Republic of the Philippines
PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Tiniguiban Heights, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
SAN VICENTE CAMPUS
Purok Rosal, Brgy. Poblacion, San Vicente, Palawan
LPT Gilda Jo-An de Guzman-Bandin, MaEd
Faculty
MODULE 4 – LESSON 1
Purposive Communication: Verbal Language in Communication
1
Overview
Module 4 Lesson 1 is about verbal language in communication, its features and
characteristics. It will also talks about the difference of connotative and denotative
meaning in language.
People from various cultures and societal overtones send and receive messages by using
various forms of verbal and nonverbal languages. Messages are formed through the use
of verbal and nonverbal symbols.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, learners are expected to:
Define verbal language in communication
Identify and explain the features of verbal language.
Identify and explain language syntax and language semantics.
Compare denotative meaning from connotative meaning in language.
When people ponder the word communication, they often think about the act of talking.
We rely on verbal communication to exchange messages with one another and develop
as individuals. The term verbal communication often evokes the idea of spoken
communication, but written communication is also part of verbal communication. Reading
this book you are decoding the authors’ written verbal communication in order to learn
more about communication. Let’s explore the various components of our definition of
verbal communication and examine how it functions in our lives.
Verbal communication is about language, both written and spoken. In general, verbal
communication refers to our use of words while nonverbal communication refers to
communication that occurs through means other than words, such as body language,
gestures, and silence. Both verbal and nonverbal communication can be spoken and
written. Many people mistakenly assume that verbal communication refers only to spoken
communication. However, you will learn that this is not the case. Let’s say you tell a friend
a joke and he or she laughs in response. Is the laughter verbal or nonverbal
communication? Why? As laughter is not a word we would consider this vocal act as a
form of nonverbal communication. For simplification, the box below highlights the kinds
of communication that fall into the various categories. You can find many definitions of
verbal communication in our literature, but for this text, we define Verbal
Communication as an agreed-upon and rule-governed system of symbols used to share
meaning. Let’s examine each component of this definition in detail.
2
Verbal Nonverbal
Communication Communication
Oral Spoken Language
Laughing, Crying,
Coughing, etc.
Non Oral Written Gestures, Body
Language/Sign Language, etc.
Language
As You Know It
Verbal Language is a system of spoken and written words,
while nonverbal language is a communication without
words. Verbal language is a system of sounds and symbols
which are utilized to communicate ideas and feelings. The
capacity to utilize language influences a person’
competence in communication. Effective use of the
language involves deep understanding and mastery of
communication rules.
To better understand verbal language, the following features should be well thought-out:
1. Language is a System. System is a group of elements or parts that move or work
together. A language system consists of three sub-systems, namely: sounds,
words, and the manner these sounds and words are organized. All three must be
intermingled together to form a language.
2. Language is Symbolic. A symbol is an action, event or something that expresses,
represents or stands for something else or a particular idea or quality. Words are
symbols for notions, actuations, bits and pieces and feelings. For instance, a house
is a word that stands for something you dwell in. The words house, of course, is
not the object. It represents the object.
3
3. Language is Conventional. Conventional means accepted or used by most
people or of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be
usual and typical. Native and non-native speakers of English language accepted
the word pen or pencil to stand for a particular object that write with. If you a pen
a gork, others will not understand what you are talking about. Words in a language
communicate meaning simply because most people who use that particular
language recognize specific meanings for specific words.
4. Language is Learned. Children learn and absorb the language of their culture.
The process of learning the language follows general guidelines and principles.
5. Language Changes. The English language is continually varying. The
connotations of words change and new meanings are given to words.
Nonetheless, these variations usually happen gradually so that most speakers of
the language can adjust to the changes as they arise. Building a comprehensive,
operative vocabulary is vital, because the more words you know and use, the
better you will be at interacting both spoken and written messages.
A System of Symbols
Symbols are arbitrary representations of thoughts, ideas, emotions, objects, or actions
used to encode and decode meaning (Nelson & Kessler Shaw). Symbols stand for, or
represent, something else. For example, there is nothing inherent about calling a cat a
cat.
Rather, English speakers have agreed that these symbols (words), whose components
(letters) are used in a particular order each time, stand for both the actual object, as well
as our interpretation of that object. This idea is illustrated by C. K. Ogden and I. A.
Richard’s triangle of meaning. The word “cat” is not the actual cat. Nor does it have any
direct connection to an actual cat. Instead, it is a symbolic representation of our idea of a
cat, as indicated by the line going from the word “cat” to the speaker’s idea of “cat” to the
actual object.
4
Symbols have three distinct qualities: they are arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract. Notice
that the picture of the cat on the left side of the triangle more closely represents a real cat
than the word “cat.” However, we do not use pictures as language, or verbal
communication. Instead, we use words to represent our ideas. This example
demonstrates our agreement that the word “cat” represents or stands for a real cat AND
our idea of a cat. The symbols we use are arbitrary and have no direct relationship to the
objects or ideas they represent. We generally consider communication successful when
we reach agreement on the meanings of the symbols we use (Duck).
Not only are symbols arbitrary, they are ambiguous — that is, they have several possible
meanings. Imagine your friend tells you she has an apple on her desk. Is she referring to
a piece of fruit or her computer? If a friend says that a person he met is cool, does he
mean that person is cold or awesome? The meanings of symbols change over time due
to changes in social norms, values, and advances in technology. You might be asking, “If
symbols can have multiple meanings then how do we communicate and understand one
another?” We are able to communicate because there are a finite number of possible
meanings for our symbols, a range of meanings which the members of a given language
system agree upon. Without an agreed-upon system of symbols, we could share relatively
little meaning with one another.
5
A simple example of ambiguity can be represented by one of your classmates asking a
simple question to the teacher during a lecture where she is showing PowerPoint slides:
“can you go to the last slide please?” The teacher is half way through the presentation. Is
the student asking if the teacher can go back to the previous slide? Or does the student
really want the lecture to be over with and is insisting that the teacher jump to the final
slide of the presentation? Chances are the student missed a point on the previous slide
and would like to see it again to quickly take notes. However, suspense may have
overtaken the student and they may have a desire to see the final slide. Even a simple
word like “last” can be ambiguous and open to more than one interpretation.
The verbal symbols we use are also abstract, meaning that, words are not material or
physical. A certain level of abstraction is inherent in the fact that symbols can only
represent objects and ideas. This abstraction allows us to use a phrase like “the public”
in a broad way to mean all the people in the United States rather than having to distinguish
among all the diverse groups that make up the U.S. population. Similarly, in J.K.
Rowling’s Harry Potter book series, wizards and witches call the non-magical population
on earth “muggles” rather than having to define all the separate cultures of muggles.
Abstraction is helpful when you want to communicate complex concepts in a simple way.
However, the more abstract the language, the greater potential there is for confusion.
Effective use of the language encompasses proficiency in learning communication
rules, they are as follows:
1. Language Syntax. Every language has a set of rules that governs its structure.
These structural rules are called as Language Syntax. In addition, each language
has guidelines for merging sounds into words and words into sentences. The
established of rules that explain how words are uses in a language is called
Grammar.
6
2. Language Semantics – Semantics deals with the study of the meanings of words
and phrases in language or the meanings of words and phrases in a particular
context. Each word has its own specific meaning. Meaning is communicated
through both a word’s denotation and its connotation. Denotation of a word is its
dictionary or lexical meaning. Similar words may have diverse denotations. It is
also the orthodox meaning that most people in a culture approve to use whey they
encounter a particular symbol. On the other hand, connotation of a word is its
hidden meaning, the often prevailing feelings and associations that the word
arouses. The feelings that you have about a word may depend on the experiences
you have had. Generally, connotation refers to the expressive element of the
symbol’s meaning.
Presenting the best possible you before a crowd is one of the paramount concerns of
most speakers. In that regard, the following guidelines are suggested:
1. Use words sensibly. If you are not certain about the meaning of the word, search
for the meaning of the word in the dictionary before you use it in speaking or in
writing.
2. Comprehend the connotation of words. Knowing the lexical or dictionary
meaning of the word is not enough, it is necessary that you are familiar with what
it operationally suggests – the feelings and associations. Use words that may
solicit the feedback you want from your listener.
3. Use language that is suitable to the communication framework. As speaker,
it is your responsibility to know and respond to the expectations of your listeners.
In formal situations, use standard language. In specialized or occupational
situations, use jargon or technical term when your listeners understand it. In
informal situations, informal/slang and dialects/vernacular may be suitable that
standard language.
4. Enrich you Language. Use your verbal and non-verbal language skills to study
the various ways used by the effective speakers and writers when they
communicate.
Rule-Governed
Verbal communication is rule-governed. We must follow agreed-upon rules to make
sense of the symbols we share. Let’s take another look at our example of the word cat.
What would happen if there were no rules for using the symbols (letters) that make up
this word? If placing these symbols in a proper order was not important, then cta, tac, tca,
act, or atc could all mean cat. Even worse, what if you could use any three letters to refer
7
to cat? Or still worse, what if there were no rules and anything could represent cat?
Clearly, it’s important that we have rules to govern our verbal communication. There are
four general rules for verbal communication, involving the sounds, meaning,
arrangement, and use of symbols.
Case In Point
SOUNDS AND LETTERS: A POEM FOR ENGLISH STUDENTS
When in English class we speak,
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it’s true
That we say sew, but also few?
When a poet writes a verse
Why is horse not rhymed with worse?
Beard sounds not the same as heard
Lord sounds not the same as word
Cow is cow, but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with toe.
Think of nose and dose and lose
Think of goose, but then of choose.
Confuse not comb with tomb or bomb,
Doll with roll, or home with some.
We have blood and food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
There’s pay and say, but paid and said.
“I will read”, but “I have read”.
Why say done, but gone and lone –
Is there any reason known?
To summarise, it seems to me
Sounds and letters disagree.
Verbal language comprises of codes such as letters, words and other signs that you
need to subject to language or grammar rules for intelligible or systematized ways of
understanding or conveying ideas. Spoken Language, Oral Language, Natural Language
8
and Oral Communication are the other terminologies that are used to refer to verbal
language. This type of language codes has the following sub-systems:
1. Phonology is the study of speech sounds. The pronunciation of the word cat
comes from the rules governing how letters sound, especially in relation to one
another. The context in which words are spoken may provide answers for how they
should be pronounced. When we don’t follow phonological rules, confusion results.
One way to understand and apply phonological rules is to use syntactic and
pragmatic rules to clarify phonological rules.
2. Semantics. It comes from the Greek word semantikos which means significant
and primarily in linguistics refers to the study of meaning in language, programming
languages, formal logics, and semiotics. The word semantics is also called
semasiology. The word semantics was first used by Michael Bre’al, a French
philologist. Semantic rules help us understand the difference in meaning between
the word cat and the word dog. Instead of each of these words meaning any four-
legged domestic pet, we use each word to specify what four-legged domestic pet
we are talking about. You’ve probably used these words to say things like, “I’m a
cat person” or “I’m a dog person.” Each of these statements provides insight into
what the sender is trying to communicate. The Case in Point, “A Poem for English
Students,” not only illustrates the idea of phonology, but also semantics. Even
though many of the words are spelled the same, their meanings vary depending
on how they are pronounced and in what context they are used. We attach
meanings to words; meanings are not inherent in words themselves. As you’ve
been reading, words (symbols) are arbitrary and attain meaning only when people
give them meaning. While we can always look to a dictionary to find a standardized
definition of a word, or its denotative meaning, meanings do not always follow
standard, agreed-upon definitions when used in various contexts. For example,
think of the word “sick.” The denotative definition of the word is ill or unwell.
However, connotative meanings, the meanings we assign based on our
experiences and beliefs, are quite varied. Sick can have a connotative meaning
that describes something as good or awesome as opposed to its literal meaning
of illness, which usually has a negative association. The denotative and
connotative definitions of “sick” are in total contrast of one another which can cause
confusion. Think about an instance where a student is asked by their parent about
a friend at school. The student replies that the friend is “sick.” The parent then asks
about the new teacher at school and the student describes the teacher as “sick”
as well. The parent must now ask for clarification as they do not know if the teacher
is in bad health, or is an excellent teacher, and if the friend of their child is ill or
awesome.
3. Syntactics is the study of language structure and symbolic arrangement.
Syntactics focuses on the rules we use to combine words into meaningful
sentences and statements. We speak and write according to agreed-upon
syntactic rules to keep meaning coherent and understandable. Think about this
sentence: “The pink and purple elephant flapped its wings and flew out the
window.” While the content of this sentence is fictitious and unreal, you can
9
understand and visualize it because it follows syntactic rules for language
structure.
4. Pragmatics is the study of how people actually use verbal communication. For
example, as a student you probably speak more formally to your professors than
to your peers. It’s likely that you make different word choices when you speak to
your parents than you do when you speak to your friends. Think of the words
“bowel movements,” “poop,” “crap,” and “shit.” While all of these words have
essentially the same denotative meaning, people make choices based on context
and audience regarding which word they feel comfortable using. These differences
illustrate the pragmatics of our verbal communication. Even though you use
agreed-upon symbolic systems and follow phonological, syntactic, and semantic
rules, you apply these rules differently in different contexts. Each communication
context has different rules for “appropriate” communication. We are trained from a
young age to communicate “appropriately” in different social contexts.
It is only through an agreed-upon and rule-governed system of symbols that we can
exchange verbal communication in an effective manner. Without agreement, rules, and
symbols, verbal communication would not work. The reality is, after we learn language in
school, we don’t spend much time consciously thinking about all of these rules, we simply
use them. However, rules keep our verbal communication structured in ways that make
it useful for us to communicate more effectively.
-End of Lesson –
10
Evaluation/Review Questions:
Instructions: Identify the words being referred to by the following statements.
____________________ 1. The word semantics was first used by whose, French
philologist?
____________________ 2. A word with its dictionary or lexical meaning.
____________________ 3. This refers to the expressive element of the symbol’s
meaning.
____________________ 4. This is the study of speech sounds.
____________________ 5. This is the study of language structure and symbolic
arrangement.
____________________ 6. This is the study of how people actually use verbal
communication.
____________________ 7. These are rules in verbal language.
____________________ 8. These are arbitrary representations of thoughts, ideas,
emotions, objects, or actions used to encode and decode meaning.
____________________ 9. This is a system of spoken and written words. A system of
sounds and symbols which are utilized to communicate ideas and feelings. It refers to our
use of words.
____________________ 10. This refers to communication that occurs through means
other than words, such as body language, gestures, and silence.
11
Key to Corrections
nonverbal communication 10.
Verbal communication 9.
Symbols 8.
structural rules 7.
Pragmatics 6.
Syntactics 5.
Phonology 4.
Connotation 3.
Denotation 2.
Michael Bre’al 1.
References
Galizia, Leomar S. et al., (2018) “Purposive Communication”, ISBN:978-621-
8094-07-9, by Panday – Lahi, Publishing House, Inc., Blk. 26 Lot 9, Sampaguita
St., Dona Rosario Bayview Subdivision, Sucat, Muntinlupa City.
Mercado, Eunice D., Dr., et al. (2018) “Purposive Communication”, ISBN: 978-
621-8122-06-2, by Jimczyville Publications, #16 Concha St., Tinajeros, Malabon
City.
Prepared by:
Gilda Jo-An de Guzman-Bandin
[email protected]
12
