Verbal Communication

The use of language and its symbols and sounds to convey messages. Communi cation that is verbal may also be accompanied by other forms of communication, including body language, images, sounds, and elements of voice and tone as well as nonverbal forms such as gesture, appearance, style, movement, and stress. Verbal communication is studied by a formal linguistic analysis of spoken words or by considering the interactions of people during a speech act. A study of the interpretation and meaning of verbal communications and its speech codes may also be conducted. It is also possible to look at the use of verbal communication in a social situation and analyze the effects of gender, class, ethnicity, education, and origin on the forms of verbalization. Verbal communication is problematic if accurate and effective transfer of information and messages is the goal because of the variability and fluidity of actual human speech. In addition, the interpretation of verbal communication is complicated by the assumptions and goals of both the speaker and the listener. Rules for verbally communi cating effectively are taught in etiquette and public speaking, both of which attempt to control individual expressions in favor of culturally acceptable forms of [Page 535]verbal expression. Verbal communication is an exclusi vely human activity, although some higher primates have been trained to use some elements of sign language to communicate.