**Abstract**

This study investigates the effects of client type on communication practice adopted at pre-contract phase of construction project development. The objectives are to evaluate the levels and differences in adoption of communication practices between construction projects developed by public and private clients in South-west, Nigeria. To achieve the objectives, a sample of 394 construction projects was carried out. Three encoding-decoding communication practices: iconic, non-iconic and computer; five communication media: verbal, non-verbal, written, audio-visual and electronic and three communication channels: print, electronics and face-to-face were identified from literature. The components of the eleven communication practices were identified and measured using 5 scales. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using percentage, mean and t-test. Results reveal non-iconic and computer as most preferred encoding-decoding communication practices by consultants engaged by public and private clients respectively and audiovisual and print as most preferred communication media and channel respectively. The study recommends further study on the effects of communication practices on project performance and an awareness of these effects among consultants. The findings of the study make significant contribution to knowledge in the area of research and adoption of performance-oriented communication practices.

**Keywords:** communication practice, construction projects, pre-contract phase, project client, Nigeria
