Forms of Verbal Communication

Communication methods provide a means for people to share information, ideas and plans. Verbal communication methods play a significant role in everyday society, enabling systems and processes to proceed in an orderly fashion. Verbal forms of communication include spoken and written materials, both of which are employed on an interpersonal level.

Interpersonal Communication

• Verbal communication typically takes place within an interpersonal context between two or more people, according to the University of Louisville. Verbal exchanges between friends, employee and superior, co-workers, and life partners each encompass a different set of approaches, or rules. In order to be effective, communication requires the speaker to know how to relate to the people with whom he's speaking. Relating on a verbal level involves employing a form of etiquette that's acceptable within the group. Etiquette requirements can vary depending on whether someone is speaking in a work environment, with peers or in a social setting made up of different types of people. Etiquette also determines the style of language used in terms of formality or the use of jargon specific to a particular context.

Public Speaking

• Verbal communications directed towards large groups of people fall within the public speaking category of communication, according to the University of Louisville. Public speaking requires a person to communicate a message or idea to a large group in a way that's understandable to all those attending. This form of communication also requires overcoming self-consciousness and developing the confidence to hold a group's attention. Public speaking can also incorporate a purpose, which affects how the speaker wants her message to be received. Verbal communications within this area can work to persuade, inspire or inform a group of people depending on the purpose of the message. Political rallies are a venue for persuasive-type speech and often use inspirational and informative communications as a means of persuasion.

Written Forms

• The written word makes up a second form of verbal communication that takes place between two or more people, according to Profs. Kathryn Beckham and Jeffrey King of Ohio State University Cooperative Extension Service. Written forms appear as notes, business letters and personal letters. As with spoken communications, written forms carry a certain purpose, be it to persuade, inform or inspire. With the advent of the online environment, electronic correspondence, such as email and text messages, also fall within this category of verbal communication. Whether online or offline, written forms follow a certain etiquette, much like spoken forms do, and also differ according to social context (work versus peer versus social relationships). Text messaging forms commonly take on a more casual tone and language usage.