Direct communication: what it is and what are its characteristics

Do you know what direct communication consists of? As we will see, this type of communication is what occurs immediately, but its definition goes much further.

In this article we will focus on describing this type of human communication (which is oral or in signs), and also We will analyze the 10 main characteristics that it presents (that is, the resources it uses, along with examples of the same).

Finally, also We will see what indirect communication consists of, and what differentiates it from direct communication..

• Related article: "The 28 types of communication and their characteristics"

Direct communication: what is it?

Broadly speaking, direct communication is what occurs “in the here and now.” But what does that mean? When we talk about direct communication, we are talking about a type of human communication that is carried out through a natural language, which is oral or signed (sign language). Natural language is any linguistic variety that is part of human language, and that has the mission of communicating.

Direct communication, furthermore, is characterized because the message or information is transmitted, from sender to receiver, immediately. Thus, the sending and receiving of the message is practically simultaneous.

In an ideal situation, in this type of communication, both sender and receiver say what they think and feel, and active listening occurs between them, as well as effective feedback.

On the other hand, this type of communication means that the messages that are transmitted have a special structure, and that they are expressed in a certain way (different from how a message would be expressed in writing, or a message through non-verbal communication, for example). example).

10 characteristics of direct communication

Regarding the main characteristics of direct communication (especially that which uses oral language), we find the following:

1. Use of repetitions

Reiterations involve repeating a word, or a set of them, throughout the speech (especially at the beginning of a sentence). They often appear in direct communication without us realizing it, or because we want to highlight what we are saying. An example of reiteration would be: “Drink, drink, don't be stupid.”

2. Use of redundancy

Redundancies also frequently appear in direct communication. It is about using unnecessary words to express an idea, when in reality it can be expressed with fewer words (or can even be understood without using words). That is, it is about repeating unnecessary information or information that does not contribute anything new to the speech or message.

3. Use of ready-made phrases

Ready phrases are also very common in direct communication. These, used by the vast majority of people of all sociocultural levels (since they also deal with very diverse topics), consist of expressions with a fixed form and a figurative meaning.

That is, they transmit messages in a non-literal (figurative) way. Some examples of them are: “letting down your guard”, “taking a leap of faith”, “making a mistake” or “the straw that breaks the camel's back”.

4. Use of fillers

Fillers, those famous words that teachers hated so much that we used to say in oral presentations, consist precisely of that, words or expressions that we repeat, often unconsciously, throughout our speech and excessively frequently.

In a way, it is an “oral tic” that appears when we speak or explain something in the context of direct communication, and whose frequency of appearance is accentuated when we are nervous.

5. Use of unfinished sentences

Unfinished sentences are phrases that we frequently use in oral language, which are unfinished. It is about starting sentences without finishing them, due to the speed of speech, because another idea appears, because we digress, etc.

6. Appearance of omissions

Another characteristic of direct communication is the appearance (or use) of omissions. Omissions imply failing to broadcast (cancel or cut off) certain relevant parts or aspects of the communication.

They occur due to the source or recipient of the message, and they make communication incomplete, or certain meanings lose their essence.

7. Use of onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeias, other common elements in direct communication, are either words that we use to represent a sound, or imitations of a certain sound. Examples of onomatopoeia are: “tic tac” (clock), “woof woof” (dog), “ring ring” (alarm), etc.

8. Jumps from one topic to another

In direct communication, also It is quite common for us to jump from one topic to another during our speech (many times without realizing it).

An example of this would be: “The other day I went to the cinema to see that movie… oh yes! I met Pablo. “It's hot now, isn't it?” Jumps from one topic to another, if they occur very quickly, can confuse or disorient the recipient of our message.

9. Disordered elements in the sentence

On the other hand, it is also common for disordered elements to appear in the sentences that are issued in direct communication.

This occurs because the speech is rushed, its speed being high., because new ideas suddenly appear in the speaker's mind, causing them to be introduced into the speech hastily, or for other reasons.

10. Non-verbal language support

Finally, another characteristic of direct communication is the complementary use of non-verbal language. This involves the use of gestures by the interlocutors, certain body positions, use of different tones of voice, etc.

• You may be interested: "The 10 basic communication skills"

And indirect communication?

We have seen what direct communication consists of, but what about indirect communication? Both types of communication are part of human communication. In the case of indirect communication, this occurs when the interlocutors are not physically together (and often, not even close).

To carry out this type of communication, communication channels are used such as: social networks (for example Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...), chats or email.

That is, in these cases There is an intermediary between sender and receiver, and the communication is not totally immediate (it takes seconds or minutes, depending on the channel). Another characteristic of it is that there is no physical and temporal space shared by the speakers, which means that their visual and body contact does not occur.

Bibliographic references:

• Maletzke, G. (1992). Psychology of social communication. (5th Ed.). Quipus Editorial. Ecuador.
• Michael, T. (2013). The origins of human communication. Katz Editors. Spain.
• Royal Spanish Academy: Dictionary of the Spanish language, 23rd ed., [online version 23.3]. https://dle.rae.es [March 26, 2020].