Verbal & Non-Verbal

What one is involved in while listening to the radio or a podcast (just like the 1 below) is very clearly VERBAL COMMUNICATION. It can be represented using a linear model, and is based on language and words. If the speech is in a language that the listener does not know of, the message wrapped within the words will not be received by the listener.

the mrbrown show: hard to burn


Using the above podcast as an example, we will have a brief analysis on the verbal communication concepts involved. Short sections from the recording will be quoted throughout the analysis.

“…trained to survive the jungle of Singapore politics.”
“Politics is dirty...”
“Tell it to the fist.”
“When you need an MP to give out the bitter medicine, Jackson Lim is the male nurse who will make you swallow your pills without water, 3 times a day after meals.”
Language is SYMBOLIC and cannot be interpreted literally all the time. Very often, the meaning of the words/phrases used has to be understood with relevance to the context of its usage. Is politics literally a jungle and covered in dirt? Do you really speak to the fist when someone tells you to? Obviously not. These expressions have meanings that are somewhat totally different from the string of words that you see.

“Politics is dirty, but I’m the town council cleaner.”
“Auntie, economy no good. Save your umbrella for a rainy day.”
Because of its symbolic nature, people sometimes display a humorous play of words – otherwise known as a pun. Using the multiple meanings that certain words/phrases have, people express slight contradictions between the intended meaning and the context they have been used in.

EQUIVOCATIONS (the use of equivocal or ambiguous expressions), as seen above, can lead to misinterpretations because of the multiple possible interpretations that one can make out of them.

“Yala, what’s your problem?”
“Eh? Why you never catch fire one? Oi! Put me down.”
These are examples of SLANGS that typical Singaporeans use within their everyday language. Matched together with a few broken sentences and mispronounced words, we have we know as Singlish, the not-so-glorious Singapore tongue.

“Uncle, your shoe missed.”
“Auntie, economy no good.”
“Auntie, gong xi gong xi gong xi ni ah.”
DIFFERENCES IN REFERENCE GROUPS is another barrier to communication. For example, the usage of “Uncle” and “Auntie” to address middle-aged (or older) men and lady is unique to the Singapore culture and cannot be understood by people from other countries.

“He’s an MP in white…”
“…and I don’t burn easy.”
Just like the previous set of examples, the implicit meanings behind these words/phrases can only be understood by a group people with the relevant knowledge/background. While it’s largely a country issue, it can actually also be an issue of whether one follows the news. For one that is oblivious to recent happenings in Singapore, the idea of burning an MP would not mean much. But for the group of people who follow the news, they will easily relate this to the MP Seng Han Thong incident.

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And now on to NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION, communication that is non-linguistic (without words).

Please mute the video to have a better experience of non-verbal communication.
Katy Perry – Hot N Cold


Throughout the whole video, there is an extensive use of KINESICS. Right at the beginning, we are able to sense happiness from the lady, based on the smile on her face. [0:03-0:11] However, the mood changes, from happy to angry [0:27-0:34], and eventually sad. [0:50-1:05] All these are based on the facial expressions of the lady. However, kinesics is not only about facial expressions, but also comprises of other body movements and gestures. Also in the first scene, the pastor of the church can be seen crossing his arms, leaning away from the man, chin down, and looking at the man through the corner of his eyes. [clear example at around 0:50] This is an expression of disapproval and dislike.

As we see in the first scene of the church, the man is constantly looking around, his attention shifting from the pastor to the lady to the crowd. This is an example of OCULESICS at work. The inability to maintain constant eye contact with anyone in the room shows his fear, intimidation and insecurity.

From 2:12 to 2:26, we see the use of PHYSICAL APPEARANCE to portray sadness and frustration. The smudged eyeliner (or that’s what it looks like) shows history of intense crying, while the messy attire and hairstyle lets viewers feel that it has been aggressively ripped/shaken.

Within the same scene, there is a smart use of OBJECTICS. The baseball bats held within the hands of the ugly brides gives viewers the notion of anger, and a desire to hurt someone. While baseball bats are primarily used in sports, they are also good weapons and have been commonly used as such in movies and TV shows.

Then at 2:35-2:40, we see HAPTICS at work. The lady gives the man an unfriendly push and he runs away after that. Based on the push alone, we are unable to decipher what it is about. But with reference to the expressions before and the reactions after, we are in a better position to draw a conclusion about its friendliness.

Of course, the different types of non-verbal communication do not occur just once throughout the whole video. In fact, there are so many details involved (and intertwined together) that allow us to figure out the meaning behind the whole video. (even without the sound!)