English Grammar – Information Transfer Verbal to Non-Verbal and Vice Versa
- What is Information Transfer?
- Information Transfer Types
- Information Transfer Exercises – Practice Questions
What is Information Transfer ?
Informational Transfer – You might have come across some colorful graphs or charts that explain something much faster than the words could or, read a short paragraph that helped in simplifying a graph or a table for you. This is called information transfer- changing data from words to visuals or visuals back into words. It is a skill that we use in our daily lives, whether we are explaining a trend with a graph, summarizing a chart in a report, or following instructions shown in a flowchart. It makes communication easier, and leads to a clearer exchange of ideas.
In this article, we will explore how to turn words into pictures and pictures into words. With simple examples and practice Exercises having questions with answers, you will be able to learn how to make information easy to understand for everyone using words, graphs, charts and other visuals.
Information Transfer Types – Verbal and Non Verbal
Information transfer can be broadly categorized into two types:
1. Verbal to Non-Verbal
This information transfer involves converting written or spoken words into visual formats. It helps simplify complex information and makes data easier to analyze or interpret. Common forms include:
a) Bar Graphs
Bar Graphs convert numerical or statistical data from reports into a graph for easier comparison.
For example: Read the following information and prepare a bar graph for the same.
All fruits contain some amount of healthy dietary fibre in them. Guava stands tall with six grams of dietary fibre per serving of one cup. Next comes Pear with five grams per unit. The third in the order is Apple with four grams per cup. Banana and Orange have almost the same quantity of dietary fibre – three grams per cup.
Bar Graph depicting Fibre Content in Fruits
b) Pie Charts
Pie Charts help in representing proportional data from a verbal description.
For example: Read the following information and prepare a pie diagram for the same.
Water is life. It is a universal solvent and an important resource. The annual usage of water differs in various sectors of Maharashtra. The major occupation of Maharashtra being agriculture, the maximum amount of available water is used for irrigation that is 86%. The distant following place 7% is contributed by the domestic sector including drinking, washing, cooking, etc. There is a close competition with other sectors which is not far away with 6% usage of water. One of the key factors which plays an important role in the development of a nation is the industrial sector. The consumption of water by the industrial sector is very negligible which is 1%. We know the energy sector plays a vital role in the development of a nation. In this sector, the use of water is almost nil.
Pie chart showing Annual Water Usage in Maharashtra
c) Tables
Tables organize textual or numerical data into rows and columns for structured comparison.
For example: Convert the following paragraph into a table.
On Sunday it was cool and dry and the average temperature was 25°C. On Monday the temperature was 32°C and it was quite warm. On Tuesday the temperature rose by 1°C. On Wednesday it was hot with the temperature being 36°C. The temperature rose by 1°C on Thursday. Friday was a rainy day and the temperature dropped to 29°C. Saturday was rainy and hot with the temperature rising to 32°C. The early part of the week was on the whole cooler than the latter part of the week.
Table showing the Weather Change during a week
| Day | Average temperature | Weather |
| Sunday | 25 °C | cool, dry |
| Monday | 32 °C | warm |
| Tuesday | 33 °C | warm |
| Wednesday | 36 °C | hot |
| Thursday | 37 °C | hot |
| Friday | 29 °C | rainy |
| Saturday | 32 °C | rainy, hot |
d) Flowcharts
Flowcharts help in breaking down data into a step-by-step diagram making the information appear clearer.
For example: Convert the following paragraph into a flow chart.
Silver occurs in the ores of several metals. The frothing process of extracting silver accounts for about 75% of all silver recovered. Here the ore is ground to a powder, placed in large vats containing a water suspension of frothing agents, and thoroughly agitated by air jets. Depending on the agents used, either the silver-bearing ore or the gangue adhering to the bubbles of the foam is skimmed off and washed. The final refining is done using electrolysis.
Flow Chart depicting Frothing Process of Extracting Silver
e) Tree Diagrams
Tree Diagrams aid in illustrating hierarchical relationships from written descriptions.
For example: Read the following paragraph and transfer the information into a tree diagram.
There are so many species of animals that we find living on the earth. Scientists grouped these animals into different classes based on certain similarities they share. Animals are divided into vertebrates, ones with backbones and invertebrates, those without backbones. The vertebrates are basically divided into five classes. They are commonly known as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Arachnids and insects are the two commonly known classes in the invertebrates group.
Tree Diagram showing Species of Animals
2. Non-Verbal to Verbal
This information transfer involves interpreting visual or symbolic data into descriptive or analytical text or speech. It helps in explaining the implications of the visual information.
a) Bar Graph to Report
Trends or patterns in a bar graph are converted into a written summary.
For Example: The following bar graph consists of data provided by class XA students about the months of their birth. Report the information in a paragraph.
Birth Months of Students
The maximum number of 6 students were born in August. The month that recorded the second-highest date of births was May. The lowest month for date of birth was June. Only one student was born in June. The same number of students, i.e. 4, were born in the months of February, October, November and December. Only two students each were born in the months of March, April and July. Three students each were born in the months of January and September.
b) Pie Chart to Analysis
The data shown in a pie chart is analysed and explained for better understanding.
For example: The following pie chart explains the favourite subject of students in a class. Analyze the information and present it in a paragraph.
Favourite Subjects of Students
In the above pie chart five subjects have been taken into consideration – Economics, Civics, Commerce, English and 2nd Language. Students who like Economics form the largest group. A quarter of the students of the class i.e 25% expressed preference for this subject. 20% of the students like English and the same percentage i.e 20% of the students like Commerce. Next in popularity is Civics, liked by 18% of the class. Finally, trailing closely behind Civics, comes 2nd Language, which is the favourite subject of 17% of the students.
c) Table to Summary
Trends or key points from a table are described and summarized.
For example: The following table gives information about the features of different makers of cars. Give the summary in a paragraph.
Features of Cars
The Ford is the least expensive. It has the same petrol consumption as the Toyota which is much more expensive than it. The Suzuki and the Toyota are more or less the same in most respects. Both are much more expensive than the Ford. Their engines are not as powerful as that of the Ford. The Ford has an engine which is considerably more efficient than that of the Toyota and the Suzuki. The Hyundai is entirely different from the other cars. It is the most expensive of the four and has the highest petrol consumption. Of the four cars, Hyundai’s is the most powerful engine.
d) Flowchart to Explanation
The sequential or procedural data from a flowchart is explained in simpler words.
For example: The following flowchart explains the process of delivering letters. Explain the information in a paragraph.
Process of Delivering Letters
The following process is the description of how a post office transfers a letter from a sender to a receiver. First, the sender posts the letter in a post box. Next, the box is opened. Then the contents in it are sorted out. Then they are kept in a bag and the bag is tied. The destination is written on the bag. The bags are sent to the district post office. The district post office sends the bags to the destination village / town post offices. The destination post office receives the letters. The received letters are arranged and sorted out. The postman delivers the letters to the addressees.
e) Tree Diagram to Description
Hierarchical relationships are depicted in a tree diagram and converted into easy to understand descriptions of the diagram.
For Example: The following tree diagram depicts the classification of Vitamins. Describe the information in a paragraph.
Classification of Vitamins
The given tree diagram presents the classification of vitamins. Vitamins are broadly of two types. They are: 1) Soluble vitamins in water and 2) Soluble in fats. Vitamin B and Vitamin C fall in the category of ‘Soluble in water’. Vitamins A, D, E and K belong to the group of vitamins soluble in fat and Vitamin B is subdivided into Bl, B2, B3, B6 and B12, a total of five types.
Information Transfer Exercises – Practice Questions
Exercise 1: Verbal to Non-Verbal
1, Read the following paragraph and convert the information into a pie chart:
There are seven continents in the world. Asia is the largest continent with an area of 30% followed by Antarctica with 28%. North America occupies 17% of the land on the earth. South America stands fourth in the list with 12% of land. Africa and Australia are the fifth and sixth largest ones with their respective shares of 6% and 5%. Europe is the last in the list which occupies 2% of the land only.
2. Read the following information and complete the table given below. Give a suitable title:
Turtles and tortoises are closely related. They are both reptiles from the same family (Testudines or Chelonian). The main difference between the two is that turtle is the name given to water-dwellers and tortoise is the name given to land-dwellers. They are easily identified by the presence of a shell, from which their head and limbs protrude.
Turtles are found in Africa and America. Its shell is lighter and more streamlined than that of a tortoise. To enable swimming, it has webbed feet with long claws. Turtles are omnivores, eating both vegetation and meat. Their lifespan is shorter than that of the tortoise with an average of 20-40 years and a maximum of 86 years.
Tortoises are found mainly in Asia and Africa, but also in America. It has a rounder, bumpier, heavier shell than a turtle. Its bent legs are short and sturdy. Tortoises are usually herbivores, but some eat meat, their lifespan is longer than that of the turtle with an average of 80-150 years and a maximum of 188 years.
3. Read the following information and transfer it into a flow chart and suggest a suitable title:
Select juicy lemons to prepare 1 litre of lemon squash extract the juice. Then take 1 litre of water, 2 kg of sugar and half tsp of citric acid and boil the mixture till the sugar is completely dissolved. Later add yellow food colour and 1 tsp essence and extracted juice of lemons. Dissolve the potassium metabisulphite in a little juice and mix it into the prepared squash. Pour the prepared squash into sterilized bottles and allow it to cool. Seal it or close the bottles tightly. Lastly, store the bottles in a cool place away from sunlight.
4. Study the following information and convert it into a bar graph for better understanding:
Students of four sections HEC, CEC, BPC and MPC were asked about their preferences in sports. The number of students in each section varied. Three sports were considered – football, cricket and kabaddi. HEC students expressed great interest in cricket. 50 out of 85 students, i.e. more than half liked cricket. Very few in that section, just 5, were fond of football. 30 liked kabaddi.
In the CEC section, consisting of 100 students, an equal number of students, i.e. 40 liked kabaddi and cricket. 20 liked football. With regard to the science sections, cricket was more popular among BPC students. An equal number in both the sections, 30, were fond of football. The figures for kabaddi too were more or less the same. The BPC section consisted of 88 students while MPC students were 75 in number. On the whole, one can conclude that cricket is the most popular sport in college, followed by kabaddi.
5. The passage below represents the data of improvement of English language skills due to Internet usage. Present it in a bar graph:
The Internet plays an important role in improving Reading skills. 94% participants in this study agreed that they improved their Reading skills by using the Internet while 91% opined that they improved Translation skills. Internet usage helped 87% of participants in enhancing their vocabulary skills. 80% of participants unanimously agreed that they improved their Writing skills, Speaking skills and Grammar.
6. The following passage shows the favourite sports of the students of a school. Represent the data in a bar graph:
Cricket is the most favourite sport of the students which is liked by 80 students. Tennis falls behind Cricket with a slight difference. It is the favourite of 75 students. Swimming and Football are liked by 40 and 45 students respectively while Badminton is the favourite of 30 students. Hockey is the least favorite sport of the students which is liked by 20 students only.
7. Read the following information and complete the following table below it:
Chandrayaan-2, India’s second mission to the Moon will, for the first time, unravel secrets around the Moon’s South Poles Chandrayaan-2 is a three-part spacecraft – an orbiter, a lander and a rover. The lander is named Vikram after Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of the Indian space programme. The rover is named Pragyan, meaning ‘wisdom’.
Chandrayaan-2 was launched on 22 July atop ISRO’s GSLV Mk-iii at 2:43 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. Performing as expected, the rocket released Chandrayaan-2, in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth about 17 minutes later. In fact, it was released 6,000 km higher than planned. The solar arrays on Chandrayaan-2 deployed smoothly as the probe began its journey.
8. Read the following information and make a tree diagram to summarize it:
A man who managed a popular hotel was asked the secret of his success. He said that only when customers were happy with the dining experience would they keep returning to the hotel. Dining would be a pleasant experience only if the food served was of a high standard. Good service too was equally important. He elaborated that food should be tasty and fresh. Service should be prompt and courteous.
9. Read the following paragraph and transfer the information into a tree diagram:
The oldest musical instrument in the world is the drum, made initially in one of the three ways. First, frame drums were made by stretching the skin over bowl-shaped frames. Next, rattle drums were made by filling gourds or skins with dried grains, shells, or rocks. Finally, tubular drums were made from hollowed logs or bones covered with skins. Both frame and tubular drums were struck with the hand or with beaters to produce sounds. In contrast, rattle drums were shaken or scraped to make rhythmic sounds. For thousands of years, drums have been used to transmit messages to call soldiers to battle and make music.
10. Read the following paragraph and transfer the information into a flow chart:
Rayon is a man-made fiber. It is a reconstituted natural fiber – cellulose. Rayon is made by dissolving cellulose in a solution of sodium hydroxide or caustic soda. The cellulose is obtained from shredded wood pulp. The dissolved cellulose is formed into threads by forcing it through a spinneret in a dilute sulphuric acid setting bath. The threads are drawn from the setting bath, wound on a reel, washed, dried on a heated roller, and finally wound onto a bobbin.
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Exercise 2: Non-Verbal to Verbal
1. Write the paragraph of 100 words based on the information given in the following table and give a suitable title for it:
2. Transfer the information into a paragraph/Observe the chart and write a paragraph on it. Suggest a suitable title:
3. Read the following diagram and transform it into a paragraph:
4. The pie chart given below shows how people spend their time on smartphones. Convert the information into a paragraph:
5. Analyze the following bar graph and convert the information into a paragraph:
6. Analyse the bar graph given below and write about it in a paragraph.
7. Transfer the information into a paragraph:
8. Observe the following table and transfer the information into a paragraph:
9. The following flowchart describes how clothes are washed. Explain it in a paragraph based on the information given:
10. The following flow chart describes how paper is manufactured in a paper mill. Write the details in a paragraph:
Answers:
1. Flora and Fauna of Different Types of Forests – As the name implies, equatorial evergreen forests are situated near the equator and are characterized by tall trees that remain green all year. Mahogany, rosewood, ironwood, and oil palm are the major trees found in this type of forest. Different types of monkeys, snakes, lizards, bats, and tse-tse flies are among the many animals that call these woodlands home. A variety of plants, including mangrove trees, creepers, and tall trees like mahogany, can be found in another type of forest called marshes, which are wetlands. The majority of animals that live in marshes are insects, along with snakes, crocodiles, tse-tse flies, and other species of flies. Evergreen equatorial forests and marshes are both vital ecosystems.
2. Common Teenage Problems- The transitional stage between childhood and youth is known as teenagers. Teenagers go through a lot of physical, psychological, and behavioral changes throughout this time, and they often fight with their sense of personal identity. Therefore, it is important that an effort be taken to understand the issues teenagers encounter. First of all, if a teenager feels overwhelmed by the changes in their life, being a teenager can lead to stress and despair. Second, bullying and child abuse both are at an all-time-high during teenage. As teens turn toward serious diets to get a certain look, eating disorders are also more common. Since being a teenager is a time of great impressionability, smoking and drinking are also habits that are frequently picked up at this time. Teenagers who are unhappy with their appearance may also experience negative effects on their body image and self-esteem. Last but not least, being a teenager is a time of intense competition during which teenagers need to prepare for and pass exams that will define their future. Peer pressure and rivalry could result from this.
3. Sources of Air Pollution – One of the greatest threats the planet is currently facing is pollution. The two most common natural sources of air pollution are volcanoes and forest fires. Another significant source of air pollution is the smoke that results from combustion. Smoke and poisonous gases are just two examples of the many industrial air pollution sources. Pesticides and insecticides not only emit foul smell but also pollute the air. Solvents, such as spray paints and fumes, are the last but not least factors in air pollution. In order to control air pollution, it is essential to understand its primary causes.
4. Time spent on Smartphones – Time spent on smartphones is presented in the given pie chart. The lion’s share, i.e. 35% of the time goes to games. Social networking follows games with its share of 29% of the time. Utilities Consume 20% time. The share of music and videos is 8%. Others take 5% time. News comes last with just 3% time.
5. The bar graph given shows the cost of carrots and potatoes over a period of four months – January, February, March and April. Carrots were more costly than potatoes during all the months. In January carrots cost Rs. 35 a kilo, while potatoes cost a little less, at Rs. 30 a kilo. The cost of carrots increased to Rs. 40 in February, while there was a sharp fall in the cost of potatoes. There was a sharp rise in the cost of both the vegetables after that and in March the cost of carrots was Rs. 50 per kilo while that of potatoes was Rs. 40. In April once again there was a steep increase in the cost of carrots but the cost of potatoes remained the same as in March. Thus we observe that the cost of carrots kept increasing over the months but that of potatoes fluctuated.
6. The bar chart presents marks of three students in three subjects. Meena scored 70 in Telugu, 65 in Maths and in English just 50. Mala scored 65 in Maths, 50 in Telugu and only 40 in English. Megha secured 70 each in English and Maths but scored 60 in Telugu.
7. Types of Diseases – Diseases are broadly classified into two types, viz. communicable diseases and non-communicable or lifestyle diseases. Communicable diseases spread through various mediums of infection. This includes air (e.g. influenza), food (e.g. dysentery) and water (e.g. typhoid). On the other hand, the major causes of non-communicable or lifestyle diseases are either faulty eating habits or faulty living habits. Faulty eating habits generally result in diseases like obesity and diabetes, while faulty living habits are associated with stress and hypertension. Public awareness regarding different types of infections and their causes is essential to prevent and control the spread of diseases in society.
8. State wise Distribution of Urban and Rural Population in India – The table shows the relative population in millions for rural and urban areas in some states of India. Maharashtra has the highest ratio of urban population at 410 million to the rural population of 560 million. Next is Gujarat with 190 million urban and 320 million rural populations. Karnataka follows, with 180 and 350 million respectively. Madhya Pradesh is a state with a low ratio of urban to rural population at 160 and 440 million respectively. Andhra Pradesh comes next with its 210 million urban versus 550 million rural population. Chhattisgarh tops the chart as the state with its lowest proportion of urban population at 40 million against 170 million rural populations.
9. First, fill a bucket half full with water. Then, add a spoonful of washing powder. Stir vigorously till the power mixes with water and forms foam. Put the unwashed clothes into it. Wait for fifteen minutes. Take out clothes and scrub with a brush to remove stains. Now, rinse the clothes with clean water. Wring out the clothes gently by twisting and compressing them. This removes excess water from the clothes. This saves the time of drying. Now dry the washed clothes by putting them on the clothes line. Collect the washed and dried clothes later.
10. The given flow chart describes the process of manufacturing paper. First, raw materials like wood, grass, bamboo and rags are procured. Secondly they are cut into pieces, immersed in water and made into pulp. Then the pulp is mixed with lime for whitening. Later, the pulp is boiled and passed through wire meshes. At this stage, we obtain wet paper. Finally, it is passed over heated rollers. Then we get the end product, in the form of thin sheets of paper.
Conclusion
The transfer of information between verbal and non-verbal formats plays an important role in effective and efficient communication. The ability to switch between verbal and non-verbal communication enhances how we share ideas and connect with others. Whether it is turning words into pictures or pictures and graphs into words, mastering both forms helps us communicate more clearly and effectively. The above article thus provides you with a comprehensive understanding of information transfer, its types and some practice questions to master your communication further.