ABSTRACT
Verbal communication is all communication that is spoken or written. Words can and do wound and destroy the souls of individuals far more quickly and severely than physical weapons. The triangle of meaning graphically illustrates the relationship between the thing, the thought, and the word. The connotative meaning of a word is the emotional or attitudinal attachment or response people have to words. The word fine can be interpreted differently if it is stated by a coach as he observes his pitcher warming up, a woman discussing business plans with a customer, or a homeless beggar whispering to a high school girl entering a convenience store. There are four levels of sharing or communication–surface talk, reporting facts, giving opinions, and sharing feelings. The purpose of surface talk is not a deep exchange of facts or feelings, but rather to acknowledge another person in a socially acceptable manner.
