Messages are formed through the use of verbal and nonverbal

symbols. 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
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 word house, of course, is not the
object. It represents the object.
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 call 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,
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.
 The capability to epitomize ideas with verbal symbols makes
human beings extraordinary from most of the other creatures
particularly of the animal kingdom. The facility to utilize language
influences a person’s competence in communication.
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 used in a
language is called grammar.
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
word may have diverse denotations. It is also the orthodox meaning that
most people in a culture approve to use when they encounter a particular
symbol.
Connotation of a word is its hidden meaning, the often prevailing
feelings and associations that the word arouses. It refers to the
expressive element of the symbol’s meaning.
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 CONNOTATIONS 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 listeners.
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 than standard
language.

4. ENRICH YOUR LANGUAGE. Use your verbal and nonverbal

language skills to study the various ways used by the effective speakers
and writers when they communicate.
 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 and Oral

Communication are the others terminologies that are used to refer to
verbal language.
1. PHONOLOGY. It is a branch of linguistics concerned with the orderly
association of sounds in a language. It has customarily concentrated
largely on the study of the systems of phonemes in particular languages
(and therefore used to be also called phonemics, or phonematics) but is
may also cover any linguistic analysis either at a level beneath the word
(including syllable, onset and rime, articulatory gestures, articulatory
features, mora, etc) or at all levels of language where sound is
considered to be structured for transmitting linguistic meaning.
Phonology also includes the study of equivalent organizational systems in
sign language.
2. SEMANTICS. It comes from the Greek word semantikos which
means significant and primarily in linguistic refers to the study of meaning
in language, programming languages, formal logics and semiotics.
It focuses on the relationship between signifiers- like words,
phrases, signs and symbols- and what they represent for, their denotation.
In international scientific vocabulary, semantics is also called
semasiology.
The word semantics was first used by MICHEL BREAL, A
FRENCH PHILOLOGIST. It signifies a variety of ideas- from the standard
to the highly mechanical.