Which type of communication is better? Oral or Written?

Communication are of different types like verbal, non verbal, formal, informal and so on. Verbal communication denotes message that uses words and sentences. This type is divided further into oral and written communication. In spite of the fact these both types are using languages and phrases to communicate there are still differences which are very much visible. Both types have advantages of their own. It is very much difficult to identify which one is more effective and great.

ADVANTAGES OF ORAL COMMUNICATION OVER WRITTEN

• Immediate feedback. Oral face to face communication provides almost instant feedback. The communicator can instantly identify whether the message is conveyed correctly and if the listener undertands it in the way it has to be. If the listener finds any difficulty in getting the message, he/she can stop the speaker and ask doubts in between which cannot be done in written form of communication.

• Less time consumption. This form of communication doesn’t take much time compared to written communication. In written, the sender has to encode the message and then it has to be exchanged through the channel, then only the listener can get it and finally interpret the whole message. Oral communication happens at the moment with no time needed.
• More effective in conveying. Since the speaker can use body language, face expressions in oral form of communication, the listener is likely to understand the message in a much better way. The speaker can also emphasis certain words while speaking, that implies they are important and to be focused.

ADVANTAGES OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION OVER ORAL

• Remains as a proof of record. Unlike oral communication, this type always has a proof of record. In official communication, it is always necessary to have a record of communication in order to avoid confusion.

• Better for detailed communication. Written communication can be used when one needs to explain things in detail. The listener is likely to forget things if he is communicated orally and may not remember the first part of the message if it is too lengthy and confused.

• Readers’ pace can be maintained. People have different paces to understand things. Some catches the message very fast while some takes time. Written communication allows the reader to understand the message in his/her own pace. There is neither too fast nor too slow unlike oral communication.