Oral Communication
By Neha Arif
What is Oral Communication?
Oral communication is the exchange of information and
ideas through spoken word.
In oral communication, the sender and receiver exchange
their thoughts or ideas verbally.
It can be directly in person in a face-to-face interaction or
through an electronic device such as a phone or radio.
The delivery of effective communication requires a speaker
to consider his or her vocal pitch, rate, and volume.
Importance of Oral Communication
• Effective verbal communication nurtures the process of
socialization by facilitating new friendships and these in
turn aid the learning process.
• Productive communication is a boost to career
development. An ability to convey thoughts in a clear and
precise manner would help a student to make a favorable
impression at an interview and get the job that he deserves.
• Communication skills inculcate professionalism in
speaking styles, ways of self-expression and attitudes
towards others, and these traits would hold students in
good stead in their professional lives.
Types of Oral Communication
Oral communication can be categorized into several types based on different
contexts and purposes. Here are some common types of oral communication:
Group Discussions: Group discussions involve multiple participants engaging in an
exchange of ideas, opinions, and perspectives on a specific topic. This type of oral
communication enhances collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making
within a team.
Public Speaking: This type of communication involves one individual speaking to
a large group of people. Public speaking is often used for informative or persuasive
purposes, such as delivering a keynote speech or presenting a proposal.
Interviewing: This type of communication involves one individual asking questions
of another individual. Interviews are often used in job interviews, media interviews,
and research interviews.
Video Conferencing: This form of communication is similar to face-to-face
communication but takes place over video conferencing software. Video
conferencing proves beneficial for remote teams and individuals unable to meet in
private.
Telephonic Communication: This type of communication involves two or more
individuals communicating over the phone. Telephonic communication is useful for
situations where face-to-face communication is not possible or practical, such as in
long-distance relationships or business negotiations.
Informal Conversations: Informal conversations occur when individuals engage
in casual and Unplanned discussions with each other. Informal conversations occur
in everyday settings such as social gatherings, family interactions, and friendly
conversations.
Elements of Oral Communication
Sender: The sender is the person who initiates communication to the
receiver.
Medium: The medium is the format in which the message is being sent.
For example, a voicemail, a face-to-face conversation or a presentation.
Channel: The channel is the platform in which the message is delivered.
For example, a podcast, a telephone or a meeting.
Receiver: The receiver listens and decodes the message sent by the sender.
The receiver then generates feedback for the sender in response to the
message.
Feedback: This final stage is the reaction of the receiver, such as oral or
written communication, No response from the receiver is also a type of
feedback. This completes the entire oral communication cycle.
Advantages of Oral Communication
Immediate Feedback: Oral communication allows for immediate
feedback, enabling instant clarification, confirmation, or adjustment
of messages in real time, leading to better understanding and
resolution of issues. This highlights oral communication advantages.
Personal Connection: Oral communication fosters a personal
connection between communicators through verbal cues, tone of
voice, facial expressions, and body language, enhancing empathy,
trust, and rapport, showcasing oral communication advantages.
Clarity and Context: Oral communication provides clarity and context
through vocal intonation, emphasis, and nonverbal cues, helping to
convey emotions, attitudes that may be lost in written communication.
Flexibility: Oral communication offers flexibility in adapting messages
to suit the audience, context, and dynamics of the situation, allowing for
spontaneity, creativity, and customization of content.
Immediate Resolution: Oral communication facilitates rapid problem-
solving and decision-making by enabling direct interaction and
collaboration among individuals or groups, reducing delays and
misunderstandings, which are among the oral communication
advantages.
Disadvantages of Oral Communication
Lack of Documentation: Oral communication lacks permanent
documentation, making it prone to misinterpretation, memory lapses, or
disputes over what was said, especially in complex situations.
Limited Reach: Oral communication is limited in reach and accessibility,
as it requires direct interaction or proximity between communicators, which
may be challenging in geographically dispersed or remote settings.
No Visual Support: Oral communication lacks visual support, such as
charts, graphs, or written documents, which can hinder comprehension,
especially for visual learners or complex topics requiring visual aids.
Lack of Control: Oral communication lacks control over the message
once it is spoken, as it cannot be easily edited, revised, or deleted like
written communication, leading to unintended consequences or
miscommunication.
Language Barriers: Oral communication may be hindered by language
barriers, accents, or dialects, which can impede comprehension and
hinder effective communication, especially in multicultural or
multilingual environments.
Factors of Good Oral Communication
Maintain Clarity in communication: Speak clearly and
concisely to ensure your message is easily understood by your
audience. Use simple and understandable language, avoid
jargon, and speak at a pace that is comfortable for your
audience.
Audience-centered communication: Consider your
audience’s needs, interests, and knowledge levels to ensure
your message is relevant and engaging. Tailor your
communication style and language to the audience you are
addressing.
Body Language: Non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures,
and posture can greatly enhance or detract from your message. Employ
self-assured body language to communicate your message with
effectiveness.
The tone of voice: The tone of your voice can convey emotions and
attitudes, influencing how your message is received. Use a tone that is
appropriate to the message you are delivering.
Listening: Effective oral communication involves active listening.
Listen carefully to your audience, respond to their questions and
concerns, and be open to feedback.
Barriers to Oral Communication
1. Physical Barrier:
Physical barriers are any kind of physical or environmental
factors that hinder communication from taking place
effectively. These are obstacles present in the environment
which makes communication a difficult task to pursue.
Some of the most common physical barriers are noise,
time, place and medium etc. These factors can sabotage
the value of communication as they can affect one’s ability
to efficiently process and interpret information.
Ways to reduce Physical Barriers
Always choose a good ambience that perfectly suits
the type of meetings (formal and informal) where
there is a lesser crowd, lesser noise and better
ventilation.
Thecongested place with inconvenient old rickety
items of furniture, poor lighting, and misaligned
workstation are some of the factors that ruin the
conversation, especially in an organization.
2. Psychological Barrier
When the effectiveness of the communication gets hampered due
to the psychological states of the sender or the recipient, it can be
termed as psychological barriers of communication.
As humans experience various complex feelings and emotions
like anger, depression and stress, mental states and disorders,
drowsiness, fatigue, frustration, excitement, boredom, disinterest,
nervousness etc. are some of the aspects of psychological states
that can act as pawns or portray as interference in making
communication efficient.
Ways to Reduce Psychological Barrier
It’s always better to keep quiet while you are angry. Anger and haste
hinder good counsel.
Barriers such as anger can be dealt with by practicing relaxation
techniques such as breathing exercises and grounding techniques.
Make sure you and your opponent are mentally prepared for the
conversation.
Watch out for the bodily cues of the receiver and try to understand
the level of interest and readiness to receive the information. It’s
always good to have an open and honest inquiry about their
physical and mental state before you proceed.
3. Cultural Barrier
When the effectiveness of communication gets affected
between people due to differences in the cultural background,
this can lead to the cultural barrier. Some cultures are very
formal in their interactions with people whereas other
cultures are much more informal. Such differences can result
in awkward and offensive situations.
often, people hold certain beliefs about some cultures. These
beliefs influence interactions with people from different
cultures and this can be a major barrier.
Ways to reduce Cultural Barrier
Before jumping to conclusions, it is better to understand
their behavior from a cultural context rather than just the
situational factors.
Using hand gestures and actions, sign language can come
in great help of mutual understanding between foreigners
who do not speak the same language as you.
Be empathetic to the person on the other side on account
of their cultural differences, educational background,
ethnicity etc.
4. Linguistic Barrier
Have you ever spoken to a foreigner? Or with the one who doesn’t
speak your language? Recall how difficult it was then. Due to
varying factors such as literacy rate, age, ethnic background etc., the
proficiency of language might differ from one person to another, and
this can act as a linguistic barrier to the smooth flow of
communication.
Language is the most commonly employed tool of communication.
The fact that each major region has its own language is one of the
Barriers to effective communication. Sometimes even a thick dialect
may render the communication ineffective.
Ways to Reduce Linguistic Barrier
Using more complicated words and technical terms,
jargon can make comprehension difficult.
Incorporating relevant body language such as hand
movements can be helpful.
Using visual methods of communication can fulfil the
purpose.
