14 Communication and Its Forms

a) typy komunikácie a jej význam (verbálna, neverbálna),

b) komunikácia v rôznych situáciách (na verejnosti a v súkromí medzi mladými, mladými a
staršími, na ulici, v škole, v rodine, v každodennom živote, vo výnimočných situáciách),
c) moderné formy komunikácie (mobilný telefón, počítač - elektronická pošta, internet),

A) Verbal communication:
spoken language – spontaneous, we may repeat the sentences on request or explain the ideas in
another way, if necessary
usually face to face ? allows speaker to ask questions
use of stress, tone, voice modulation to express different meanings
include laughter, pauses, filler phrases (ums, you know...)
once said cannot be taken back

Written communication:
requires more thoughts and planning, often used formal language, ideas – more structured, better
organised
one-way communication
can be read several times
better for recording facts and ideas

Non-verbal communication:
sign language – system of hand movements and gestures which represent words and ideas
- mostly used by the deaf
- differs from region to region, no one international in the world
- Morse code – system of short and long sounds or flashes of light
- when travelling – read pictograms, traffic signs
body language – gestures, postures and facial expressions
- we smile, frown or make different gestures, shapes with our hands, etc.
- kissing, hugging – a certain type of communication to express feelings (various
ways of kissing: on the mouth – romantic relationship, on the cheek or forehead –
usually parents and children, to say goodbye
- when we yawn = tired, bored
- sitting with eyes or mouth wide open = we are fascinated
-
symbols & colours can tell us without any words
- owl = wisdom; heart, rose = love; white dove = peace, etc.
- Black=death, sadness, power, colour of gangsters; red = passion, love, stop; green –
hope, new life; white = innocence, etc.

B) There are different kinds of conversation: formal, informal, chattering, gossiping

C) Modern forms of communication:

Older generation used to just live with home phones, faxes, walkie-talkies, face to face c. was
dominant
Today : – the average child has a mobile phone, sends text messages, surf the Internet to find
information for school, emails friends
- very common to see people speaking, laughing or arguing into a small box
- people spend hours chatting with “friends” without ever having met them
 - new ways of communication – for some people a necessity of modern life
- influence of using the computer – makes life easier, they also influence our
handwriting
Modern technology influences people - we switch on TV or radio and we replace our missing
communicators

Picture - Tasks:
Look at the photos showing different forms of communication among people.
describe what the people are doing and their feelings,
what is your experience of these situations?

Topic - Tasks:
Talk about different kinds of communication (verbal and non-verbal) and say which
one is the most suitable for you, giving reasons.
Compare and contrast the modern ways of communication (e. g. e-mail, mobile
phones, ICQ, online chat, etc.) to the traditional ones (e.g. letters, face to face). How
have mobile phones and the Internet changed the way we keep in touch with friends
and family?
Do you send text messages from your holiday rather than postcards? Give reasons.