Verbaalse

Verbaalse is an adjective used in Dutch to describe aspects of language and communication that pertain to spoken, oral expression. In linguistic and communication studies, verbaalse features are contrasted with schriftelijk (written) language and with non-verbaal (nonverbal) communication. The term originates from the Latin verbum meaning word and is employed in phrases such as verbaalse communicatie or verbaalse kenmerken to signal properties of speech rather than the written representation of language.

Verbaalse aspects cover a range of phenomena found in everyday talk. This includes the form of words as produced in speech, syntax as realized in spoken utterances, and phonetic realization such as articulation, tempo, intonation, and stress. They also encompass discourse structure and interactional dynamics that emerge in real-time conversation, such as turn-taking, repairs, and the use of discourse markers. While verbaalse content concerns the words themselves, its study often intersects with paraverbal cues like tone, pitch, and loudness, as well as with nonverbal cues such as gestures, depending on the research focus.

In research and pedagogy, verbaalse data are used to understand how meaning is constructed in spoken interactions, how oral language differs from written forms, and how speech interacts with other communicative channels. The term is commonly found in discussions of oral communication, language planning, and applied linguistics, where distinctions among verbal, written, and nonverbal modalities are relevant for analysis and interpretation.

See also: Mondelinge taal, Non-verbale communicatie, Paraverbale communicatie, Sprechakte.