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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools

Types of languages used in theatre performances and communications

Language is an important aspect in theatre performances and communications.
There are two categories of language that are always used in theatre performances,
namely spoken and visual language. Spoken language is referred to verbal
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language while visual language is linguistically referred to non-verbal language.

Spoken (verbal) language
Spoken language refers to the use of speech and other utterances that convey
meaning. It is a type of communication that uses mouth to get the message across
the audience. When people use words to express feelings and thoughts, they are
communicating by using spoken language. In theatre, spoken language is always
a two-way communication involving the performer and the audience in the
course of performance. However, with technological revolution, performers can
record their performances and share it on radio, television and social media such
as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube and Facebook. However,
of all channels of communication nothing beats live communication that exists
between the performer and the audience during the theatre performances. Below
are categories of communication that uses spoken language.
Categories of communication used in spoken (verbal) language
Spoken language is used in three types of communications, namely interpersonal
communication, intrapersonal communication and group communication.

(a) Interpersonal communication: Interpersonal communication involves two
people. One person speaks and the other listens to what is being spoken.
In theatre, interpersonal communication occurs between the performer
and the audience or performer with another performer(s) on stage.
(b) Intrapersonal communication: This refers to a self-talk within an
individual. For example, when someone talks to oneself. In theatre
context, it is called soliloquy. It happens when a performer speaks to
oneself on stage without paying attention to hearers but they hear clearly
every single word that is spoken.

(c) Group communication: This is a type of communication that involves
a small group of three or more people interacting and sharing messages.
Group communication can occur in business, academic or sport settings
as well as during theatre performances. For example, an ensemble of
actors when performing in front of the audience can be considered as
group communication.

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