paper
●
writing materials
Procedure
1. Wait for your teacher to give you a piece of paper containing three different
situations that are similar to the following examples:
a. running late for work
b. riding a packed MRT train
c. riding a turbulent plane for the first time
d. hearing one’s name being called as the winner
2. Find a partner. One of you will act out the phrases you had written down without
using words or sounds, while the other guesses the situations being acted out.
3. Take turns with acting out the situations and guessing the answer until you get it all
right or until the designated time runs out.
Guide Questions
1. What techniques did you and your partner use?
2. How important are gestures, facial expressions, and body language in
communicating the answer to your partner?
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Learn about It
Verbal communication refers to the use of words or speech in sending messages and
transmitting ideas or feelings. When we communicate verbally, we use words or language to
convey what we would like others to know.
Nonverbal communication, on the other hand, refers to the act of expressing ideas in
ways that do not involve or go beyond using words. We do this through indicators like
gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and posture. The tone and speed by which
someone talks, as well as their particular environment, are also part of nonverbal
communication.
Vocabulary
verbal
communication
(noun)
the use of words or speech in sending messages and
transmitting ideas or feelings
nonverbal
communication
(noun)
the act of expressing ideas in ways that do not involve
or go beyond using words
Essential Question
Why are verbal and nonverbal communication equally important?
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
The Various Types of Nonverbal Communication
We convey meaning through nonverbal cues in different ways. Take note of the following
types of nonverbal communication and observe how they apply to your own interactions
with other people.
Proxemics
This refers to the space or distance between the sender and the receiver. This includes
intimate distance (less than 6 inches to 18 inches), for embracing, touching, or whispering;
personal distance (1.5 to 4 feet), which is for interacting with good friends or family; social
distance (4 to 12 feet), which is for interacting with acquaintances; and public distance (12 to
25 feet or more), which is used for public speaking.
Example:
standing close to someone you are very familiar with
It is quite natural to be in or maintain an intimate distance when you are with your best
friend or someone you are very close to.
Kinesics
This refers to the use of body language in communication. This includes gestures, eye
contact, and facial expressions.
Example:
leaning forward while listening to someone
The action of leaning forward while listening to someone may be interpreted as openness
and interest in the other person’s message.
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Chronemics
This refers to the role of time in the communication process. Since various cultures may
have different perceptions of time when it comes to punctuality or in interactions,
chronemics may greatly affect communication.
Example:
arriving early to a job interview
Arriving early to a job interview may be interpreted as a sign that one is eager to work in the
company and that he or she respects the interviewer’s time.
Paralanguage
This refers to the tone, speed, and volume of a speaker’s voice. Sighs and gasps are also
considered as paralanguage.
Example:
speaking slowly and using low volume
When someone is using low volume in speech and is speaking more slowly than usual, that
person may be sad or tired.
Haptics
This refers to the use of touch to convey meaning in a conversation. This is often dependent
on culture. In some countries, friendly touching is encouraged, but in others, it is considered
an invasion of one’s personal space.
Example:
tightly hugging someone
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
An exchange of tight hugs between individuals conveys that they have a close relationship
with each other. The act of hugging is also a way to comfort someone or to let that person
know that he or she is loved or appreciated.
Let’s Check In
Review the concepts of verbal and nonverbal communication by answering
the following questions:
1. What
is
the
difference
between
verbal
and
nonverbal
communication?
2. What are the different types of nonverbal communication?
3. What makes nonverbal communication as important as verbal
communication?
Key Points
●
Verbal communication refers to the use of speech or language in sending
messages and transmitting ideas or feelings. The words in a conversation are
considered verbal communication or verbal cues.
●
Nonverbal communication refers to the act of expressing ideas in ways that do not
involve or go beyond the use of words. Body language, appearance, voice, and
environment are some of the nonverbal cues that greatly affect the meaning of our
message.
●
The five different types of nonverbal communication are proxemics, kinesics,
chronemics, paralanguage, and haptics.
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Check Your Understanding
Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. _______________ refers to the tone, speed, and volume of a speaker’s voice.
2. The use of body language in communication is called _______________.
3. _______________ communication refers to the use of words or speech in sending
messages and transmitting ideas or feelings.
4. The space or distance between the sender and the receiver is termed as
_______________.
5. _______________ is the role of time in the communication process.
Give two examples of each of the following nonverbal types.
1. Proxemics:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Kinesics:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Chronemics:
________________________________________________________________________________________
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Oral Communication in Context
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Paralanguage:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Haptics:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s Step Up!
Choose a five-minute video of any conversation in a video-sharing site. Identify at
least five nonverbal cues used during the communication and categorize them
according to their specific type. Then, write a short essay explaining how the use of
these nonverbal cues enhanced the message being shared in the conversation.
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Unit 1: Nature and Elements of Communication
Photo Credit
Fig. 1. Handshake by Flazingo is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr.
Bibliography
Hybels, Saundra, and Richard Weaver II. 2011. Communicating Effectively. 10th ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Indiana State University Press Sites. “4.3: Differences Between Verbal and Nonverbal
Communication.” Accessed October 4, 2021.
http://kell.indstate.edu/public-comm-intro/chapter/4-3-differences-between-verbal-a
nd-nonverbal-communication/.
Marteney, Jim. “2.4: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication.” Social Science LibreTexts.
December 4, 2020. Accessed October 4, 2021.
https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Communication/Argument_and_Debate/A
rguing_Using_Critical_Thinking_(Marteney)/02%3A_Communicating_An_Argument/2.0
4%3A_Verbal_and_Nonverbal_Communication.
Sheppard, Mike. “Proxemics.” The University of New Mexico. July 1996. Accessed December
14, 2016. http://www.cs.unm.edu/~sheppard/proxemics.htm.
Steinberg, Shiela. 2007. An Introduction to Communication Studies. Cape Town, South Africa:
Juta & Co., Ltd.
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