This document discusses oral communication and provides information on key aspects related to effective oral communication. It defines oral communication as communication through speaking and includes conversations, speeches and presentations. It outlines several characteristics of effective oral communication including being well-planned, concise, using an attractive presentation style, considering the audience, being realistic and free from errors. The document also discusses advantages like high understanding and flexibility as well as disadvantages such as potential for misunderstandings. Finally, it covers topics like breathing techniques, intonation and diction that are important for oral communication.
2. What is oral
communication?
Oral communication implies communication through mouth. It
includes individuals conversing with each other, be it direct conversation
or telephonic conversation. Speeches, presentations, discussions are all
forms of oral communication. Oral communication is generally
recommended when the communication matter is of temporary kind or
where a direct interaction is required. Face to face communication
(meetings, lectures, conferences, interviews, etc.)
3. Characteristics of oral communication
An oral communication to become successful requires some
essential or good characteristics, those are highlighted as
follows:
• Pre Planned
Before transmitting any message, the speaker must have pre-plan to send the message
properly to the audience or receiver. Pre-Planned communication is always fruitful.
• Certainty
The speaker must speak properly while communication with the audience. The subject
matter or speech must be certain in oral communication to avoid confusion.
• Conciseness
Information should be /Enriched with concrete, logical and relevant data in case of oral
communication. The subject matter should also be simple to catch the attention of the
audience.
4. Characteristics of oral communication
• Attractive presentation
The message in oral communication should be presented in a nice tone. The Speaking
attitude should be catchy to hold the attention of the receiver.
• Consideration of the Receiver or Audience
During oral communication, the qualification, knowledge, experience, and motive should
be considered by the speaker. The language should be simple and understandable to the
audience.
• Neutrality
The audience or receiver should be silent while the speaker in delivering a
speech.
• Realistic
Unrealistic information or, a message can never hold the attention of the
audience. So, a speaker should provide realistic speech to the audience.
5. Characteristics of oral communication
•Free from error
If the information in oral communication contains any error then it makes the audience
confused. Moreover, the audience will lose their confidence in the speaker. So, information
must be free from errors in oral communication.
•Patience
Patience is the key to success for effective communication. Both the speaker .and the
audience must have proper patience while making oral communication.
•Free from emotion
Oral communication should be free from emotion. Because emotion makes the subject
matter to be complicated. Therefore, the audience will make a wrong interpretation of the
message techniques orWay of Oral Communication.
6. Advantages of Oral Communication
• There is high level of understanding and transparency in oral
communication as it is interpersonal.
• There is no element of rigidity in oral communication. There is flexibility for
allowing changes in the decisions previously taken.
• The feedback is spontaneous in case of oral communication. Thus, decisions
can be made quickly without any delay.
• Oral communication is not only time saving, but it also saves upon money
and efforts.
7. Disadvantages/Limitations of Oral
Communication
• Relying only on oral communication may not be sufficient as business
communication is formal and very organized.
• Oral communication is less authentic than written communication as they are
informal and not as organized as written communication.
• Oral communication is time-saving as far as daily interactions are concerned, but in
case of meetings, long speeches consume lot of time and are unproductive at
times.
• There may be misunderstandings as the information is not complete and may lack
essentials.
• It requires attentiveness and great receptivity on part of the receivers/audience.
8. Breathing
The importance of breathing in oral
communication becomes obvious when you
realize that the energy that powers your voice
is exhaled breath. Air passing upwards in your
trachea excites the vocal folds in your larynx.
Those vocal folds (the thyroarytenoid muscles
or “vocal cords”) then vibrate thousands of
times per second to create the sound others
hear when you speak.
9. 3 Ways to Use Breathing to ImproveYour
Public Speaking
• #1: Active vs. Passive Breathing. The type of breathing you use in daily living
is called passive or vegetative breathing. As that label indicates, this type of
breathing doesn’t take much effort. Sitting at your desk or using your voice
to carry three inches from your mouth to your phone, aren’t activities that
call on you to use the fullness of your breathing mechanism.
• #2: Where the Action Takes Place. To breathe beneficially for public
speaking, you need to correctly use your breathing mechanism, i.e., the
anatomical structures that exist to allow you to respirate. This is where you
may have developed bad habits as a speaker (many people do), and so work
against yourself in breathing effortlessly and efficiently.
10. 3 Ways to Use Breathing to ImproveYour
Public Speaking
• #3: Controlling the Respiration Cycle. Your level of control in the breathing
cycle is where you can make it all come together to be in charge of your
speaking performance.
When you breathe passively, your inhalation and exhalation are about
equal, i.e., they have the same duration. With speaking, however, the situation
is entirely different. Remember that exhaled air is the source of the produced
voice. So every time you express an idea, you’re likely doing in on one breath.
11. The intonation
Intonation is about how we say things, rather than what we say. Without
intonation, it's impossible to understand the expressions and thoughts that go
with words. Listen to somebody speaking without paying attention to the words:
the 'melody' you hear is the intonation. It has the following features:
• It's divided into phrases, also known as 'tone-units'.
• The pitch moves up and down, within a 'pitch range'. Everybody has their own pitch
range. Languages, too, differ in pitch range. English has particularly wide pitch
range.
• In each tone unit, the pitch movement (a rise or fall in tone, or a combination of the
two) takes place on the most important syllable known as the 'tonic-syllable'. The
tonic-syllable is usually a high-content word, near the end of the unit.
• These patterns of pitch variation are essential to a phrase's meaning. Changing the
intonation can completely change the meaning.
12. The intonation
Intonation exists in every language, so the concept we're introducing isn't
new. However, learners are often so busy finding their words that intonation
suffers. Yet intonation can be as important as word choice - we don't always
realise how much difference intonation makes:
• Awareness of intonation aids communication.
• Incorrect intonation can result in misunderstandings, speakers losing
interest or even taking offence!
• Though it's unlikely our learners will need native-speaker-level
pronunciation, what they do need is greater awareness of intonation to
facilitate their speaking and listening.
13. The Diction
Diction can be defined as style of speaking or writing, determined
by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. Diction, or choice of
words, often separates good writing from bad writing. It depends on a
number of factors. Firstly, the word has to be right and accurate.
Secondly, words should be appropriate to the context in which they are
used. Lastly, the choice of words should be such that the listener or
reader understands easily.
14. Types of Diction
Individuals vary their diction depending on different contexts and settings.
Therefore, we come across various types of diction.
• Formal diction: formal words are used in formal situations, such as press
conferences and presentations.
• Informal diction: uses informal words and conversation, such as writing or
talking to friends.
• Colloquial diction: uses words common in everyday speech, which may be
different in different regions or communities.
• Slang diction is the use of words that are newly coined, or even impolite.