VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

\The communication process has two formsverbal and nonverbal.Both

forms usually operate together in the majority of messages you send and
receive.
Verbal communication is all spoken and written communication.A mother
whispering reassuring words to a child, a speaker addressing an audience of
five thousand, or a sunbather reading a book on the beach is utilizing verbal
communication.
Nonverbal communication is all communication that is not spoken or
written.It
is
your
body
type,voice,facialexpressions,gestures,movement,clothing, and touch.It is
your use of distance,use of time,and the environment you create. It is your
laughter,yourtears,your gentle touch,your relaxed breathing,the car you
drive, and the color of your pen.
All these things and countless others make up your nonverbal
communication. Verbal communication and nonverbal communication enable
you and me to communicate. They provide all that is necessary for the
process of connecting, and it is our privilege to use them
creatively,effectively,and meaningfully.
Non-verbal communication
Some of the most powerful and significant communication you will ever send
and receive will not involve words at all: the first smile of a newborn child, a
kiss from a child, the silent beauty of a rainbow suspended against a
darkening sky, the soothing sound of rain on the roof, the embrace of a loved
one, and a congratulations hug after you have given a speech. These are a
few of the thousands of nonverbal experiences that will give depth and
meaning to your life. Nonverbal communication is all communication that is
not spoken or written.It is expressed by actions,behaviors,and vocal qualities
that accompany your verbal messages. It also includes the way you dress,
your posture, your use of time, the way you distance yourself from others,
your touch, the environment you create in your home and office,and the car
you drive.
jTYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Nonverbal communication can be pervasive,varied,and meaningful to
others.In order for you to become more familiar with this silent dimension of
communication,lets
examine
its
four
primary
categoriesbody
movement,paralanguage, personal presentation,and proxemics.These four

categories will enable you to become more aware and sensitive to the many
ways you can increase the creativity with which you communicate.

1:Body Movement The study of body movement is known as kinesics

and it deals with all the ways people use their bodies to communicate or
enhance
their
verbal
communication.
Body
movement
includes
posture,gestures,facialexpressions,and eye contact.
PosturesYour posturethe way you position and move your bodycan
communicate a great deal about you.For example,leaning toward or leaning
away from someone in conversation can convey your degree of
interest,attentiveness,or involvement. Turning your back or standing to leave
can convey a lack of interest or signal the end to the conversation.
Gestures are any movement of the hands,fingers,or arms.Open arms can
signify honesty and openness.A finger can communicate accusation when
pointing to another person or it can invite interaction when motioning come
here. Hands held behind the back while speaking can communicate anxiety
or
reluctance,whereas
expressive
hand
gestures
can
convey
confidence,enthusiasm,andconviction.Yet
some
gestures
are
not
universal.Their interpretations are often culturally based and their meanings
differ from culture to culture.For example, the okaygesture made with the
thumb and the forefinger means everything is all rightto an American.But
in France it means Youre worth zero,in Japan it means money,.A gesture
can get you a smile or a slap depending on who is interpreting it.
Facial expressions are the arrangement of facial muscles to communicate
messages. They include the mouth, cheeks, eyes, eyelids, eyebrows,
forehead, nose,andchin.The face is probably the most observed part of the
body when we communicate with others, and this is not without reason. Our
face usually communicates our internal, emotional experience. Although
some individuals, such as actors and models, are trained to control their
facial expressions, most of us unconsciously express our emotions with our
face.
Eye contact can also communicate several different types of messages.
Direct
eye
contact
in
our
culture
can
communicate
involvement,intimidation,andintimacy.A
diverted
or
downcast
gaze
communicates a different message.Our eyes can also communicate
dominance and submission.We can stare someone down with a prolonged
gaze that is not returned by the other person,or we can avoid or break eye
contact when talking with a superior,such as a boss or supervisor. As with
gestures, however, eye behavior is often culturally learned. In the United
Sates and many other Western nations, direct eye contact is a sign of
involvement,honesty,authenticity,andliking.In Japan and other Eastern

countries, direct eye contact is a sign of disrespect, rudeness, and even

aggression.

2:Paralanguage is how we speak.Aside from the actual words or content

of our messages,paralanguage includes pitch,volume,rate,andquality.As
actor Sir Lawrence Olivier once said,Ones voice is an instrument that can
play a sentence in a hundred different ways.
Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of our voice. The pitch of our voice is
primarily determined by the physical length and thickness of our vocal
chords, but it can rise if we are frightened, anxious, or excited, and it can
lower if we are attempting tosound more powerful or authoritative.
Rate is how fast or slow we speak.People tend to have their own personal
rate of speech. Some speak fast, others slow.We tend to increase our rate of
speech when were excited,frightened,ornervous,and we tend to decrease
our rate of speech when were uncertain,thoughtful,and sad.
Volume The relative softness or loudness of our voice is called volume. We
often speak in a characteristic volume; some individuals talk loudly, whereas
others talk in almost a whisper. We can also adjust our volume to meet the
requirements of the communication setting we are in.
Quality refers to the overall sound of our voice. Each human voice has a
distinctive tone. One voice is loud and deep. Another voice is soft and high
pitched. The quality of ones voice may be characterized as soothing, harsh,
strident,orcalm.We each have a distinctive quality to the way we sound.

3:Personal

Presentation

The third category of nonverbal

communication
is
your
personal
presentation.
This
includes
clothing,grooming,and touching behavior.
ClothingOur clothing is one of the most obvious and public displays of who
we are and what we Our clothing doesnt have to be outrageous, but it can
reflect or communicate our moods and emotional states.On days we are
feeling casual or want to communicate a less formal public image to the
world,we can dress in old jeans, sneakers, and a tie-dyed T-shirt. On more
formal days, we can choose a business suit, a dress, or even a tuxedo, with
jewelry to match. We can create a variety of public images simply by the
clothing we wear. want to communicate to others.

Touchingis the most intimate form of nonverbal communication behavior.

Touching behavior, or haptics, as it is called by social scientists, includes all

behavior that involves the skin. Primarily, touching behavior deals with our
hands and how we use them to communicate.
In addition to aiding our development,touching is a necessary and important
means of nonverbal communication.Withoutit,relationships can wither.With
it, deep and significant messages can be exchanged.You must be sensitive to
the personal and cultural preferences of the individual you want to touch.It is
always best to ask.Dont assume that your desire to touch or hug is shared
by others.Remember how Rose asked her classmates and me if it would be
okay to hug before she actually wrapped her arms around anyone? Be
sensitive and courteousask.

Grooming: Our grooming can also reflect and communicate messages to the
world. The length and style of our hair,bathingroutines,makeup,cologne and
perfume,finger and toenail painting (even for men these days),and many
other grooming habits communicate a great deal about who we are and how
we want to be perceived.

4:Proxemics Each of us is surrounded by an invisible bubblethat we

consider our personal space.This personal space is our buffer zone and is as
private as our body itself. Our personal bubble varies in size according to
culture, the context of the situation, and whom we are interacting with. It
contracts when were with close friends and family and expands when were
with strangers in unfamiliar environments. The purpose of this bubble is to
protect us from threat, provide us with apsychological sense of self, separate
us from others, and enable us to communicate intimately. Proxemics, the
study of our use of space, and was first introduced by anthropologist Edward
Hall in his book The Hidden Dimension.Hall discovered that our personal
space could be broken down into different zones or distances.
Personal distance (18 inches to 4 feet) is used for most conversations with
family,friends,and most acquaintances.
Social distance (4 to 12 feet) is the distance we feel most comfortable with
transacting business,sitting during committee meetings,and interacting with
the hotel clerk,the supermarket cashier,or the police officer giving us a
ticket.

Public
distance
(12
to
25
feet)
is
used
for
public
ceremonies,speeches,large group meetings,and class lectures.If the distance
between people is greater than 25 feet,communication is often limited to
shouting and exaggerated nonverbal gestures.

The distance of your personal space changes depending on the setting, the
people involved, and how you are feeling at the moment. Cultural factors
also play an important role in determining proxemic distancing and personal
comfort.Forexample,a person from Iran or Italy would feel comfortable
speaking and interacting at a closer distance than someone from Japan or
England.