Types of Communication

We explain what the types of communication are according to different classification criteria. Also, the characteristics of each one and examples.

two men talk while walking
Communication can occur in multiple ways and in numerous contexts.

What are the types of communication?

The types of communication are classified according to different criteria, because this process is complex and diverse, and can occur in multiple ways and in numerous contexts. Considering this, the most frequent types of communication are:

According to the code used:

  • Verbal communication
    • oral communication
    • Written communication
  • Non-verbal communication
    • Gestural communicationBody communication
    • Non-verbal or paralinguistic oral communication

Depending on the mode of communication:

  • Direct communication
  • Indirect communication

According to the direction of communication:

  • One-way communication
  • Two-way communication
  • Vertical communication
  • Horizontal communication

Depending on the number of receivers:

  • Intrapersonal communication
  • Interpersonal or individual communication
  • Group communication
  • Broadcast communication
  • Mass communication

According to the degree of formality of the speech:

  • Formal communication
  • Informal communication

Depending on the style:

  • Assertive communication
  • Passive communication
  • Aggressive communication
  • Passive-aggressive communication

Depending on the medium or technological channel:

  • Telephone communication
  • Virtual or digital communication
  • Radio communication
  • Television communication

Depending on the area:

  • Advertising communication
  • Educational communication
  • journalistic communication
  • Organizational communication

According to the meaning involved:

  • Auditory communication
  • Visual communication
  • Tactile communication
  • Olfactory communication
  • taste communication

See also: Communication

According to the code used

According to the code used to produce the message, that is, the set of signs with which it is elaborated, a distinction can be made between verbal and non-verbal communication.

Verbal communication

Verbal or linguistic communication is one in which a language or idiom is used to produce a message. This type of communication, in turn, can be classified into:

  • oral communication. It occurs with spoken words and is the standard type of human communication. It has the advantage that it is immediate and effective, allowing instant correction and reformulation, but at the same time it is ephemeral and, generally, requires the presence of the sender and the receiver in the communicative situation. For example: a conversation between two friends.
  • Written communication. It is produced with written words. It has the advantage that it stands the test of time and allows communication over great distances, but at the same time it lacks the versatility of spoken language, since the sender is not there to reformulate or explain to the receiver what he meant. For example: reading a literary work.

Non-verbal communication

Non-verbal communication is one in which no words are used to elaborate the message. It can be of different types:

  • Gesture communication. It is produced through mimicry, hand signals and other gestures (for example, of the face), which allow certain ideas or emotions to be transmitted. For example: putting your hands together on the side of your face to indicate that you are sleepy.
  • Body communication. It occurs through body postures and depends largely on the other's ability to interpret. For example: crossing your arms to indicate annoyance or distrust.
  • Non-verbal or paralinguistic oral communication. It is produced by the human voice, but not with words, but through screams, grunts and other similar sound emissions. For example: screaming with joy at a surprise.

Depending on the mode of communication

Depending on the modality with which communication is established, two fundamental types can be distinguished: direct communication and indirect communication.

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Direct communication

Direct communication is that which takes place without any intermediaries because there is a direct link between sender and receiver. It is, therefore, a type of immediate communication, in which the participants are in the same place at the same time. It can be verbal or non-verbal. For example: a talk between friends.

Indirect communication

Indirect communication is that which occurs through some device or medium that transmits the message. In this sense, it occurs in the absence of the sender or the receiver, who are not in the same place at the same time. For example: a note that was left on the refrigerator door.

According to the communication direction

the audience watches a movie in the cinema
One-way communication does not allow reversing the roles between sender and receiver.

According to the specific way in which the message flows between the sender and the receiver, it is possible to distinguish between one-way communication and two-way communication. Furthermore, taking into account the hierarchy of the roles that the participants have, a distinction can be made between vertical communication and horizontal communication.

One-way communication

One-way communication is one that flows in one direction that is, from sender to receiver, so that there is no possibility for the receiver to prepare and transmit a response or for the roles to be reversed. For example: a person listening to a soccer game on the radio.

Two-way communication

Two-way communication is one in which sender and receiver can exchange roles because the receiver is capable of producing a response and becoming a sender. For example: two people chatting via text messages.

Vertical communication

Vertical communication is one that occurs between a figure of higher hierarchy and another of lower hierarchy in an organization, and can be ascending or descending, depending on who the issuer is. For example: when a manager assigns a task to a junior worker it is a type of downward vertical communication.

Horizontal communication

Horizontal communication is that which flows between people of equal hierarchy that is, between individuals of the same rank. For example: when two coworkers with the same position talk about how to organize a project.

Depending on the number of receivers

Depending on the number of receivers that a sender addresses, it is possible to distinguish between intrapersonal communication, interpersonal communication, group communication, diffusion communication and mass communication.

Intrapersonal communication

Intrapersonal communication is one in which a person reflects on any topic without addressing another. For example: when someone mentally makes a list of groceries to buy at the supermarket.

Interpersonal or individual communication

Interpersonal communication is that which involves few participants who are usually in the same place at the same time (although not always) and who can exchange roles. For example: when two people talk in a job interview.

Group communication

Group communication is one that involves several people,who can assume the roles of sender and receiver. For example: a conversation between a group of friends.

Broadcast communication

Diffusion communication is that which occurs when there is a single sender and several receivers which they generally cannot answer. For example: a person giving a lecture.

Mass communication

Mass communication, also called mass or media communication, is that which involves a sender (or a few) and a multitudinous set of receivers. Normally, it occurs unilaterally. For example: a radio program.

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Depending on the degree of formality

a group of friends chats in a cafe
In informal communication, it is not necessary to follow style rules.

According to the degree of formality, two types of communication can be distinguished: formal communication and informal communication.

Formal communication

Formal communication is that which must respect a certain style or protocol whether oral or written. It follows pre-established formats and is normally prepared with greater care, since mistakes, ambiguities and sloppiness are less tolerated. For example: the defense of a degree thesis.

Informal communication

Informal communication is that which takes place in a trusted or everyday environment, where no need to follow style rules. It is characterized because it has more freedoms and tolerates improvisation and errors, as it allows for greater ease and a more colloquial register. For example: a conversation between friends after a soccer game.

According to the style

Depending on the style, that is, the way of expressing the message, communication can be assertive, aggressive, passive or passive-aggressive.

Assertive communication

Assertive communication look for the best way to convey a message to another. Assertiveness involves recognizing the communicative context and the expressive needs of the speaker, in order to find the best moment and the best way to transmit the information. He usually has a clear, concise and direct style, but at the same time respectful and cordial. This communication style It is ideal for most situations in everyday life. For example: a person politely asks another person to do him a favor.

Aggressive communication

Aggressive communication is characterized because the person acts with a willingness to confront. It implies little willingness to listen and concede and a tendency to raise one's voice, rush the speech or undertake other strategies to avoid interruption and impose one's own point of view. Aggressive communication tends to make the recipient feel intimidated, violated or ignored. For example: when a person maintains that their opinion on a topic is the only valid one and does so in a bad way.

Passive communication

Passive communication is characterized because the person shows shyness and a tendency to silence. Unlike what happens in aggressive communication, the speaker usually easily gives the floor to others and avoids confrontations, even at the risk of sacrificing the expression of his or her point of view. Passive communication is not usually effective in the short or long term, but it can be comfortable in certain situations. For example: when a person accepts all the changes that his coworker wants to include in a project, even if he does not agree.

Passive-aggressive communication

Passive-aggressive communication combines aggressive elements with apparent passivity. The speaker expresses his ideas or opinions indirectly, often camouflaged, generally with a disconnection between what is said and how it is said. Despite not being openly confrontational, passive-aggressive communication can cause discomfort in the recipient and is usually ineffective in expressing messages, since it leaves what was really meant to be interpreted by the other. For example: a person who makes an ironic comment about the topic being discussed.

Depending on the medium or technological channel

There are as many types of communication as there are technological media or channels. The most relevant are telephone communication, virtual or digital communication, radio communication and television communication.

Telephone communication

Telephone communication is one that occurs between two people talking on the phone.

Virtual or digital communication

Virtual or digital communication is that which occurs through the use of the Internet such as when a group of people chat or when an email is sent.

Radio communication

Radio communication is that which occurs between one or a few broadcasters who carry out a radio program and a large group of recipients, who are the public.

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Television communication

Television communication is that which It is produced through a television program such as a newscast, a series, a documentary or a television interview.

According to the area

Depending on the area in which it occurs, communication can be advertising, educational, journalistic or organizational, among the most frequent.

Advertising communication

Advertising communication is that which is produced through television, newspapers, posters on public roads, among other means, and Its objective is for people to acquire a product or service. For example: an advertisement for a soda.

Educational communication

Educational communication is that which occurs between different individuals in a school, university or other educational setting. For example: a teacher explaining a topic in mathematics class.

journalistic communication

Journalistic communication is that which It occurs between one or more journalists and the public and its channel is usually a mass media, such as radio, television or a newspaper. For example: an interview in a magazine.

Organizational communication

Organizational communication is the one that occurs in an organization, which may be a company or an institution. It can be internal (if it occurs between members of the same organization) or external (if it occurs between the organization and external agents). For example: the person in charge of an area explains a new project to the employees.

According to the meaning involved

Depending on the sense or sensory channel involved, five types of communication can be distinguished: auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory and gustatory.

Auditory communication

Auditory communication is that which It is established with signs, signals or symbols that are perceived with the ear such as words, horns, telegraph sounds or sirens.

Visual communication

The visual communication is the one that It is produced with signs or images that are perceived with sight such as written words, mathematical symbols, gestures, or traffic light lights.

Tactile communication

Tactile communication is one that It is produced with elements that are perceived by touch like the braille code.

Olfactory communication

Olfactory communication is that which It is produced with elements that are perceived by smell and is most used by animals to obtain information about space, food and other individuals.

taste communication

Gustatory communication is that which It is produced by elements that are perceived with taste like when a dog tests something to determine if it should be eaten or not.

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References

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