104 Forms Of Communication

John Spacey, March 21, 2023

The basic forms of communication are verbal, non-verbal, visual and written. Each of these has many variations and traditions such as formal or informal communication, person-to-person or group communication and communications that use media. The following are examples of each of the forms of communication.

Verbal Communication	Conversation Public Speaking Lectures Debate Interviews Questioning Criticism Teaching Negotiation Coaching Presentations Telephone Calls Podcasts Dialogue in Films Storytelling Singing Reading to Others Group discussions Argument Active Silence Explanations
Non-Verbal Communication	Listening Laughter Sounds Such as Grunts Eye Contact Facial Expressions Body Posture Body Movement Gestures Touch Tone of Voice Proximity to Others Appearance Fashion Music Handshakes Hugs Walking Style Nodding and Head Shake Active Silence Personal Presence Dance Performance Art
Visual Communication	Art Photographs Graphics Icons Charts Graphs Maps Diagrams Illustrations Posters Logos Emojis Memes Animations Videos Motion Graphics Virtual Reality Video Games Augmented Reality Visual Design Data Visualization Signs Presentation Slides Timelines Branding Flags User Interfaces
Written Communication	Books Newspapers Emails Messages Letters Reports Proposals Resumes Newsletters Blogs Press Releases Social Media Posts Chats Forum Posts Comments Reviews Questionnaires Feedback Forms Applications Invoices Receipts Instructions Policies Procedures Agreements Meeting Minutes Learning Materials and Textbooks Budgets Financial Reporting Tax Returns Research Papers White Papers Editorials Notes

Most communication processes include more than one form of communication. For example, conversation almost always involves non-verbal communication such as tone of voice and facial expressions.

Generally speaking, non-verbal communication involves humans and visual communication is more about media. For example, body language is visual but because it involves humans it is considered non-verbal communication.

The guide below is an exploration of the first principles of communication.

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