When we think of communication, we often focus on verbal communication. But we communicate in other ways as well. There are three types of communication: verbal, non-verbal, and written.

Verbal communication

Verbal communication is oral communication that happens through spoken words, sounds, vocal intonation, and pace. It can occur face-to-face, one-on-one, or in groups, over the telephone, or video conferencing.

Remember the coffee shop example, where you are in a coffee shop with a friend and they are telling you a story about the first goal they scored in hockey as a child? Well, let’s go back to that. You are in a one-on-one situation, sitting at the same table and are likely sitting face-to-face. Your friend is using verbal communication. They are excitedly describing the event. Their pace speeds up the more excited they become. They are talking a bit loudly and the tone of their voice varies drawing you deeper into the story.

Non-verbal communication

Non-verbal communication is a type of communication that occurs through facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, and body positions and movements. Non-verbal communication is important because it can both reinforce or contradict what you say verbally. Additionally, non-verbal communication is used more often than verbal communication. So, be aware of what you are saying with your non-verbal communication.

You are back in that coffee shop. Your friend if shifting their arms and shoulders as if they are skating. Their arm swipes out like a hockey stick hitting a puck and wham! The goal is made. Your friend is smiling, raising their arm in triumph. You might be a little embarrassed at this point, looking around the coffee shop but everyone is engrossed in their own stories. You laugh and lean forward, putting your elbows on the table, hands clasped, smiling. Your friend is beaming in happiness. Why? Because you just told them you were glad that they shared their story and are willing to listen to more. But you didn’t say a word.

Written communication

Written communication is a type of communication that occurs through written words, symbols, pictures, and diagrams. You are probably familiar with some informal, written types of communication, such as texting or emailing someone, posting a picture on Instagram, or using an emoji in X (formerly Twitter). You may also have engaged in more scholarly forms of written communication such as letters and papers.

It is unlikely you are writing notes in the coffee shop, since this was just two friends talking and not an interview but on your way to the bus stop after agreeing to meet your friend again in two weeks, you are bombarded with written communication. A person hands you a flyer for a newly opened store. You check your bus app announcing the arrival of your bus in three minutes. Then you read an email from your boss informing you have a new project. See, communication does involve the interaction between participants.

Attributions

This chapter is an adaptation of Overview of Communication edited by Jennifer Lapum; Oona St-Amant; Michelle Hughes; and Joy Garmaise-Yee and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. You can download this book free at Introduction to Communication in Nursing Copyright © 2020.