essay about types of oral communication

The Importance Of Oral Communication

The South Korean film Parasite made history at the 2020 Oscars when it became the first non-English language film to…

683. 10 Behavioral Interview Questions To Prepare For

The South Korean film Parasite made history at the 2020 Oscars when it became the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. For his acceptance speech, director Bong Joon Ho said, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Bong was trying to change the way people perceive foreign language films. And he did. His words resonated not just with the South Korean audience, but with moviegoers worldwide.

Not every speaker leaves a lasting impression on their audience. But imagine if you could always speak with impact in your professional setting.

Strong oral communication is one of the best skills you can have in the workplace. Not only can you move, persuade and encourage others to think and act differently, your speaking skills also help you stand out among your co-workers.

Let’s explore the importance of different types of oral communication you need to become a competent professional.

What Is Oral Communication?

Importance of oral communication, types of oral communication.

Oral communication is communicating with spoken words. It’s a verbal form of communication where you communicate your thoughts, present ideas and share information. Examples of oral communication are conversations with friends, family or colleagues, presentations and speeches.

Oral communication helps to build trust and reliability. The process of oral communication is more effective than an email or a text message. For important and sensitive conversations—such as salary negotiations and even conflict resolution, you can rely on oral communication to get your point across, avoid misunderstandings and minimize confusion.

In a professional setting, effective oral communication is important because it is built on transparency, understanding and trust. Your oral communication skills can boost morale, encourage improved performance and promote teamwork .

Here are some benefits of oral communication:

It saves time by letting you convey your message directly to the other person and getting their response immediately.

It’s the most secure form of communication for critical issues and important information

It helps to resolve conflicts with face-to-face communication

It’s a more transparent form of communication as it lets you gauge how others react to your words

There are different examples of oral communication in a business setting. You need several oral communication skills for career advancement. Let’s look at different types of oral communication:

Elevator Pitch

Imagine you meet the CEO of your organization in the elevator. Now, you have 30 seconds to introduce yourself before they get out on the next floor. This is your elevator pitch. It’s a form of oral communication where you have to succinctly explain who you are and what you want from the other person.

Formal Conversations

These are common at work because you have to constantly interact with your managers, coworkers and stakeholders such as clients and customers. Formal conversations are crisp, direct and condensed. You have to get your point across in a few words because everyone has only limited time to spare.

Informal Conversations

These are conversations that you have with your team members or friends and family. They are mostly without an agenda. You can talk about your day, what you’re going to eat for lunch or discuss weekend plans. These are friendly conversations peppered with light banter.

Business Presentations

This is where you need to make the best use of your speaking skills. Public speaking is an important skill to develop if you want to command a room full of people. For this, you need to leverage Harappa’s LEP and PAM Frameworks as well as the Four Ps of Pitch, Projection, Pace and Pauses.

Speeches are important in businesses like event management or community outreach. In a corporate setup, speeches are reserved for top management and leaders.

Arming yourself with effective oral communication skills will boost your confidence, prepare you for challenging tasks like meeting and impressing clients.

Harappa Education’s Speaking Effectively course is carefully designed to teach you how to improve your communication skills. You’ll learn about both oral and nonverbal communication with important frameworks like the Rule of Three and Aristotle’s Appeals of logic, credibility and emotion. Persuade your audience, deliver well-crafted ideas and connect with others with advanced speaking skills.

Explore topics & skills such as Public Speaking , Verbal Communication , Speaking Skills & Oratory Skills from Harappa Diaries and learn to express your ideas with confidence.

Reskilling Programs

L&D leaders need to look for reskilling programs that meet organizational goals and employee aspirations. The first step to doing this is to understand the skills gaps and identify what’s necessary. An effective reskilling program will be one that is scalable and measurable. Companies need to understand their immediate goals and prepare for future requirements when considering which employees to reskill.

Are you still uncertain about the kind of reskilling program you should opt for? Speak to our expert to understand what will work best for your organization and employees.

Getuplearn – Communication, Marketing, HRM, Tutorial

Oral Communication: Definitions, Importance, Methods, Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Post author: Anuj Kumar
Post published: 18 October 2021
Post category: Communication / Journalism / Soft Skills
Post comments: 0 Comments

Table of Contents

1 What is Oral Communication?
2 Definitions of Oral Communication
3.1 Clear Pronunciation
3.2 Brevity
3.3 Precision
3.4 Conviction
3.5 Logical Sequence
3.6 Appropriate Word Choice
3.7 Use natural voice
3.8 Communicate With Right Person
3.9 Do Not Get Guided by Assumptions
3.10 Look for Feedback
3.11 Allow to Ask Questions
4.1 Face-to-Face Conversation
4.2 Telephone
4.3 Presentation
4.4 Public Speech
4.5 Interview
4.6 Meeting
5.1 Speak in a Clear, Confident Strong Voice
5.2 Be Coherent
5.3 Avoid Using Filler Words
5.4 Be an Active Listener
6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Oral Communication
7.1 Quickness in Exchange of Ideas
7.2 Immediate Feedback
7.3 Flexibility
7.4 Economic Sources
7.5 Personal Touch
7.6 Effective Source
7.7 Saves Time and Increases Efficiency
8.1 Unfit for Lengthy Message
8.2 Unfit for Policy Matters
8.3 Lack of Written Proof
8.4 Expensive Method
8.5 Lack of Clarity
8.6 Misuse of Time
8.7 Presence of Both the Parties Necessary
9 Oral Mode is Used Where
10.1 What is oral communication in one word?
10.2 What is oral communication according to different authors?
10.3 What is the importance of an oral communication essay?
10.4 What are the methods of oral communication?
10.5 What is oral communication according to the authors?
10.6 What is the importance of oral communication?
10.7 What are the six types of oral communication?
10.8 What are the advantages of communication?
10.9 What are the disadvantages of communication?
What is Oral Communication?

Oral communication implies communication through the mouth. It includes individuals conversing with each other, be it direct conversation or telephonic conversation. Speeches, presentations, and discussions are all forms of oral communication .

Oral communication is generally recommended when the communication matter is of a temporary kind or where a direct interaction is required. Face-to-face communication (meetings, lectures, conferences, interviews, etc.) is significant so as to build rapport and trust.

In other words, Oral communication is the process of expressing information or ideas by talking. It is predominantly referred to as speech communication.

Definitions of Oral Communication

These are the following definitions of oral communication :

Importance of Oral Communication

The following are the importance of oral communication :

Clear Pronunciation

Logical sequence, appropriate word choice, use natural voice, communicate with right person, do not get guided by assumptions, look for feedback, allow to ask questions.

The message should be pronounced clearly, otherwise, the receiver may not understand the words of the sender.

A brief message is considered the most effective factor since the receiver’s retention capacity is limited in oral communication . The sender should be as brief as possible.

The sender should ensure the exactness of the message. The only relevant issue should be included in the message and that too with accuracy.

The sender should believe in the facts that are being communicated to others. The oral presentation should evince the confidence of the sender.

The sender should present the message logically. The points to be spoken first and what should follow to convey the meaning and motives of the sender effectively to the receiver need to be looked into.

Words are symbols. They have no fixed or universal meanings. The meanings of words at that moment are in the mind of the sender. Therefore, the sender should select the words which are suitable and understandable to the other party and those which convey exactly the same meanings as the sender wanted.

A natural voice conveys integrity and conviction. It is advised to use a natural voice in oral communication .

It is essential to know with whom to communicate. If you communicate the right message to the wrong person, it may lead to a lot of problems. Be sure in recognizing the right person to communicate with.

Never assume that your listener has knowledge already of the subject matter. You may be wrong many times in such assumptions. You can be good only when you are confident in your message without any omission.

When communicating, if you are smart enough in collecting feedback verbally or non-verbally, you can quickly alter the message, if necessary.

It is important to give freedom to the receiver to rise questions whenever he feels ambiguity or confusion. In a way, the communicator should encourage the receiver to ask questions. Such questions are opportunities to clarify doubts.

Types of Oral Communication

These are the types of oral communication discussed below in detail:

Face-to-Face Conversation

Presentation, public speech.

Oral communication is best when it is face-to-face . A face-to-face setting is possible between two individuals or among a small group of people in an interview or in a small meeting; communication can flow both ways in these situations. There is always immediate feedback, which makes clarification possible.

Telephone talk depends entirely on the voice. It does not have the advantage of physical presence. Clarity of speech and skillful use of voice is important. There can be confusion between similar sounding words like pale and bale or between light and like.

Names and addresses communicated on the telephone are sometimes wrongly received. It is therefore customary to clarify spellings by saying C for Cuttack, B for Bal sore, and so on.

A presentation has a face-to-face setting. It is a formal and well-prepared talk on a specific topic, delivered to a knowledgeable and interested audience. Visual aids are used to enhance a presentation. The person who makes the presentation is expected to answer questions at the end.

It is the responsibility of the presenter to ensure that there is a clear understanding of all aspects of the topic among the audience.

A public speech or lecture, with or without microphones, has a face-to-face setting, but the distance between the speaker and audience is great; this distance increases as the audience gets larger, as in an open-air public meeting.

The purpose of a public speech may be to entertain, encourage and inspire. Much depends on the speaker’s skill in using gestures and using the microphone. Feedback is very little as the speaker can hardly see the facial expressions of people in the audience. A public speech is followed by applause rather than by questions from the audience.

An interview is a meeting in which a person or a panel of persons, who are the interviewers, ask questions from the interviewee. The purpose is, usually, to assess and judge whether it would be worthwhile to enter into a business relationship with the other.

Each side makes an assessment of the other. An interview is structured and is characterized by the question and answer type of communication .

Usually, a meeting involves many persons; there is a chairman or a leader who leads and guides the communication and maintains proper order. There is a fixed agenda, i.e., a list of issues to be discussed at the meeting.

Meetings are of many types, from the small committee meeting consisting of three or four persons to the large conference or the shareholders’ meeting. This type of oral communication is backed up by note-taking and writing up minutes.

Methods to Improve Oral Communication Skills

These are some methods to improve oral communication skills :

Speak in a Clear, Confident Strong Voice

Be coherent, avoid using filler words, be an active listener.

Methods to Improve Oral Communication Skills

one should speak in a confident, clear, and strong voice so that it is audible to everyone in the audience. Keep the pace of your speaking average, not very slow not very fast. While speaking, face the audience.

One should speak coherently with a concentration on your subject only. Try not to be distracted from your subject, try to prevent other thoughts at that time.

It is better to pause for a second rather than using filler words, such as “Yeah”, “So”, “Um”, and “Like” frequent use of filler words disturbs coherence and distracts the audience.

Verbal communication is a two-way process; you should, therefore, be an active listener too. Try to understand a question/query quickly, because it looks odd to ask to repeat the question.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Oral Communication

These are the following advantages and disadvantages of oral communication :

Advantages of Oral Communication

Disadvantages of oral communication.

Following are the advantages of oral communication :

Quickness in Exchange of Ideas

Immediate feedback, flexibility, economic sources, personal touch, effective source, saves time and increases efficiency.

Quickness in Exchange of Ideas : The ideas can be conveyed to distant places quickly because this medium does not require the message to be written.

Immediate Feedback : Oral communication helps in understanding the extent to which the receiver has understood the message through his feelings during the course of the conversation.

Flexibility : Oral communication has an element of flexibility inherent in it. Flexibility means changing ideas according to the situation or changing ideas according to the interest of the receiver.

Economic Sources : It is an economic source of communication because the message is communicated only orally.

Personal Touch : Oral communication has a personal touch. Both sides can understand each other’s feelings, being face to face. The conversation takes place in a clean environment, which increases mutual confidence..

Effective Source : Oral Communication leaves much impression on the receiver. It is said that sometimes a thing can be communicated more effectively with the help of some sign. The use of signs or gesticulation can only be made in oral communication.

Saves Time and Increases Efficiency : This communication consumes less time and the superiors can utilize the time saved for some other more important work. As a result of this the efficiency of the sender increases.

Let’s discuss some disadvantages of oral communication :

Unfit for Lengthy Message

Unfit for policy matters, lack of written proof, expensive method, lack of clarity, misuse of time, presence of both the parties necessary.

Unfit for Lengthy Message : Oral communication is profitable in having a brief exchange of ideas only. It is not possible for the receiver to remember a long message.

Unfit for Policy Matters : Where policies, rules, or other important messages are to be communicated, oral communication has no importance.

Lack of Written Proof : In the case of oral communication no written proof is left for future reference. Therefore, sometimes difficulty has to be faced.

Expensive Method : When less important information is sent to distant places through telephone, etc. oral communication proves costly.

Lack of Clarity : This is possible when there is little time for conversation. Sometimes wrong can be uttered in a hurry, which can lead to adverse results.

Misuse of Time : Oral communication is considered a misuse of time when during meetings the conversation is lengthened unnecessarily. Parties involved in the communication waste their time in useless talks.

Presence of Both the Parties Necessary : In oral communication, it is essential for the sender and the receiver to be present face to face, it does not mean in the physical sense. But in written communication , one party is required.

Oral Mode is Used Where

These are the following points where we used oral mode :

Personal authentication is needed. e.g., between an officer and her personal secretary; a journalist and her source (“I heard it from a reliable source”)
Social or gregarious needs must be met. e.g.,’ speaking with a visiting delegation
Warmth and personal qualities are called for. e.g., group or team interaction
Exactitude and precision are not vitally important. e.g., brainstorming for ideas I
Situations demand maximum understanding. e.g., sorting out problems or differences between individuals, or between two groups such as administration and students.
An atmosphere of openness is desired. e.g., talks between management and. workers
Added impact is needed to get the receiver’s focus. e.g., a chairperson of an organization addressing the staff; a presidential or royal address to a nation
Decisions or information have to be communicated quickly. e.g., officers issuing officers during natural disasters such as floods or an earthquake
Confidential matters are to be discussed. e.g., exchange of positive or negative information about an organization or an individual. In the process of appointments or promotion or selection of individuals, a period of open discussion may precede the final decision that is recorded in writing.

Difference Between Oral and Written Communication

Theories of Communication

What is Theories of Communication?
Types of Theories of Communication
Theories Propounded to Create Socio-cultural Background Environment
Theories based on Ideas of Different Scholars

FAQ Related to Oral Communication

What is oral communication in one word.

Oral communication expresses ideas through the spoken word.

What is oral communication according to different authors?

Oral communication takes place when spoken words are used to transfer information and understanding from one person to another. BY S. K. Kapur

What is the importance of an oral communication essay?

The following are the importance of oral communication: Clear Pronunciation, Brevity, Precision, Conviction, Logical Sequence, Appropriate Word Choice, Use of natural voice, etc.

What are the methods of oral communication?

Following are some methods to improve oral communication skills: Speak in a Clear, Confident Strong Voice, Be Coherent, Avoid Using Filler Words, Be an Active Listener, etc.

What is oral communication according to the authors?

Oral communication expresses ideas through the spoken word. By Bovee

What is the importance of oral communication?

Following are the importance of oral communication: 1. Clear Pronunciation 2. Brevity 3. Precision 4. Conviction 5. Logical Sequence 6. Appropriate Word Choice 7. Use a natural voice 8. Communicate With Right Person 9. Do Not Get Guided by Assumptions 10. Look for Feedback 11. Allow to Ask Questions.

What are the six types of oral communication?

These are the six types of oral communication: 1. Face-to-Face Conversation 2. Telephone 3. Presentation 4. Public Speech 5. Interview 6. Meeting.

What are the advantages of communication?

Advantages of Communication given below: 1. Quickness in Exchange of Ideas 2. Immediate Feedback 3. Flexibility 4. Economic Sources 5. Personal Touch 6. Effective Source 7. Saves Time and Increases Efficiency.

What are the disadvantages of communication?

Disadvantages of Communication: 1. Unfit for Lengthy Message 2. Unfit for Policy Matters 3. Lack of Written Proof 4. Expensive Method 5. Lack of Clarity 6. Misuse of Time 7. Presence of Both the Parties Necessary.

Media of Communication: Definitions, Types and Examples

Written Communication: Definitions, Principal, Types, Advantages and Disadvantages, Ways to Improve

Mass Communication: Definitions, Functions, Characteristics, Types, Importance, and Process
Downward Communication: Definitions, Types, Purposes, Objectives
7 Types of Barriers of Communication
17 Ways to Overcome Barriers to Communication
8 Functions of Mass communication

8 Elements of Mass Communication

10 Characteristics of Mass Communication

Scope of Business Communication

Human Communication: Meaning, Origins, Stages, and Types
Communication: Definitions, Functions, Importance, Principles, Process, Types, and Elements
Elements of Communication ( Elements Universals of Communication)
Principles of Communication: 7 Cs of Communication

10 functions of communication.

Development Communication: Definitions, Process, Functions, Elements, 5 Approaches, and Importance

Formal Communication: Definition, Types, Advantages, and Limitations

Group Discussion: Features, Elements, Types, Process, Characteristics, Roles, Group

Difference Between Oral and Written Communication

10 Best English Grammar Courses Online & Certification [2023]

Media organisations in india: types, media print, electronic, film, training institutes, characteristics of newspapers and newspaper summary.

Classification of Advertising Based on Area Coverage, Audience, Media, Functions

Business Communication: Definition, Types, Importance, 7 Cs, Purpose, Barriers

Group Communication: Meaning, Importance, Advantages, Disadvantages, Characteristics

10 steps of process of learning, barriers of communication.

6 Functions of Mass Media: Examples

What is news editing objectives, principles, role, functions.

Essentials of Business Communication

Barriers to Communication: Types, and How to Overcome Those Barriers

Entrepreneurship
Organizational Behavior
Financial Management
Communication
Human Resource Management
Sales Management
Marketing Management

Types of Oral Communication

Embark on a journey to unravel the intricacies of oral communication. Discover the varied types, nuances, and impactful examples that shape the way we convey thoughts, ideas, and emotions verbally. From everyday conversations to formal presentations, delve into the rich tapestry of oral communication and hone your skills for effective interaction.

What are Types of Oral Communication?

Types of oral communication encompass diverse verbal exchanges, ranging from casual discussions to structured presentations. In essence, it involves conveying information through spoken words, facilitating understanding and connection. Understanding these types is pivotal for navigating various social, professional, and personal scenarios.

30 Types of Oral Communication Examples

Explore a diverse array of oral communication examples, each showcasing unique characteristics and purposes. From everyday interactions to formal presentations, these examples illuminate the versatility of spoken communication, empowering individuals in various contexts.

Casual Conversation: Engage in friendly chats, fostering connections through relaxed and informal dialogue.
Interview Dialogues: Navigate structured Q&A sessions, showcasing skills and qualifications with confidence.
Debates and Argumentation: Present and defend opinions persuasively in organized discussions.
Phone Conversations: Convey messages verbally over the phone, ensuring clear and effective communication.
Public Speaking: Address an audience confidently, delivering impactful speeches on diverse topics.
Group Discussions: Collaborate with others, sharing ideas and perspectives in a collective setting.
Lectures and Educational Talks: Conduct informative talks, imparting knowledge to an audience.
Podcast Presentations: Broadcast spoken content digitally, engaging listeners on various subjects.
Voice Messages: Send recorded spoken messages, adding a personal touch to digital communication.
Storytelling Narratives: Convey narratives with vivid language, captivating listeners through compelling tales.
Conference Calls: Participate in telephonic discussions with multiple participants, facilitating remote collaboration.
Panel Discussions: Engage in group conversations, providing insights on specific topics as an expert.
Intercom Announcements: Utilize intercom systems for internal communication within specific environments.
Town Hall Meetings: Address large gatherings for community discussions, updates, and collaboration.
Vocal Music Performances: Express emotions and stories through sung lyrics, connecting with audiences.
Radio Broadcasting: Disseminate information and entertainment through spoken content on airwaves.
Elevator Pitches: Deliver concise and impactful presentations within a short timeframe.
Video Conferencing: Conduct virtual meetings with a and visual components, enhancing remote interactions.
Town Crier Announcements: Historical method of public communication in town squares or gathering places.
Face-to-Face Interviews: Engage in personal interviews, showcasing interpersonal communication skills.
Boardroom Presentations: Conduct formal presentations in corporate settings, conveying information to stakeholders.
Client Meetings: Foster positive client relationships through structured and client-focused conversations.
Team Collaboration Discussions: Exchange ideas and plan strategies collaboratively in team settings.
Press Conferences: Handle media inquiries with professionalism, ensuring clear and accurate communication.
Legal Consultations: Navigate legal discussions with precision and articulate argumentation.
Public Address Systems: Use a amplification to address large audiences in public spaces.
Group Therapy Sessions: Conduct therapeutic conversations in group settings for collective support.
International Business Discussions: Navigate cross-cultural conversations in global business scenarios.
Scientific Research Presentations: Present research findings formally, simplifying complex information for diverse audiences.
Human Resources Interviews: Conduct HR interviews with professionalism and adherence to organizational policies.

Types of Oral Communication Examples for Students

Unlock the diverse realm of oral communication tailored for students. From classroom discussions to presentations, students navigate various verbal exchanges to enhance their learning experience. Engage in effective communication for academic success and personal development.

Classroom Discussions: Participate actively in class discussions, sharing insights and perspectives with classmates.
Group Projects: Collaborate with peers on group projects, exchanging ideas and coordinating tasks for successful outcomes.
Oral Presentations: Deliver informative speeches or presentations, enhancing communication and presentation skills.
Debates: Engage in structured debates, articulating arguments and counterarguments with clarity.
Student Meetings: Contribute to student council or club meetings, expressing opinions on relevant matters.
Study Group Dialogues: Discuss academic topics within study groups, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Virtual Learning Interactions: Participate actively in online classes, utilizing verbal communication for virtual education.
Peer-to-Peer Communication: Interact with classmates for study-related discussions, creating a supportive learning network.
Informal Conversations: Build friendships through casual conversations, strengthening social bonds among students.
Faculty Interactions: Communicate with instructors for clarification on coursework or academic guidance.

Types of Oral Communication Examples at Business

In the corporate landscape, effective oral communication is vital for success. Navigate business interactions, from professional presentations to client meetings, fostering clear and impactful communication within the organizational context.

Boardroom Negotiations: Participate in negotiations during boardroom meetings, ensuring successful outcomes for the organization.
Client Presentations: Conduct formal presentations to clients, showcasing products, services, and business solutions.
Team Briefings: Communicate project updates and strategies during team briefings, ensuring alignment among team members.
Sales Pitches: Deliver persuasive sales pitches to potential clients, emphasizing the benefits of products or services.
Conference Calls: Participate in telephonic discussions with remote teams or clients, ensuring effective communication.
Email Correspondence: Craft clear and concise emails for professional communication within and outside the organization.
Performance Reviews: Engage in performance discussions, providing feedback and setting goals for employee growth.
Leadership Presentations: Conduct presentations as a leader, inspiring and aligning teams with organizational goals.
Business Networking: Build professional connections through formal conversations during networking events.
Crisis Management Communication: Navigate crisis situations by communicating effectively with stakeholders and the public.

Types of Oral Communication Examples at Home

Oral communication plays a crucial role in fostering strong relationships within the home environment. From family discussions to casual conversations, effective verbal exchanges contribute to a harmonious home life.

Family Meetings: Conduct family meetings to discuss important matters, fostering open communication within the household.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Engage in discussions with teachers about a child’s academic progress and development.
Sibling Interactions: Communicate with siblings to resolve conflicts, share experiences, and build strong bonds.
Casual Family Dinners: Engage in light-hearted conversations during family dinners, strengthening familial connections.
Vacation Planning: Coordinate family vacations through effective communication, considering preferences and logistics.
Household Chores Delegation: Assign and discuss household chores, ensuring a shared understanding of responsibilities.
Celebration Planning: Coordinate and plan celebrations through family discussions, ensuring everyone’s involvement.
Decision-Making Dialogues: Involve family members in decision-making processes, encouraging open communication.
Expressing Gratitude: Verbalize appreciation and gratitude within the family, reinforcing positive communication.
Daily Check-ins: Engage in daily check-ins with family members, fostering communication about individual experiences and concerns.

Types of Oral Communications

Oral communication encompasses a rich tapestry of forms, each serving distinct purposes in various settings. Explore the nuanced types, ranging from casual dialogues to formal presentations, in this comprehensive guide.

Mention the Elements Types for Oral Communication?

Understanding the key elements of oral communication forms the foundation for effective interaction. Elements such as clarity, tone, and nonverbal cues significantly influence the impact of verbal exchanges.

Clarity: Ensure your message is clear and easily comprehensible to the audience.
Tone: Adapt your tone to suit the context, fostering a conducive communication environment.
Nonverbal Cues: Be mindful of body language, gestures, and facial expressions, as they convey additional meaning.
Active Listening: Engage in active listening, demonstrating attentiveness and understanding.
Empathy: Understand and consider the emotions of the speaker or audience to foster connection.
Conciseness: Express ideas succinctly, avoiding unnecessary elaboration for better retention.
Adaptability: Adjust communication style based on the audience, context, or purpose.
Feedback: Encourage and provide feedback to enhance the effectiveness of the communication process.

Tips for Effective Types of Oral Communication

Mastering the art of oral communication requires honing specific skills and adopting effective strategies. Employ these tips to enhance your verbal exchanges in various scenarios.

Practice Active Listening: Cultivate the habit of listening attentively, promoting meaningful and engaged conversations.
Refine Your Articulation: Enhance clarity by articulating words and ideas clearly, avoiding jargon or ambiguity.
Adapt to Your Audience: Tailor your communication style to resonate with the expectations and preferences of your audience.
Utilize Visual Aids: Incorporate visuals when appropriate to complement verbal messages and enhance understanding.
Manage Nonverbal Cues: Be conscious of your body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey the intended message.
Be Concise and Relevant: Express ideas succinctly, ensuring that your message is focused and directly addresses the topic.
Seek and Provide Feedback: Invite feedback for continuous improvement, and offer constructive feedback to others.
Consider Cultural Sensitivity: Adapt your communication to be culturally sensitive, recognizing and respecting diverse norms.
Stay Calm Under Pressure: Develop resilience to communicate effectively even in high-pressure situations.
Continuously Develop Communication Skills: Invest in ongoing learning and training to refine and expand your oral communication skills.

In conclusion, the vast and varied landscape of oral communication is fundamental to our interactions across different facets of life. This dynamic mode of communication is not only about conveying information but also about building relationships and understanding. The richness of oral communication lies in its ability to adapt to diverse contexts – from casual conversations to formal speeches, each form has its unique impact and significance.

Moreover, the effectiveness of oral communication hinges on key elements like clarity, tone, and nonverbal cues, as well as on practiced skills such as active listening, articulation, and cultural sensitivity. By continuously developing these skills, one can significantly enhance their oral communication abilities, ensuring messages are not only heard but also understood and appreciated in their intended context.

For further exploration, Harvard University offers insightful resources on the nuances of effective communication in different settings, which can be found at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education blog . Additionally, the University of Oxford provides valuable guidelines on developing oral communication skills, particularly in academic and professional environments, accessible at Oxford’s MPLS Division website . These external resources are excellent for delving deeper into mastering the art of oral communication.

AI Generator

Text prompt

Instructive
Professional

10 Types of Oral Communication Examples at Business

10 Types of Oral Communication Examples for Students

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

1.1 Communication: History and Forms

Learning objectives.

Define communication.
Discuss the history of communication from ancient to modern times.
List the five forms of communication.
Distinguish among the five forms of communication.
Review the various career options for students who study communication.

Before we dive into the history of communication, it is important that we have a shared understanding of what we mean by the word communication . For our purposes in this book, we will define communication as the process of generating meaning by sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal symbols and signs that are influenced by multiple contexts. This definition builds on other definitions of communication that have been rephrased and refined over many years. In fact, since the systematic study of communication began in colleges and universities a little over one hundred years ago, there have been more than 126 published definitions of communication (Dance & Larson, 1976). In order to get a context for how communication has been conceptualized and studied, let’s look at a history of the field.

From Aristotle to Obama: A Brief History of Communication

While there are rich areas of study in animal communication and interspecies communication, our focus in this book is on human communication. Even though all animals communicate, as human beings we have a special capacity to use symbols to communicate about things outside our immediate temporal and spatial reality (Dance & Larson). For example, we have the capacity to use abstract symbols, like the word education , to discuss a concept that encapsulates many aspects of teaching and learning. We can also reflect on the past and imagine our future. The ability to think outside our immediate reality is what allows us to create elaborate belief systems, art, philosophy, and academic theories. It’s true that you can teach a gorilla to sign words like food and baby , but its ability to use symbols doesn’t extend to the same level of abstraction as ours. However, humans haven’t always had the sophisticated communication systems that we do today.

Some scholars speculate that humans’ first words were onomatopoetic. You may remember from your English classes that onomatopoeia refers to words that sound like that to which they refer—words like boing , drip , gurgle , swoosh , and whack . Just think about how a prehistoric human could have communicated a lot using these words and hand gestures. He or she could use gurgle to alert others to the presence of water or swoosh and whack to recount what happened on a hunt. In any case, this primitive ability to communicate provided an evolutionary advantage. Those humans who could talk were able to cooperate, share information, make better tools, impress mates, or warn others of danger, which led them to have more offspring who were also more predisposed to communicate (Poe, 2011). This eventually led to the development of a “Talking Culture” during the “Talking Era.” During this 150,000 year period of human existence, ranging from 180,000 BCE to 3500 BCE, talking was the only medium of communication, aside from gestures, that humans had (Poe, 2011).

The beginning of the “Manuscript Era,” around 3500 BCE, marked the turn from oral to written culture. This evolution in communication corresponded with a shift to a more settled, agrarian way of life (Poe, 2011). As hunter-gatherers settled into small villages and began to plan ahead for how to plant, store, protect, and trade or sell their food, they needed accounting systems to keep track of their materials and record transactions. While such transactions were initially tracked with actual objects that symbolized an amount—for example, five pebbles represented five measures of grain—symbols, likely carved into clay, later served as the primary method of record keeping. In this case, five dots might equal five measures of grain.

During this period, villages also developed class systems as more successful farmers turned businessmen prospered and took leadership positions. Religion also became more complex, and a new class of spiritual leaders emerged. Soon, armies were needed to protect the stockpiled resources from others who might want to steal it. The emergence of elite classes and the rise of armies required records and bookkeeping, which furthered the spread of written symbols. As clergy, the ruling elite, and philosophers began to take up writing, the systems became more complex. The turn to writing didn’t threaten the influential place of oral communication, however. During the near 5,000-year period of the “Manuscript Era,” literacy, or the ability to read and write, didn’t spread far beyond the most privileged in society. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1800s that widespread literacy existed in the world.

The end of the “Manuscript Era” marked a shift toward a rapid increase in communication technologies. The “Print Era” extended from 1450 to 1850 and was marked by the invention of the printing press and the ability to mass-produce written texts. This 400-year period gave way to the “Audiovisual Era,” which only lasted 140 years, from 1850 to 1990, and was marked by the invention of radio, telegraph, telephone, and television. Our current period, the “Internet Era,” has only lasted from 1990 until the present. This period has featured the most rapid dispersion of a new method of communication, as the spread of the Internet and the expansion of digital and personal media signaled the beginning of the digital age.

The evolution of communication media, from speaking to digital technology, has also influenced the field of communication studies. To better understand how this field of study developed, we must return to the “Manuscript Era,” which saw the production of the earliest writings about communication. In fact, the oldest essay and book ever found were written about communication (McCroskey, 1984). Although this essay and book predate Aristotle, he is a logical person to start with when tracing the development of the communication scholarship. His writings on communication, although not the oldest, are the most complete and systematic. Ancient Greek philosophers and scholars such as Aristotle theorized about the art of rhetoric , which refers to speaking well and persuasively. Today, we hear the word rhetoric used in negative ways. A politician, for example, may write off his or her opponent’s statements as “just rhetoric.” This leads us to believe that rhetoric refers to misleading, false, or unethical communication, which is not at all in keeping with the usage of the word by ancient or contemporary communication experts. While rhetoric does refer primarily to persuasive communication messages, much of the writing and teaching about rhetoric conveys the importance of being an ethical rhetor , or communicator. So when a communicator, such as a politician, speaks in misleading, vague, or dishonest ways, he or she isn’t using rhetoric; he or she is being an unethical speaker.

The study of rhetoric focused on public communication, primarily oratory used in discussions or debates regarding laws and policy, speeches delivered in courts, and speeches intended to praise or blame another person. The connections among rhetoric, policy making, and legal proceedings show that communication and citizenship have been connected since the study of communication began. Throughout this book, we will continue to make connections between communication, ethics, and civic engagement.

Much of the public speaking in ancient Greece took place in courtrooms or in political contexts.

Karen Neoh – Courtroom – CC BY 2.0.

Ancient Greek rhetoricians like Aristotle were followed by Roman orators like Cicero. Cicero contributed to the field of rhetoric by expanding theories regarding the five canons of rhetoric, which include invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory. Invention refers to the use of evidence and arguments to think about things in new ways and is the most studied of the five canons. Arrangement refers to the organization of speech, style refers to the use of language, and delivery refers to the vocal and physical characteristics of a speaker. Memory is the least studied of the five canons and refers to the techniques employed by speakers of that era to retain and then repeat large amounts of information. The Age of Enlightenment in the 1700s marked a societal turn toward scientific discovery and the acquisition of knowledge, which led to an explosion of philosophical and scientific writings on many aspects of human existence. This focus on academic development continued into the 1900s and the establishment of distinct communication studies departments.

Communication studies as a distinct academic discipline with departments at universities and colleges has only existed for a little over one hundred years (Keith, 2008). Although rhetoric has long been a key part of higher education, and colleges and universities have long recognized the importance of speaking, communication departments did not exist. In the early 1900s, professors with training and expertise in communication were often housed in rhetoric or English departments and were sometimes called “professors of speech.” During this time, tension began to build between professors of English who studied rhetoric as the written word and professors of speech who studied rhetoric as the spoken word. In 1914, a group of ten speech teachers who were members of the National Council of Teachers of English broke off from the organization and started the National Association of Academic Teachers of Public Speaking, which eventually evolved into today’s National Communication Association. There was also a distinction of focus and interest among professors of speech. While some focused on the quality of ideas, arguments, and organization, others focused on coaching the performance and delivery aspects of public speaking (Keith, 2008). Instruction in the latter stressed the importance of “oratory” or “elocution,” and this interest in reading and speaking aloud is sustained today in theatre and performance studies and also in oral interpretation classes, which are still taught in many communication departments.

The formalization of speech departments led to an expanded view of the role of communication. Even though Aristotle and other ancient rhetoricians and philosophers had theorized the connection between rhetoric and citizenship, the role of the communicator became the focus instead of solely focusing on the message. James A. Winans, one of the first modern speech teachers and an advocate for teaching communication in higher education, said there were “two motives for learning to speak. Increasing one’s chance to succeed and increasing one’s power to serve” (Keith, 2008). Later, as social psychology began to expand in academic institutions, speech communication scholars saw places for connection to further expand definitions of communication to include social and psychological contexts.

Today, you can find elements of all these various aspects of communication being studied in communication departments. If we use President Obama as a case study, we can see the breadth of the communication field. Within one department, you may have fairly traditional rhetoricians who study the speeches of President Obama in comparison with other presidential rhetoric. Others may study debates between presidential candidates, dissecting the rhetorical strategies used, for example, by Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Expanding from messages to channels of communication, scholars may study how different media outlets cover presidential politics. At an interpersonal level, scholars may study what sorts of conflicts emerge within families that have liberal and conservative individuals. At a cultural level, communication scholars could study how the election of an African American president creates a narrative of postracial politics. Our tour from Aristotle to Obama was quick, but hopefully instructive. Now let’s turn to a discussion of the five major forms of communication.

Forms of Communication

Forms of communication vary in terms of participants, channels used, and contexts. The five main forms of communication, all of which will be explored in much more detail in this book, are intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication. This book is designed to introduce you to all these forms of communication. If you find one of these forms particularly interesting, you may be able to take additional courses that focus specifically on it. You may even be able to devise a course of study around one of these forms as a communication major. In the following we will discuss the similarities and differences among each form of communication, including its definition, level of intentionality, goals, and contexts.

Intrapersonal Communication

Intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself using internal vocalization or reflective thinking. Like other forms of communication, intrapersonal communication is triggered by some internal or external stimulus. We may, for example, communicate with our self about what we want to eat due to the internal stimulus of hunger, or we may react intrapersonally to an event we witness. Unlike other forms of communication, intrapersonal communication takes place only inside our heads. The other forms of communication must be perceived by someone else to count as communication. So what is the point of intrapersonal communication if no one else even sees it?

Intrapersonal communication is communication with ourselves that takes place in our heads.

Sarah – Pondering – CC BY 2.0.

Intrapersonal communication serves several social functions. Internal vocalization, or talking to ourselves, can help us achieve or maintain social adjustment (Dance & Larson, 1972). For example, a person may use self-talk to calm himself down in a stressful situation, or a shy person may remind herself to smile during a social event. Intrapersonal communication also helps build and maintain our self-concept. We form an understanding of who we are based on how other people communicate with us and how we process that communication intrapersonally. The shy person in the earlier example probably internalized shyness as a part of her self-concept because other people associated her communication behaviors with shyness and may have even labeled her “shy” before she had a firm grasp on what that meant. We will discuss self-concept much more in Chapter 2 “Communication and Perception” , which focuses on perception. We also use intrapersonal communication or “self-talk” to let off steam, process emotions, think through something, or rehearse what we plan to say or do in the future. As with the other forms of communication, competent intrapersonal communication helps facilitate social interaction and can enhance our well-being. Conversely, the breakdown in the ability of a person to intrapersonally communicate is associated with mental illness (Dance & Larson, 1972).

Sometimes we intrapersonally communicate for the fun of it. I’m sure we have all had the experience of laughing aloud because we thought of something funny. We also communicate intrapersonally to pass time. I bet there is a lot of intrapersonal communication going on in waiting rooms all over the world right now. In both of these cases, intrapersonal communication is usually unplanned and doesn’t include a clearly defined goal (Dance & Larson, 1972). We can, however, engage in more intentional intrapersonal communication. In fact, deliberate self-reflection can help us become more competent communicators as we become more mindful of our own behaviors. For example, your internal voice may praise or scold you based on a thought or action.

Of the forms of communication, intrapersonal communication has received the least amount of formal study. It is rare to find courses devoted to the topic, and it is generally separated from the remaining four types of communication. The main distinction is that intrapersonal communication is not created with the intention that another person will perceive it. In all the other levels, the fact that the communicator anticipates consumption of their message is very important.

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is communication between people whose lives mutually influence one another. Interpersonal communication builds, maintains, and ends our relationships, and we spend more time engaged in interpersonal communication than the other forms of communication. Interpersonal communication occurs in various contexts and is addressed in subfields of study within communication studies such as intercultural communication, organizational communication, health communication, and computer-mediated communication. After all, interpersonal relationships exist in all those contexts.

Interpersonal communication can be planned or unplanned, but since it is interactive, it is usually more structured and influenced by social expectations than intrapersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is also more goal oriented than intrapersonal communication and fulfills instrumental and relational needs. In terms of instrumental needs, the goal may be as minor as greeting someone to fulfill a morning ritual or as major as conveying your desire to be in a committed relationship with someone. Interpersonal communication meets relational needs by communicating the uniqueness of a specific relationship. Since this form of communication deals so directly with our personal relationships and is the most common form of communication, instances of miscommunication and communication conflict most frequently occur here (Dance & Larson, 1972). Couples, bosses and employees, and family members all have to engage in complex interpersonal communication, and it doesn’t always go well. In order to be a competent interpersonal communicator, you need conflict management skills and listening skills, among others, to maintain positive relationships.

Group Communication

Group communication is communication among three or more people interacting to achieve a shared goal. You have likely worked in groups in high school and college, and if you’re like most students, you didn’t enjoy it. Even though it can be frustrating, group work in an academic setting provides useful experience and preparation for group work in professional settings. Organizations have been moving toward more team-based work models, and whether we like it or not, groups are an integral part of people’s lives. Therefore the study of group communication is valuable in many contexts.

Since many businesses and organizations are embracing team models, learning about group communication can help these groups be more effective.

RSNY – Team – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Group communication is more intentional and formal than interpersonal communication. Unlike interpersonal relationships, which are voluntary, individuals in a group are often assigned to their position within a group. Additionally, group communication is often task focused, meaning that members of the group work together for an explicit purpose or goal that affects each member of the group. Goal-oriented communication in interpersonal interactions usually relates to one person; for example, I may ask my friend to help me move this weekend. Goal-oriented communication at the group level usually focuses on a task assigned to the whole group; for example, a group of people may be tasked to figure out a plan for moving a business from one office to another.

You know from previous experience working in groups that having more communicators usually leads to more complicated interactions. Some of the challenges of group communication relate to task-oriented interactions, such as deciding who will complete each part of a larger project. But many challenges stem from interpersonal conflict or misunderstandings among group members. Since group members also communicate with and relate to each other interpersonally and may have preexisting relationships or develop them during the course of group interaction, elements of interpersonal communication occur within group communication too. Chapter 13 “Small Group Communication” and Chapter 14 “Leadership, Roles, and Problem Solving in Groups” of this book, which deal with group communication, will help you learn how to be a more effective group communicator by learning about group theories and processes as well as the various roles that contribute to and detract from the functioning of a group.

Public Communication

Public communication is a sender-focused form of communication in which one person is typically responsible for conveying information to an audience. Public speaking is something that many people fear, or at least don’t enjoy. But, just like group communication, public speaking is an important part of our academic, professional, and civic lives. When compared to interpersonal and group communication, public communication is the most consistently intentional, formal, and goal-oriented form of communication we have discussed so far.

Public communication, at least in Western societies, is also more sender focused than interpersonal or group communication. It is precisely this formality and focus on the sender that makes many new and experienced public speakers anxious at the thought of facing an audience. One way to begin to manage anxiety toward public speaking is to begin to see connections between public speaking and other forms of communication with which we are more familiar and comfortable. Despite being formal, public speaking is very similar to the conversations that we have in our daily interactions. For example, although public speakers don’t necessarily develop individual relationships with audience members, they still have the benefit of being face-to-face with them so they can receive verbal and nonverbal feedback. Later in this chapter, you will learn some strategies for managing speaking anxiety, since presentations are undoubtedly a requirement in the course for which you are reading this book. Then, in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , Chapter 10 “Delivering a Speech” , Chapter 11 “Informative and Persuasive Speaking” , and Chapter 12 “Public Speaking in Various Contexts” , you will learn how to choose an appropriate topic, research and organize your speech, effectively deliver your speech, and evaluate your speeches in order to improve.

Mass Communication

Public communication becomes mass communication when it is transmitted to many people through print or electronic media. Print media such as newspapers and magazines continue to be an important channel for mass communication, although they have suffered much in the past decade due in part to the rise of electronic media. Television, websites, blogs, and social media are mass communication channels that you probably engage with regularly. Radio, podcasts, and books are other examples of mass media. The technology required to send mass communication messages distinguishes it from the other forms of communication. A certain amount of intentionality goes into transmitting a mass communication message since it usually requires one or more extra steps to convey the message. This may involve pressing “Enter” to send a Facebook message or involve an entire crew of camera people, sound engineers, and production assistants to produce a television show. Even though the messages must be intentionally transmitted through technology, the intentionality and goals of the person actually creating the message, such as the writer, television host, or talk show guest, vary greatly. The president’s State of the Union address is a mass communication message that is very formal, goal oriented, and intentional, but a president’s verbal gaffe during a news interview is not.

Technological advances such as the printing press, television, and the more recent digital revolution have made mass communication a prominent feature of our daily lives.

Savannah River Site – Atmospheric Technology – CC BY 2.0.

Mass communication differs from other forms of communication in terms of the personal connection between participants. Even though creating the illusion of a personal connection is often a goal of those who create mass communication messages, the relational aspect of interpersonal and group communication isn’t inherent within this form of communication. Unlike interpersonal, group, and public communication, there is no immediate verbal and nonverbal feedback loop in mass communication. Of course you could write a letter to the editor of a newspaper or send an e-mail to a television or radio broadcaster in response to a story, but the immediate feedback available in face-to-face interactions is not present. With new media technologies like Twitter, blogs, and Facebook, feedback is becoming more immediate. Individuals can now tweet directly “at” (@) someone and use hashtags (#) to direct feedback to mass communication sources. Many radio and television hosts and news organizations specifically invite feedback from viewers/listeners via social media and may even share the feedback on the air.

The technology to mass-produce and distribute communication messages brings with it the power for one voice or a series of voices to reach and affect many people. This power makes mass communication different from the other levels of communication. While there is potential for unethical communication at all the other levels, the potential consequences of unethical mass communication are important to consider. Communication scholars who focus on mass communication and media often take a critical approach in order to examine how media shapes our culture and who is included and excluded in various mediated messages. We will discuss the intersection of media and communication more in Chapter 15 “Media, Technology, and Communication” and Chapter 16 “New Media and Communication” .

“Getting Real”

What Can You Do with a Degree in Communication Studies?

You’re hopefully already beginning to see that communication studies is a diverse and vibrant field of study. The multiple subfields and concentrations within the field allow for exciting opportunities for study in academic contexts but can create confusion and uncertainty when a person considers what they might do for their career after studying communication. It’s important to remember that not every college or university will have courses or concentrations in all the areas discussed next. Look at the communication courses offered at your school to get an idea of where the communication department on your campus fits into the overall field of study. Some departments are more general, offering students a range of courses to provide a well-rounded understanding of communication. Many departments offer concentrations or specializations within the major such as public relations, rhetoric, interpersonal communication, electronic media production, corporate communication. If you are at a community college and plan on transferring to another school, your choice of school may be determined by the course offerings in the department and expertise of the school’s communication faculty. It would be unfortunate for a student interested in public relations to end up in a department that focuses more on rhetoric or broadcasting, so doing your research ahead of time is key.

Since communication studies is a broad field, many students strategically choose a concentration and/or a minor that will give them an advantage in the job market. Specialization can definitely be an advantage, but don’t forget about the general skills you gain as a communication major. This book, for example, should help you build communication competence and skills in interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, group communication, and public speaking, among others. You can also use your school’s career services office to help you learn how to “sell” yourself as a communication major and how to translate what you’ve learned in your classes into useful information to include on your resume or in a job interview.

The main career areas that communication majors go into are business, public relations / advertising, media, nonprofit, government/law, and education. [1] Within each of these areas there are multiple career paths, potential employers, and useful strategies for success. For more detailed information, visit http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/communication-studies .

Business. Sales, customer service, management, real estate, human resources, training and development.
Public relations / advertising. Public relations, advertising/marketing, public opinion research, development, event coordination.
Media. Editing, copywriting, publishing, producing, directing, media sales, broadcasting.
Nonprofit. Administration, grant writing, fund-raising, public relations, volunteer coordination.
Government/law. City or town management, community affairs, lobbying, conflict negotiation / mediation.
Education. High school speech teacher, forensics/debate coach, administration and student support services, graduate school to further communication study.
Which of the areas listed above are you most interested in studying in school or pursuing as a career? Why?
What aspect(s) of communication studies does/do the department at your school specialize in? What concentrations/courses are offered?
Whether or not you are or plan to become a communication major, how do you think you could use what you have learned and will learn in this class to “sell” yourself on the job market?

Key Takeaways

Getting integrated: Communication is a broad field that draws from many academic disciplines. This interdisciplinary perspective provides useful training and experience for students that can translate into many career fields.
Communication is the process of generating meaning by sending and receiving symbolic cues that are influenced by multiple contexts.
Ancient Greeks like Aristotle and Plato started a rich tradition of the study of rhetoric in the Western world more than two thousand years ago. Communication did not become a distinct field of study with academic departments until the 1900s, but it is now a thriving discipline with many subfields of study.

There are five forms of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication.

Intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself and occurs only inside our heads.
Interpersonal communication is communication between people whose lives mutually influence one another and typically occurs in dyads, which means in pairs.
Group communication occurs when three or more people communicate to achieve a shared goal.
Public communication is sender focused and typically occurs when one person conveys information to an audience.
Mass communication occurs when messages are sent to large audiences using print or electronic media.
Getting integrated: Review the section on the history of communication. Have you learned any of this history or heard of any of these historical figures in previous classes? If so, how was this history relevant to what you were studying in that class?
Come up with your own definition of communication. How does it differ from the definition in the book? Why did you choose to define communication the way you did?
Over the course of a day, keep track of the forms of communication that you use. Make a pie chart of how much time you think you spend, on an average day, engaging in each form of communication (intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass).

Dance, F. E. X. and Carl E. Larson, The Functions of Human Communication: A Theoretical Approach (New York, NY: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 1976), 23.

Keith, W., “On the Origins of Speech as a Discipline: James A. Winans and Public Speaking as Practical Democracy,” Rhetoric Society Quarterly 38, no. 3 (2008): 239–58.

McCroskey, J. C., “Communication Competence: The Elusive Construct,” in Competence in Communication: A Multidisciplinary Approach , ed. Robert N. Bostrom (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1984), 260.

Poe, M. T., A History of Communications: Media and Society from the Evolution of Speech to the Internet (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011), 27.

What Can I Do with This Major? “Communication Studies,” accessed May 18, 2012, http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/communication-studies ↵

Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

24 Oral Presentations

Many academic courses require students to present information to their peers and teachers in a classroom setting. This is usually in the form of a short talk, often, but not always, accompanied by visual aids such as a power point. Students often become nervous at the idea of speaking in front of a group.

This chapter is divided under five headings to establish a quick reference guide for oral presentations.

A beginner, who may have little or no experience, should read each section in full.

For the intermediate learner, who has some experience with oral presentations, review the sections you feel you need work on.

The Purpose of an Oral Presentation

Generally, oral presentation is public speaking, either individually or as a group, the aim of which is to provide information, entertain, persuade the audience, or educate. In an academic setting, oral presentations are often assessable tasks with a marking criteria. Therefore, students are being evaluated on their capacity to speak and deliver relevant information within a set timeframe. An oral presentation differs from a speech in that it usually has visual aids and may involve audience interaction; ideas are both shown and explained . A speech, on the other hand, is a formal verbal discourse addressing an audience, without visual aids and audience participation.

Types of Oral Presentations

Individual presentation.

Breathe and remember that everyone gets nervous when speaking in public. You are in control. You’ve got this!
Know your content. The number one way to have a smooth presentation is to know what you want to say and how you want to say it. Write it down and rehearse it until you feel relaxed and confident and do not have to rely heavily on notes while speaking.
Eliminate ‘umms’ and ‘ahhs’ from your oral presentation vocabulary. Speak slowly and clearly and pause when you need to. It is not a contest to see who can race through their presentation the fastest or fit the most content within the time limit. The average person speaks at a rate of 125 words per minute. Therefore, if you are required to speak for 10 minutes, you will need to write and practice 1250 words for speaking. Ensure you time yourself and get it right.
Ensure you meet the requirements of the marking criteria, including non-verbal communication skills. Make good eye contact with the audience; watch your posture; don’t fidget.
Know the language requirements. Check if you are permitted to use a more casual, conversational tone and first-person pronouns, or do you need to keep a more formal, academic tone?

Group Presentation

All of the above applies, however you are working as part of a group. So how should you approach group work?
Firstly, if you are not assigned to a group by your lecturer/tutor, choose people based on their availability and accessibility. If you cannot meet face-to-face you may schedule online meetings.
Get to know each other. It’s easier to work with friends than strangers.
Also consider everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. This will involve a discussion that will often lead to task or role allocations within the group, however, everyone should be carrying an equal level of the workload.
Some group members may be more focused on getting the script written, with a different section for each team member to say. Others may be more experienced with the presentation software and skilled in editing and refining power point slides so they are appropriate for the presentation. Use one visual aid (one set of power point slides) for the whole group. Take turns presenting information and ideas.
Be patient and tolerant with each other’s learning style and personality. Do not judge people in your group based on their personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender, age, or cultural background.
Rehearse as a group, more than once. Keep rehearsing until you have seamless transitions between speakers. Ensure you thank the previous speaker and introduce the one following you. If you are rehearsing online, but have to present in-person, try to schedule some face-to-face time that will allow you to physically practice using the technology and classroom space of the campus.
For further information on working as a group see:

Working as a group – my.UQ – University of Queensland

Writing Your Presentation

Approach the oral presentation task just as you would any other assignment. Review the available topics, do some background reading and research to ensure you can talk about the topic for the appropriate length of time and in an informed manner. Break the question down as demonstrated in Chapter 17 Breaking Down an Assignment. Where it differs from writing an essay is that the information in the written speech must align with the visual aid. Therefore, with each idea, concept or new information you write, think about how this might be visually displayed through minimal text and the occasional use of images. Proceed to write your ideas in full, but consider that not all information will end up on a power point slide. After all, it is you who are doing the presenting , not the power point. Your presentation skills are being evaluated; this may include a small percentage for the actual visual aid. This is also why it is important that EVERYONE has a turn at speaking during the presentation, as each person receives their own individual grade.

Using Visual Aids

A whole chapter could be written about the visual aids alone, therefore I will simply refer to the key points as noted by my.UQ

To keep your audience engaged and help them to remember what you have to say, you may want to use visual aids, such as slides.

When designing slides for your presentation, make sure:

any text is brief, grammatically correct and easy to read. Use dot points and space between lines, plus large font size (18-20 point).
Resist the temptation to use dark slides with a light-coloured font; it is hard on the eyes
if images and graphs are used to support your main points, they should be non-intrusive on the written work

Images and Graphs

Your audience will respond better to slides that deliver information quickly – images and graphs are a good way to do this. However, they are not always appropriate or necessary.

When choosing images, it’s important to find images that:

support your presentation and aren’t just decorative
are high quality, however, using large HD picture files can make the power point file too large overall for submission via Turnitin
you have permission to use (Creative Commons license, royalty-free, own images, or purchased)
suggested sites for free-to-use images: Openclipart – Clipping Culture ; Beautiful Free Images & Pictures | Unsplash ; Pxfuel – Royalty free stock photos free download ; When we share, everyone wins – Creative Commons

This is a general guide. The specific requirements for your course may be different. Make sure you read through any assignment requirements carefully and ask your lecturer or tutor if you’re unsure how to meet them.

Using Visual Aids Effectively

Too often, students make an impressive power point though do not understand how to use it effectively to enhance their presentation.

Rehearse with the power point.
Keep the slides synchronized with your presentation; change them at the appropriate time.
Refer to the information on the slides. Point out details; comment on images; note facts such as data.
Don’t let the power point just be something happening in the background while you speak.
Write notes in your script to indicate when to change slides or which slide number the information applies to.
Pace yourself so you are not spending a disproportionate amount of time on slides at the beginning of the presentation and racing through them at the end.
Practice, practice, practice.

Nonverbal Communication

It is clear by the name that nonverbal communication are the ways that we communicate without speaking. Many people are already aware of this, however here are a few tips that relate specifically to oral presentations.

Being confident and looking confident are two different things. Fake it until you make it.

Avoid slouching or leaning – standing up straight instantly gives you an air of confidence.
Move! When you’re glued to one spot as a presenter, you’re not perceived as either confident or dynamic. Use the available space effectively, though do not exaggerate your natural movements so you look ridiculous.
If you’re someone who “speaks with their hands”, resist the urge to constantly wave them around. They detract from your message. Occasional gestures are fine.
Be animated, but don’t fidget. Ask someone to watch you rehearse and identify if you have any nervous, repetitive habits you may be unaware of, for example, constantly touching or ‘finger-combing’ your hair, rubbing your face.
Avoid ‘voice fidgets’ also. If you needs to cough or clear your throat, do so once then take a drink of water.
Avoid distractions. No phone turned on. Water available but off to one side.
Keep your distance. Don’t hover over front-row audience members; this can be intimidating.
Have a cheerful demeaner. You do not need to grin like a Cheshire cat throughout the presentation, yet your facial expression should be relaxed and welcoming.
Maintain an engaging TONE in your voice. Sometimes it’s not what you’re saying that is putting your audience to sleep, it’s your monotonous tone. Vary your tone and pace.
Don’t read your presentation – PRESENT it! Internalize your script so you can speak with confidence and only occasionally refer to your notes if needed.
Lastly, make good eye contact with your audience members so they know you are talking with them, not at them. You’re having a conversation. Watch the link below for some great speaking tips, including eye contact.

Below is a video of some great tips about public speaking from Amy Wolff at TEDx Portland [1]

Wolff. A. [The Oregonion]. (2016, April 9). 5 public speaking tips from TEDxPortland speaker coach [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOXZumCXNM&ab_channel=TheOregonian ↵

communication of thought by word

Share This Book

Introduction to Communication

What is communication, learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Define communication and describe communication as a process.
Identify and describe the eight essential components of communication.
Identify and describe two models of communication.

Many theories have been proposed to describe, predict, and understand the behaviors and phenomena of which communication consists. When it comes to communicating in business, we are often less interested in theory than in making sure our communications generate the desired results. But in order to achieve results, it can be valuable to understand what communication is and how it works.

Defining Communication

The root of the word “communication” in Latin is communicare , which means to share, or to make common ( Weekley, 1967). Communication is defined as the process of understanding and sharing meaning ( Pearson & Nelson, 2000, p. 6).

At the center of our study of communication is the relationship that involves interaction between participants. This definition serves us well with its emphasis on the process, which we’ll examine in depth across this text, of coming to understand and share another’s point of view effectively.

The first key word in this definition is process . A process is a dynamic activity that is hard to describe because it changes ( Pearson & Nelson, 2000). Imagine you are alone in your kitchen thinking. Someone you know (say, your mother) enters the kitchen and you talk briefly. What has changed? Now, imagine that your mother is joined by someone else, someone you haven’t met before—and this stranger listens intently as you speak, almost as if you were giving a speech. What has changed? Your perspective might change, and you might watch your words more closely. The feedback or response from your mother and the stranger (who are, in essence, your audience) may cause you to reevaluate what you are saying. When we interact, all these factors—and many more—influence the process of communication.

The second key word is understanding : “To understand is to perceive, to interpret, and to relate our perception and interpretation to what we already know” ( McLean, 2003). If a friend tells you a story about falling off a bike, what image comes to mind? Now your friend points out the window and you see a motorcycle lying on the ground. Understanding the words and the concepts or objects they refer to is an important part of the communication process.

Next comes the word sharing . Sharing means doing something together with one or more people. You may share a joint activity, as when you share in compiling a report; or you may benefit jointly from a resource, as when you and several coworkers share a pizza. In communication, sharing occurs when you convey thoughts, feelings, ideas, or insights to others. You can also share with yourself (a process called intrapersonal communication) when you bring ideas to consciousness, ponder how you feel about something, or figure out the solution to a problem and have a classic “Aha!” moment when something becomes clear.

Finally, meaning is what we share through communication. The word “bike” represents both a bicycle and a short name for a motorcycle. By looking at the context the word is used in and by asking questions, we can discover the shared meaning of the word and understand the message.

Eight Essential Components of Communication

In order to better understand the communication process, we can break it down into a series of eight essential components:

Environment

Interference.

Each of these eight components serves an integral function in the overall process. Let’s explore them one by one.

The source imagines, creates, and sends the message. In a public speaking situation, the source is the person giving the speech. He or she conveys the message by sharing new information with the audience. The speaker also conveys a message through his or her tone of voice, body language, and choice of clothing. The speaker begins by first determining the message—what to say and how to say it. The second step involves encoding the message by choosing just the right order or the perfect words to convey the intended meaning. The third step is to present or send the information to the receiver or audience. Finally, by watching for the audience’s reaction, the source perceives how well they received the message and responds with clarification or supporting information.

“The message is the stimulus or meaning produced by the source for the receiver or audience” ( McLean, 2005, p. 10) . When you plan to give a speech or write a report, your message may seem to be only the words you choose that will convey your meaning. But that is just the beginning. The words are brought together with grammar and organization. You may choose to save your most important point for last. The message also consists of the way you say it—in a speech, with your tone of voice, your body language, and your appearance—and in a report, with your writing style, punctuation, and the headings and formatting you choose. In addition, part of the message may be the environment or context you present it in and the noise that might make your message hard to hear or see.

Imagine, for example, that you are addressing a large audience of sales reps and are aware there is a World Series game tonight. Your audience might have a hard time settling down, but you may choose to open with, “I understand there is an important game tonight.” In this way, by expressing verbally something that most people in your audience are aware of and interested in, you might grasp and focus their attention.

“The channel is the way in which a message or messages travel between source and receiver” ( McLean, 2005, p. 10) . For example, think of your television. How many channels do you have on your television? Each channel takes up some space, even in a digital world, in the cable or in the signal that brings the message of each channel to your home. Television combines an audio signal you hear with a visual signal you see. Together they convey the message to the receiver or audience. Turn off the volume on your television. Can you still understand what is happening? Many times you can, because the body language conveys part of the message of the show. Now turn up the volume but turn around so that you cannot see the television. You can still hear the dialogue and follow the story line.

Similarly, when you speak or write, you are using a channel to convey your message. Spoken channels include face-to-face conversations, speeches, telephone conversations and voice mail messages, radio, public address systems, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). Written channels include letters, memorandums, purchase orders, invoices, newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, e-mail, text messages, tweets, and so forth.

“The receiver receives the message from the source, analyzing and interpreting the message in ways both intended and unintended by the source”( McLean, 2005, p. 10) . To better understand this component, think of a receiver on a football team. The quarterback throws the football (message) to a receiver, who must see and interpret where to catch the ball. The quarterback may intend for the receiver to “catch” his message in one way, but the receiver may see things differently and miss the football (the intended meaning) altogether.

As a receiver you listen, see, touch, smell, and/or taste to receive a message. Your audience “sizes you up,” much as you might check them out long before you take the stage or open your mouth. The nonverbal responses of your listeners can serve as clues on how to adjust your opening. By imagining yourself in their place, you anticipate what you would look for if you were them. Just as a quarterback plans where the receiver will be in order to place the ball correctly, you too can recognize the interaction between source and receiver in a business communication context. All of this happens at the same time, illustrating why and how communication is always changing.

When you respond to the source, intentionally or unintentionally, you are giving feedback. Feedback is composed of messages the receiver sends back to the source. Verbal or nonverbal, all these feedback signals allow the source to see how well, how accurately (or how poorly and inaccurately) the message was received. Feedback also provides an opportunity for the receiver or audience to ask for clarification, to agree or disagree, or to indicate that the source could make the message more interesting. As the amount of feedback increases, the accuracy of communication also increases (Leavitt & Mueller, 1951).

For example, suppose you are a sales manager participating in a conference call with four sales reps. As the source, you want to tell the reps to take advantage of the fact that it is World Series season to close sales on baseball-related sports gear. You state your message, but you hear no replies from your listeners. You might assume that this means they understood and agreed with you, but later in the month you might be disappointed to find that very few sales were made. If you followed up your message with a request for feedback (“Does this make sense? Do any of you have any questions?”) you might have an opportunity to clarify your message, and to find out whether any of the sales reps believed your suggestion would not work with their customers.

“The environment is the atmosphere, physical and psychological, where you send and receive messages” ( McLean, 2005, p. 11). The environment can include the tables, chairs, lighting, and sound equipment that are in the room. The room itself is an example of the environment. The environment can also include factors like formal dress, that may indicate whether a discussion is open and caring or more professional and formal. People may be more likely to have an intimate conversation when they are physically close to each other, and less likely when they can only see each other from across the room. In that case, they may text each other, itself an intimate form of communication. The choice to text is influenced by the environment. As a speaker, your environment will impact and play a role in your speech. It’s always a good idea to go check out where you’ll be speaking before the day of the actual presentation.

“The context of the communication interaction involves the setting, scene, and expectations of the individuals involved” ( McLean, 2005, p. 11). A professional communication context may involve business suits (environmental cues) that directly or indirectly influence expectations of language and behavior among the participants.

A presentation or discussion does not take place as an isolated event. When you came to class, you came from somewhere. So did the person seated next to you, as did the instructor. The degree to which the environment is formal or informal depends on the contextual expectations for communication held by the participants. The person sitting next to you may be used to informal communication with instructors, but this particular instructor may be used to verbal and nonverbal displays of respect in the academic environment. You may be used to formal interactions with instructors as well, and find your classmate’s question of “Hey Teacher, do we have homework today?” as rude and inconsiderate when they see it as normal. The nonverbal response from the instructor will certainly give you a clue about how they perceive the interaction, both the word choices and how they were said.

Context is all about what people expect from each other, and we often create those expectations out of environmental cues. Traditional gatherings like weddings or quinceañeras are often formal events. There is a time for quiet social greetings, a time for silence as the bride walks down the aisle, or the father may have the first dance with his daughter as she is transformed from a girl to womanhood in the eyes of her community. In either celebration there may come a time for rambunctious celebration and dancing. You may be called upon to give a toast, and the wedding or quinceañera context will influence your presentation, timing, and effectiveness.

In a business meeting, who speaks first? That probably has some relation to the position and role each person has outside the meeting. Context plays a very important role in communication, particularly across cultures.

Interference, also called noise, can come from any source. “ Interference is anything that blocks or changes the source’s intended meaning of the message” ( McLean, 2005, p. 11). For example, if you drove a car to work or school, chances are you were surrounded by noise. Car horns, billboards, or perhaps the radio in your car interrupted your thoughts, or your conversation with a passenger.

Psychological noise is what happens when your thoughts occupy your attention while you are hearing, or reading, a message. Imagine that it is 4:45 p.m. and your boss, who is at a meeting in another city, e-mails you asking for last month’s sales figures, an analysis of current sales projections, and the sales figures from the same month for the past five years. You may open the e-mail, start to read, and think, “Great—no problem—I have those figures and that analysis right here in my computer.” You fire off a reply with last month’s sales figures and the current projections attached. Then, at five o’clock, you turn off your computer and go home. The next morning, your boss calls on the phone to tell you he was inconvenienced because you neglected to include the sales figures from the previous years. What was the problem? Interference: by thinking about how you wanted to respond to your boss’s message, you prevented yourself from reading attentively enough to understand the whole message.

Interference can come from other sources, too. Perhaps you are hungry, and your attention to your current situation interferes with your ability to listen. Maybe the office is hot and stuffy. If you were a member of an audience listening to an executive speech, how could this impact your ability to listen and participate?

Noise interferes with normal encoding and decoding of the message carried by the channel between source and receiver. Not all noise is bad, but noise interferes with the communication process. For example, your cell phone ringtone may be a welcome noise to you, but it may interrupt the communication process in class and bother your classmates.

Two Models of Communication

Researchers have observed that when communication takes place, the source and the receiver may send messages at the same time, often overlapping. You, as the speaker, will often play both roles, as source and receiver. You’ll focus on the communication and the reception of your messages to the audience. The audience will respond in the form of feedback that will give you important clues. While there are many models of communication, here we will focus on two that offer perspectives and lessons for business communicators.

Rather than looking at the source sending a message and someone receiving it as two distinct acts, researchers often view communication as a transactional process ( Figure 1.3 “Transactional Model of Communication” ), with actions often happening at the same time. The distinction between source and receiver is blurred in conversational turn-taking, for example, where both participants play both roles simultaneously.

Figure 1.3 Transactional Model of Communication

Researchers have also examined the idea that we all construct our own interpretations of the message. As the State Department quote at the beginning of this chapter indicates, what I said and what you heard may be different. In the constructivist model ( Figure 1.4 “Constructivist Model of Communication” ), we focus on the negotiated meaning, or common ground, when trying to describe communication. (Pearce & Cronen, 1980; Cronen & Pearce, 1982).

Imagine that you are visiting Atlanta, Georgia, and go to a restaurant for dinner. When asked if you want a “Coke,” you may reply, “sure.” The waiter may then ask you again, “what kind?” and you may reply, “Coke is fine.” The waiter then may ask a third time, “what kind of soft drink would you like?” The misunderstanding in this example is that in Atlanta, the home of the Coca-Cola Company, most soft drinks are generically referred to as “Coke.” When you order a soft drink, you need to specify what type, even if you wish to order a beverage that is not a cola or not even made by the Coca-Cola Company. To someone from other regions of the United States, the words “pop,” “soda pop,” or “soda” may be the familiar way to refer to a soft drink; not necessarily the brand “Coke.” In this example, both you and the waiter understand the word “Coke,” but you each understand it to mean something different. In order to communicate, you must each realize what the term means to the other person, and establish common ground, in order to fully understand the request and provide an answer.

Figure 1.4 Constructivist Model of Communication

Because we carry the multiple meanings of words, gestures, and ideas within us, we can use a dictionary to guide us, but we will still need to negotiate meaning.

Key Takeaway

The communication process involves understanding, sharing, and meaning, and it consists of eight essential elements: source, message, channel, receiver, feedback, environment, context, and interference. Among the models of communication are the transactional process, in which actions happen simultaneously, and the constructivist model, which focuses on shared meaning.

THINK ABOUT IT

1. List three environmental cues and indicate how they influence your expectations for communication. Please share your results with your classmates.

2. How does context influence your communication? Consider the language and culture people grew up with, and the role these play in communication styles.

3. If you could design the perfect date, what activities, places, and/or environmental cues would you include to set the mood? Please share your results with your classmates.

4. Observe two people talking. Describe their communication. See if you can find all eight components and provide an example for each one.

5. What assumptions are present in the transactional model of communication? Find an example of a model of communication in your workplace or classroom, and provide an example for all eight components.

Communication for Business Success. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/communication-for-business-success/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of communication:.

Communication is one of the important tools that aid us to connect with people. Either you are a student or a working professional, good communication is something that will connect you far ahead. Proper communication can help you to solve a number of issues and resolve problems. This is the reason that one must know how to communicate well. The skills of communication essential to be developed so that you are able to interact with people. And able to share your thoughts and reach out to them. All this needs the correct guidance and self-analysis as well.

Meaning of Communication

The word communication is basically a process of interaction with the people and their environment . Through such type of interactions, two or more individuals influence the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of each other.

Such interactions happen through the exchange of information through words, gestures, signs, symbols, and expressions. In organizations, communication is an endless process of giving and receiving information and to build social relationships.

Importance of Communication

Communication is not merely essential but the need of the hour. It allows you to get the trust of the people and at the same time carry better opportunities before you. Some important points are as follows –

Help to Build Relationships

No matter either you are studying or working, communication can aid you to build a relationship with the people. If you are studying you communicate with classmates and teachers to build a relationship with them. Likewise in offices and organizations too, you make relationships with the staff, your boss and other people around.

Improve the Working Environment

There are a number of issues which can be handled through the right and effective communication. Even planning needs communication both written as well as verbal. Hence it is essential to be good in them so as to fill in the communication gap.

Foster strong team

Communication helps to build a strong team environment in the office and other places. Any work which requires to be done in a team. It is only possible if the head communicates everything well and in the right direction.

Find the right solutions

Through communication, anyone can find solutions to even serious problems. When we talk, we get ideas from people that aid us to solve the issues. This is where communication comes into play. Powerful communication is the strength of any organization and can help it in many ways.

Earns more respect

If your communication skills are admirable, people will love and give you respect. If there is any problem, you will be the first person to be contacted. Thus it will increase your importance. Hence you can say that communications skills can make a big change to your reputation in society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Don’t Go Overboard With Your Point

The conversation is about to express your thoughts. And to let the other person know what you feel. It is not mean to prove that your point is correct and the other person is wrong. Don’t Overboard other With Your Point.

Watch Your Words

Before you say something to Watch Your Words. At times, out of anger or anxiousness, we say somethings that we must not say. Whenever you are in a professional meeting or in some formal place, where there is a necessity of communicating about your product or work then it is advised to practice the same beforehand

Communication is the greatest importance. It is important to sharing out one’s thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. The more we communicate the less we suffer and the better we feel about everything around. However, it is all the more necessary to learn the art of effective communication to put across ones point well.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

Travelling Essay
Picnic Essay
Our Country Essay
My Parents Essay
Essay on Favourite Personality
Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
Essay on Knowledge is Power
Essay on Gurpurab
Essay on My Favourite Season
Essay on Types of Sports

Download the App

Oral Communication

What is oral communication.

Oral communication refers to the process of exchanging information, thoughts, and ideas through spoken words. It is a soft skill that allows individuals to express themselves effectively and convey messages to others in a clear and concise manner.

Importance of Oral Communication

Oral communication plays a crucial role in both personal and professional settings. It facilitates effective interactions, enhances relationships, and promotes understanding among individuals. Proficient oral communication skills are highly valued by employers, as they contribute to teamwork, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Key Elements of Oral Communication

Effective oral communication involves various key elements, including clarity, coherence, conciseness, and relevance. Clarity ensures that the message is easily understood by the recipient, while coherence ensures a logical flow of ideas. Conciseness helps convey the message efficiently, avoiding unnecessary and redundant information. Relevance ensures that the information shared is meaningful and applicable to the context.

Verbal and Nonverbal Aspects

Oral communication encompasses both verbal and nonverbal aspects. Verbal communication refers to the use of words, grammar, and language structure to express ideas, while nonverbal communication involves facial expressions, gestures, body language, and tone of voice. Both aspects are important to effectively convey messages, as they provide additional cues and emphasize certain points.

Enhancing Oral Communication Skills

Improving oral communication skills can be achieved through practice and development of specific techniques. Active listening, clarity in speech, organizing thoughts, adapting communication style to the audience, and using appropriate nonverbal cues are some strategies to enhance oral communication.

Applications of Oral Communication

Oral communication is utilized in various settings, such as meetings, presentations, interviews, negotiations, and interpersonal interactions. It is essential for building relationships, resolving conflicts, delivering persuasive speeches, imparting knowledge, and fostering collaboration within teams.

The Importance of Assessing a Candidate's Oral Communication Skills

Assessing a candidate's oral communication skills is crucial for ensuring effective and efficient communication within an organization. By evaluating how well a candidate can express ideas, convey messages, and engage in meaningful conversations, businesses can make informed hiring decisions.

Clear and Effective Communication: Oral communication skills are essential for employees to clearly articulate their thoughts, ideas, and instructions to colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Assessing a candidate's ability to convey information in a coherent and concise manner is essential for fostering effective collaboration and avoiding misunderstandings.

Professional Presentations and Meetings: Strong oral communication skills are particularly important for individuals who need to conduct presentations, participate in meetings, and engage in discussions. Assessing a candidate's oral communication skills helps ensure they can confidently deliver presentations, actively contribute in meetings, and effectively collaborate with team members.

Customer Interactions and Client Relationships: For roles that involve interacting with customers or building client relationships, assessing a candidate's oral communication skills is vital. The ability to listen actively, understand customer needs, and communicate clearly can greatly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Problem-solving and Conflict Resolution: Effective oral communication is essential for problem-solving and conflict resolution within a team or across departments. By evaluating a candidate's ability to communicate ideas, actively listen to others, and effectively negotiate, businesses can identify individuals who can contribute to a positive and productive work environment.

Assessing Candidates on Oral Communication Skills

Alooba offers a range of tests designed to assess a candidate's oral communication skills effectively. By utilizing these tests, organizations can evaluate the candidate's ability to communicate clearly and effectively in various scenarios. Here are some test types available on Alooba that are relevant to assessing oral communication skills:

Written Response Test : This test allows candidates to provide a written response or essay on a given topic. It assesses the candidate's ability to organize thoughts, convey ideas coherently, and effectively communicate through writing.

Asynchronous Interview : With the Asynchronous Interview test, candidates answer questions by submitting a video response of themselves. This test evaluates not only the candidate's verbal communication skills but also their nonverbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice.

By incorporating these assessment methods into the hiring process, organizations can gain valuable insights into a candidate's oral communication abilities, ensuring they select individuals who can effectively express themselves and engage in meaningful conversations within the workplace.

Subtopics within Oral Communication

Oral communication encompasses various subtopics, each playing a crucial role in effective interpersonal and professional interactions. Here are some key areas covered under oral communication:

Verbal Clarity : Verbal clarity focuses on the candidate's ability to express ideas, thoughts, and information clearly and concisely. It assesses their proficiency in using appropriate language, grammar, and vocabulary to ensure their message is easily understood by others.

Listening Skills : Active listening is an integral part of oral communication. Assessing a candidate's listening skills involves evaluating their ability to pay attention, comprehend information, and respond appropriately. Strong listening skills enable effective understanding and facilitate meaningful conversations.

Public Speaking : Public speaking evaluates a candidate's ability to effectively present information and ideas before an audience. This subtopic assesses their confidence, articulation, use of body language, and overall ability to engage and captivate listeners.

Interpersonal Communication : Interpersonal communication focuses on how well a candidate can interact and communicate with others on a personal level. It assesses their ability to build rapport, establish trust, and effectively convey thoughts and ideas in one-on-one or small group settings.

Nonverbal Communication : Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, gestures, body language, and tone of voice. Evaluating a candidate's nonverbal communication skills helps understand their ability to convey emotions, maintain engagement, and make a positive impact during conversations.

By assessing these subtopics within oral communication, organizations can identify candidates who possess strong communication skills and can effectively contribute to the success of the team and the organization as a whole.

Oral communication is utilized in various contexts, both in personal and professional settings. Understanding how oral communication is applied can help individuals and organizations recognize its significance. Here are some common applications of oral communication:

Meetings and Presentations : Oral communication is crucial during meetings, where individuals discuss ideas, provide updates, and make decisions. It also plays a vital role in presentations, enabling speakers to share information, persuade audiences, and engage with listeners effectively.

Negotiations and Conflict Resolution : Effective oral communication is essential during negotiations, allowing parties to express their perspectives, collaborate, and reach agreements. It is also valuable in conflict resolution, helping individuals address conflicts, find common ground, and work towards resolutions.

Customer Service and Sales : Oral communication plays a vital role in customer service, where representatives need to understand customer needs, address inquiries, and provide solutions effectively. In sales, oral communication helps build relationships, highlight product benefits, and close deals through persuasive conversations.

Interviews and Interpersonal Interactions : Oral communication is critical during interviews where candidates communicate their qualifications, skills, and experiences to potential employers. It is also utilized in daily interpersonal interactions, facilitating effective communication with colleagues, supervisors, and clients.

Training and Team Collaboration : Oral communication is employed in training sessions, workshops, and seminars to impart knowledge, share insights, and promote collaborative learning. It is also essential for team collaboration, enabling members to exchange ideas, coordinate tasks, and foster a cohesive working environment.

Understanding the applications of oral communication highlights its significance in various aspects of life. Proficient oral communication skills contribute to successful interactions, effective teamwork, and positive relationships both inside and outside the workplace.

Roles Requiring Good Oral Communication Skills

Certain roles heavily rely on individuals having strong oral communication skills to excel in their responsibilities. These positions involve frequent interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, making effective communication pivotal. Here are some types of roles that require candidates with excellent oral communication skills:

Insights Analyst : Insights analysts need to effectively communicate their findings and analysis to various stakeholders, including management teams and clients. They must deliver clear and concise insights through reports and presentations, ensuring the information is easily understood.

Marketing Analyst : Marketing analysts collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate data-driven marketing strategies. They need strong oral communication skills to present campaign performance, share insights, and discuss target audience behaviors effectively.

Product Analyst : Product analysts play a vital role in communicating product ideas, requirements, and user feedback to development teams. They collaborate with stakeholders, providing comprehensive insights to enhance products and drive innovation.

Customer Service Representative : Customer service representatives consistently interact with customers, providing support and addressing inquiries. Effective oral communication skills are crucial in delivering exceptional customer service, ensuring clear understanding and resolution of customer concerns.

Trainer : Trainers rely heavily on oral communication to deliver training sessions, workshops, and presentations to diverse audiences. They must communicate concepts and instructions clearly, ensuring trainees understand and retain the information being shared.

Team Leader : Team leaders need strong oral communication skills to effectively communicate goals, expectations, and feedback to their team members. They facilitate open communication, foster collaboration, and motivate their teams towards success.

Public Speaker : Public speakers rely on their oral communication skills to engage, inform, and inspire audiences during presentations, conferences, and events. They need to deliver memorable speeches with clarity, confidence, and effective storytelling.

Negotiator : Negotiators use their oral communication skills to engage in effective discussions, reach agreements, and resolve conflicts. Strong communication enables them to articulate their position, actively listen, and negotiate mutually beneficial outcomes.

Interviewer : Interviewers rely on their oral communication skills to ask relevant questions, assess candidates' qualifications, and effectively evaluate their fit for a position. They need to conduct interviews that encourage open dialogue and elicit detailed responses.

These roles exemplify the importance of oral communication skills in various professional settings. Organizations seeking individuals for these positions prioritize candidates who can effectively express themselves, engage with others, and contribute to the success of their teams.

Associated Roles

Etl developer.

ETL Developers specialize in the process of extracting data from various sources, transforming it to fit operational needs, and loading it into the end target databases or data warehouses. They play a crucial role in data integration and warehousing, ensuring that data is accurate, consistent, and accessible for analysis and decision-making. Their expertise spans across various ETL tools and databases, and they work closely with data analysts, engineers, and business stakeholders to support data-driven initiatives.

Growth Analyst

The Growth Analyst role involves critical analysis of market trends, consumer behavior, and business data to inform strategic growth and marketing efforts. This position plays a key role in guiding data-driven decisions, optimizing marketing strategies, and contributing to business expansion objectives.

Insights Analyst

Insights Analysts play a pivotal role in transforming complex data sets into actionable insights, driving business growth and efficiency. They specialize in analyzing customer behavior, market trends, and operational data, utilizing advanced tools such as SQL, Python, and BI platforms like Tableau and Power BI. Their expertise aids in decision-making across multiple channels, ensuring data-driven strategies align with business objectives.

Marketing Analyst

Marketing Analysts specialize in interpreting data to enhance marketing efforts. They analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and campaign performance to inform marketing strategies. Proficient in data analysis tools and techniques, they bridge the gap between data and marketing decision-making. Their role is crucial in tailoring marketing efforts to target audiences effectively and efficiently.

Product Analyst

Product Analysts utilize data to optimize product strategies and enhance user experiences. They work closely with product teams, leveraging skills in SQL, data visualization (e.g., Tableau), and data analysis to drive product development. Their role includes translating business requirements into technical specifications, conducting A/B testing, and presenting data-driven insights to inform product decisions. Product Analysts are key in understanding customer needs and driving product innovation.

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. They work at the intersection of business, technology, and user experience, focusing on delivering solutions that meet market needs. Product Managers often have a background in business, engineering, or design, and are skilled in areas such as market research, user experience design, and agile methodologies.

Related Skills

Other names for Oral Communication include Verbal Communication , and Speaking .

Ready to Assess Oral Communication Skills?

Discover how Alooba can help you identify candidates with strong oral communication skills and streamline your hiring process. Book a discovery call today.

Over 50,000 Candidates Can't Be Wrong

Our Customers Say

I was at WooliesX (Woolworths) and we used Alooba and it was a highly positive experience. We had a large number of candidates. At WooliesX, previously we were quite dependent on the designed test from the team leads. That was quite a manual process. We realised it would take too much time from us. The time saving is great. Even spending 15 minutes per candidate with a manual test would be huge - hours per week, but with Alooba we just see the numbers immediately.

Shen Liu , Logickube ( Principal at Logickube )

We get a high flow of applicants, which leads to potentially longer lead times, causing delays in the pipelines which can lead to missing out on good candidates. Alooba supports both speed and quality. The speed to return to candidates gives us a competitive advantage. Alooba provides a higher level of confidence in the people coming through the pipeline with less time spent interviewing unqualified candidates.

Scott Crowe , Canva ( Lead Recruiter - Data )

How can you accurately assess somebody's technical skills, like the same way across the board, right? We had devised a Tableau-based assessment. So it wasn't like a past/fail. It was kind of like, hey, what do they send us? Did they understand the data or the values that they're showing accurate? Where we'd say, hey, here's the credentials to access the data set. And it just wasn't really a scalable way to assess technical - just administering it, all of it was manual, but the whole process sucked!

Cole Brickley , Avicado ( Director Data Science & Business Intelligence )

The diversity of our pool has definitely improved so we just have many more candidates from just different backgrounds which I am a huge believer in. It makes the team much better, it makes our output much better and gives us more voices in terms of building the best product and service that we can.

Piers Stobbs , Cazoo ( Chief Data Officer )

I wouldn't dream of hiring somebody in a technical role without doing that technical assessment because the number of times where I've had candidates either on paper on the CV, say, I'm a SQL expert or in an interview, saying, I'm brilliant at Excel, I'm brilliant at this. And you actually put them in front of a computer, say, do this task. And some people really struggle. So you have to have that technical assessment.

Mike Yates , The British Psychological Society ( Head of Data & Analytics )

We were very quickly quite surprised with the quality of candidates we would get from Alooba. We ended up hiring eight different analysts via Alooba in about a year's time, which is quite extraordinary for us because we actually have almost never used a recruitment agency for any role. It has been our best outsourcing solution by far.

Oz Har Adir , Vio.com ( Founder & CEO )

For data engineering & analytics these take-home assignments we were doing ourselves are a bit time consuming so we wanted to automate that and also reduce the time candidates were spending on the assessment.

Sharin Fritz , Personio ( Tech Talent Acquisition )

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

Essay Database >
Essay Examples >
Essays Topics >
Essay on Communication

Oral Communication Essay Samples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Communication , Development , Listening , Students , Strategy , Learning , Skills , Presentation

Words: 1000

Published: 03/05/2020

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

A. Listening strategy to reinforce listening skills in the lesson plan

One can incorporate the use of summarizing in the lesson to help the listener understand and remember the main ideas captured in a presentation. A summary of the main points will assist the listener to remember and understand ideas in a presentation. Summarizing and paraphrasing a speaker’s speech helps the listener to increase the chance of recalling. Notes taken in the course of the presentation will help the listen to make future reference (Cordella & Musgrave, 2010). To learn a language depends on the listening strategy. Listening provide an aural input that act as a basis to acquire language to enable learner's interact with others through communication. An effective language instructor will instruct students to change the listening behavior that matches an appropriate strategy in every listening situation. In a top-down strategy, the listener uses the background information of the topic. The background information will activate the expectation to assist the listener to interpret the message and anticipate other messages. In a bottom-up strategy, the listener will rely on the language in the message in the grammar and the sounds so as to derive meaning.

B. An activity to develop focus and attention

The listening area should be free of distractions to enable the listener to have focus on the speaker (Jackson, 2013). The listener should face the speaker directly and put off phones to avoid interferences. The learner can participate in making summaries to illustrate a listening comprehension and clarification of the presentation. Listening serves as the first language skills in children followed closely by language arts skills. An oral skill and the listening enable literacy development. Students face the challenge of transiting from one language to another in the academic learning since it places an additional load on the listening ability. The effort to improve listening uses different approaches to enhance the success in the classroom. One of the approach focuses on the physical aspect of listening to enhance the success in the classroom. The difficulty with listening and the literacy skills extend over the childhood years. The effort to improve listening uses the physical aspect of listening and acoustic issues in the classroom (Jackson, 2013). Teachers use amplification of devices that decrease interference from high levels of sound in the classroom. Student strategies focus on the word instruction to improve visual and auditory stimuli that demand the listener’s attention in the critical details of the reading process. An underlying premise targets unique types of input as the brain functions optimal for reading. Activities in listening strategies process information in the appropriate starting points. C. Supporting the learning of listening skills A listener must use active and consistent skills to avoid forgetting important ideas in the presentation. A listen has to clarify the meaning of the presentation to understand the purpose. The listener should remain focused on the speaker such as maintaining a firm eye contact and the use of body language. A listener can respond to the speaker using a non-verbal response or verbal response. A listener should focus the presentation while minimizing on the internal and external distractions. A listener should have an open mind approach to comprehend the idea from the speaker’s viewpoint. A listener should not interrupt the speaker (Cordella & Musgrave, 2010). All the questions to the speaker should come after the end of the message. The listener should apply active listening strategies by interacting with the speaker in the process of learning. Active listening entails the use of verbal and the non-verbal response, focus attention on the speaker, encouraging a speaker, and making notes for future reference. In active listening children take turns selecting a favorite character in the story and identify what the character does in the pantomime. Some of the children in the group guess the character pantomimed. Groups of students assign a certain phase and listen to oral reading as they chant a character they hear. D. The importance of listening in the development of language Listening helps to develop language since it is one way that exposes language in the use of verbal communication. The distinction between listening and hearing is that hearing is a physical way to receive sound while listening is a process to decode and understand the sounds. Babies learn to speak by mimicking sounds from their parents as they learn to communicate with other people. As students listen to auditory input, they can discover new information that is applicable as knowledge. Children can respond to auditory input that will enable them to develop language skills. Listening and speaking are crucial parts of communication. Language development enables people to hear and speak. Children should have stimuli to enable them facilitate language development. A listening task requires students to integrate lesson content as they select specific types of information to process, isolate, and remember the linguistic element of information. Listening depends on some of the factors such as the environment, learner-specific skills, and task complexity. The poor eye contact, body movement, and talking in the course of the lesson indicate a behavioral problem in listening. The problem can lead to a mismatch between the student experience and the teacher in the learning environment. A learner can lack motivation to listen due to lack of realization of the importance of the speaker’s message. Additionally, the listener may lack confidence in the application of skills necessary for listening to learn.

Bond, C. D. (2012). An Overview of Best Practices to Teach Listening Skills. International Journal of Listening, 26(2), 61-63. Cordella, M., & Musgrave, S. (2010). Oral communication skills of international medical graduates: Assessing empathy in discourse. Communication & Medicine, 6(2), 17-28. Jackson, D. (2013). Business graduate performance in oral communication skills and strategies for improvement. The International Journal of Management Education, 23, 34.45.

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 2004

This paper is created by writer with

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

System input and output essay sample, course work on the african american community, gastro esophageal reflux disease research paper, herzbergs hygiene motivational model research paper examples, example of essay on explaining how you go about writing including details and when and where you, example of admission essay on what unique contributions will you bring to the babson community that will enhance, free political psychology essay sample, free economics essay sample, malicious attacks course work example, legislation and standards report sample, good literature review about poverty on childhood development, the brains pleasure centers research paper, good community organization essay example, free essay on water quality and contamination, good example of essay on grief and loss, essay on ethical relativism with egoism, sample report on data analysis and application daa template, sample essay on memorandum, sample term paper on the california car insurance, example of essay on renaissance and modern science, human evolution and tool use term paper samples, good essay about toms shoes, sverdlovsk essays, saint exupery essays, wedekind essays, sociocultural theory essays, childhood abuse essays, insurance contract essays, evil empire essays, recreation center essays, preventive measure essays, verbal behavior essays, jackson county essays, food irradiation essays, public places should essays, overgrazing essays, carrying out literature reviews, health insurance literature reviews, inferior literature reviews, healing literature reviews, bargaining literature reviews, alcoholic literature reviews, heart disease literature reviews.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Communication Skills / Oral Communication Insights: My Learning Journey

Oral Communication Insights: My Learning Journey

Category: Sociology , Education
Topic: Communication Skills , Effective Communication , Personal Statement

Pages: 1 (492 words)

Downloads: -->

Advantages of Oral Communication:

There is unusual state of comprehension and straight forwardness in oral communication as it is relational.
There is no component of unbending nature in oral communication.
There is flexibility for allowing changes in the choices recently taken.
The input is free if there should be an amount of oral communication. Therefore, choices can be made rapidly immediately.
Oral communicating isn’t just efficient, yet it likewise sets aside upon cash and attempt.
Oral correspondence is best if there should be an amount of issue goals. The arguments, debates and frequent issues can be put to an end by talking them over.

Oral Communication at English Class

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Indian Education Essays

Academic Interests Essays

Graduation Essays

College Education Essays

Brittany Stinson Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->

The Importance Of Oral Communication

What Is Oral Communication?

Elevator Pitch

Formal Conversations

Informal Conversations

Business Presentations

Reskilling Programs

Oral Communication: Definitions, Importance, Methods, Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Clear Pronunciation

Types of Oral Communication

Face-to-Face Conversation

Speak in a Clear, Confident Strong Voice

Advantages of Oral Communication

Quickness in Exchange of Ideas

Unfit for Lengthy Message

Difference Between Oral and Written Communication

FAQ Related to Oral Communication

What is oral communication according to different authors?

What is the importance of an oral communication essay?

What are the methods of oral communication?

What is oral communication according to the authors?

What is the importance of oral communication?

What are the six types of oral communication?

What are the advantages of communication?

What are the disadvantages of communication?

Written Communication: Definitions, Principal, Types, Advantages and Disadvantages, Ways to Improve

8 Elements of Mass Communication

Scope of Business Communication

You Might Also Like

Development Communication: Definitions, Process, Functions, Elements, 5 Approaches, and Importance

Formal Communication: Definition, Types, Advantages, and Limitations

Group Discussion: Features, Elements, Types, Process, Characteristics, Roles, Group

10 Best English Grammar Courses Online & Certification [2023]

Classification of Advertising Based on Area Coverage, Audience, Media, Functions

Business Communication: Definition, Types, Importance, 7 Cs, Purpose, Barriers

Group Communication: Meaning, Importance, Advantages, Disadvantages, Characteristics

6 Functions of Mass Media: Examples

Essentials of Business Communication

Barriers to Communication: Types, and How to Overcome Those Barriers

Types of Oral Communication

What are Types of Oral Communication?

30 Types of Oral Communication Examples

Types of Oral Communication Examples for Students

Types of Oral Communication Examples at Business

Types of Oral Communication Examples at Home

Types of Oral Communications

Mention the Elements Types for Oral Communication?

Tips for Effective Types of Oral Communication

AI Generator

1.1 Communication: History and Forms

From Aristotle to Obama: A Brief History of Communication

Forms of Communication

Intrapersonal Communication

Interpersonal Communication

Group Communication

Public Communication

Mass Communication

“Getting Real”

Key Takeaways

24 Oral Presentations

The Purpose of an Oral Presentation

Types of Oral Presentations

Group Presentation

Writing Your Presentation

Using Visual Aids

Images and Graphs

Using Visual Aids Effectively

Nonverbal Communication

Share This Book

Introduction to Communication

Defining Communication

Eight Essential Components of Communication

Environment

Two Models of Communication

Key Takeaway

THINK ABOUT IT

Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

Meaning of Communication

Importance of Communication

Help to Build Relationships