Communication is a way to connect individuals through messages, which can be verbal or nonverbal. Some speak their message, while other may communicate without speaking. This leads to the two forms of communication – verbal and nonverbal.

 

As their names suggest, verbal communication is when you communicate with words and trade information between other individuals. Nonverbal communication on the other hand, requires no words to be spoken, and uses other modes to communicate a message with individuals.

 

Here is a further look on understanding the difference between verbal and nonverbal communication:

 

 

Verbal Communication

The communication between individuals through words spoken by a sender to give a message to the receiver(s) is known as verbal communication. Through the utilization of sounds and dialects, thoughts, ideas, desires, and opinions are expressed by one person to the other individual(s) in this form of communication. The main types of verbal communication are formal and informal. Verbal communication is not time consuming, and is easy to translate to get a clear message. This form of communication can be documented easily.

 

Nonverbal Communication

The communication between individuals through signs and symbols by a sender to give a message to the receiver(s) is known as nonverbal communication. Silent prompts are sent out and accepted by the sender and receiver in this form of communication, through the utilization of visual signals, body language, eye contact, time, and distance. There are procedures of encoding and decoding in nonverbal communication. Gestures, facial expressions, and postures create encoding of information, while decoding involves an elucidation of information from past experiences. The main types of nonverbal communication are chronemics, vocalics, haptics, kinesics, artifacts, and proxemics. Nonverbal communication is time consuming and can lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding. This form of communication can not be documented easily.