ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

LECTURE 3.

Verbal Communcation – It’s what you say and how you say it

“The newest computer can merely compound, at speed, the oldest problem in the relations between human beings, and in the end the communicator will be confronted with the old problem, of what

to say and how to say it.” Edward R. Murrow

“you cannot not communicate”

So if we’re always communicating – verbally and non-verbally, intentionally and unintentionally – it’s important to be mindful of how our communication is being received.

Let’s start by considering the messages yousend verbally, through your words, tone of

voice, and other qualities of speech.

The basis of communication is the interaction between people. 

Verbal communication is one way for people to communicate face-to-face. 

Some of the key components of verbal communication are

sound, words, speaking, and language. 

Evaluate your verbal communication

While words only account for approximately 7% of the meaning

people ascribe to your communication, tone of voice accounts for 38% of the

meaning. So, it’s obvious that to be a successful

communicator, you need to beaware of your verbal cues and clues (e.g., everything from words to sighs, moans,

grunts).

Inflection refers to

• ups and downs in talking.

Inflection helps you

• signal to your partner what’s important

• and may even indicate your emotional state

(especially combined with volume and pitch).

Volume indicates

• the degree of loudness to your voice,

• your energetic involvement with a topic

• and gives your spouse clues about your temperament and mood.

Pacing deals with

• your rate of speech or

• the speed of your talking.

• Matching your rate of speech and your intensity to that of your partner creates rapport and connection.

Word choice means what words you use to convey your message.

Though words may have specific definitions, our lifetime of experience with a word means that our meaning for the word and someone else’s meaning might be quite different.

“Communication leads to community,

that is, to understanding intimacy and mutual valuing.”

(Rollo May)

Speaking can be looked at in two major areas:

• interpersonal and

• public speaking.

 

Since the majority of speaking is an interpersonal process, to

communicate effectively we must not simply clean up our language, but

learn to relate to people.

• In interpersonal speaking etiquette is very important.

• To be an effective communicator one must speak in a manner that is not offending to the receiver. 

Etiquette also plays an important role in an area that has developed in most all business settings: hierarchical communication.  

In business today hierarchical communication is of utmost importance to all members involved.

Public speaking 

Some of the major areas of public speaking are

speaking to persuade,

speaking to inform, and

speaking to inspire or motivate.