Verbal Communication Paper

Verbal Communication

Carlos Castillo, Christina Huntley, Pamela McDaniel, and Joseph Wood

CJA/304

Amber Bass

April 22, 2012

Verbal Communication

The importance of communicating verbally and non-verbally within every day society is vast. Whether written, spoken, or body language and tone these forms of communicating are vital within the criminal justice system from the basic reporting of the street patrol officer to the correctional facility employees. What a person hears is important yet what is or is not heard is just as important. Communicating within the criminal justice system is complex on the level that the lives of many hang in the balance. Life can change for these individuals based on the tone, body language, spoken and unspoken words. In all areas of communication from public press announcements to how inmates and correctional officers communicate each use the same method.

“Verbal communication has more to do with listening than it does with speaking because you are always dealing with an audience. This is true no matter whether you are speaking to a crowd of thousands or to a party of one. Listening is key because when you address an audience, no matter the size, you have to meet its needs to communicate effectively, and to know the needs of your audience, you have to listen” (TypesOfCommunication.org, 2012).

Your demeanor in court can speak louder than verbally communicating thoughts and feelings. For example facial expressions, body language, and hand gestures can speak volumes when testifying in the court room. Silence is damaging because it leads individuals to believe that the individual is not prepared to speak or is withholding information that can discredit him or her as a witness. There are also nonverbal gestures that can be unacceptable in the court room, such as not rising when the judge enters the court room or not standing up when speaking to the judge if not on the witness stand. Nonverbal communication can be just as obvious as verbal communication.

“Nonverbal communication is any kind of communication not involving words. When the term is used, most people think of facial expressions and gestures, but while these are important elements of nonverbal communication, they are not the only ones. Nonverbal communication can include vocal sounds that are not words such as grunts, sighs, and whimpers. Even when actual words are being used, there are nonverbal sound elements such as voice tone, pacing of speech and so forth” (TypesOfCommunication.org, 2012).

Verbal communication can instantaneously let those involved in the court room setting know what the emotional standing of the individual testifying.