Verbal and Non-Verbal communication

Question 1

What is non-verbal communication?

Answer 1

Nonverbal communication is the transmission of messages or signals through a nonverbal platform such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and body language.

Question 2

What are the 2 components of non-verbal communication?

Answer 2

1. Kinesics communication

2. Meta communication

Question 3

What is kinesics communication?

Answer 3

Kinesics communication is a message conveyed through non-verbal acts in the form of body movements such as gestures, winking, smiling, style of dressing, etc. This type of communication transmits unstated feelings, attitudes, and hidden intentions of the sender.

Question 4

What is meta communication?

Answer 4

The sum of verbal and non-verbal communication is known as meta-communication. It is a secondary communication about how a piece of information is to be interpreted. For example, rolling your eyes while saying “glad to meet you” implies that the person is not actually glad to meet them.

Question 5

What are the levels miscommunication can originate at?

Answer 5

miscommunication can occur at 3 levels -

• at the level of the transmitter
• at the level of the medium
• at the level of the receiver

Question 6

What does a barrier to communication mean?

Answer 6

Anything that obstructs the free flow of communication is known as a barrier

Question 7

Name the different barriers to effective communication

Answer 7

1. Physical barriers
2. Semantic barriers
3. Psycho-sociological barriers
4. Cultural barriers

Question 8

Explain physical barriers to communication

Answer 8

Physical barriers to communication are factors that interfere with a conversation. They can materialize from the natural environment or be a product of human creation.

1. Noise

Noise is often a barrier to communication. For example, in factories, oral communication is rendered difficult because of the loud noise of the machines. Electronic noise, like blaring, often interferes in communication by telephone. The word ‘noise’ is also used to refer to all kinds of physical interference, like illegible handwriting, spelling mistakes, smudged copies of duplicated typescripts, poor telephone connection, etc.

2. Time and Distance

Time and distance also act as barriers to communication. Time can impact the promptness and clarity of communication. The use of the telephone along with computer technology has made communication much faster and helped overcome the distance barrier. However, mechanical breakdowns can render these facilities ineffective.

Question 9

What are semantic barriers?

Answer 9

Semantic barriers are obstacles in communication that distort the meaning of a message being sent in some way other than how it was intended.

1. Interpretation of words

When the receiver of a message does not attach the same meaning to a word as the transmitter had intended, it causes miscommunication. It is from the context that we can determine which meaning is to be assigned to a particular word. But on account of different social, economical, cultural, and educational backgrounds, people interpret even the context differently.

2. Technical jargon

This barrier occurs when a specialist in a field is using technical terms and the receiver attaches a different meaning to the same word

3. Idioms and phrases (denotative and connotative)

Words have two types of meanings - denotative and connotative
The literal meaning of a word is called its denotative meaning, whereas connotative meanings arouse qualitative judgments and personal reactions

Question 10

What are psycho-sociological barriers?

Answer 10

1. Attitudes and opinions

Personal attitudes and opinions often act as barriers to effective communication. If information agrees with our opinions and attitudes, we receive it favorably, and vice versa

2. Emotions

Emotions play an important role in the act of communication. For example, if a sender is nervous, perplexed, or anxious, he will be unable to organize a message properly. His state of mind will be reflected in his message. In the same way, the emotions of the receiver also affect the communication process.

3. Closed mind

A person with a closed mind is very difficult to communicate with. They have deeply ingrained prejudices and are not prepared to reconsider their opinions.

4. Status-block / consciousness

Status consciousness exists in every organization and is a major barrier to effective communication. Subordinates are afraid of communicating upward any unpleasant information; status conscious superiors think that consulting their juniors would compromise their dignity

5. Poor communication skills

Poor retention of communication also acts as a barrier. It may lead to imperfect responses, which may further hamper the communication process

Question 11

What are cultural barriers to communication?

Answer 11

A Cultural barrier in communication occurs mainly when communication happens between people from different cultural backgrounds. The different interpretation of meanings can cause misunderstandings during intercultural communication.

Question 12

Communication across cultures

Answer 12

• In the path of successful communication, culture often becomes a challenge as it influences our approach to problems and participation in varied groups and communities
• Whenever cultural consideration is ignored, one fails to communicate his ideas to others.
• The purpose of cross-cultural communication is to know how people from varying cultures mingle and communicate with one another.

Question 13

What is the role of listening?

Answer 13

• listening is an important aid in communication

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