Paralanguage - Non Verbal Communication

Definitions: • Features that accompany speech and contribute

to communication but are not considered part of the language
system
• The nonverbal voice qualities, modifiers, and sounds which we
use consciously or unconsciously supporting or contradicting the
linguistic, kinesics, or proxemic messages either simultaneously or
alternating with them
• How something is said rather than what is said
• Vocal Cues

General Information: Paralanguage is part of nonverbal

communication. Paralinguistics are what accompany your words
to make up its true meaning. Research on the tone of voice
emerged in 1951 by George Trager and Henry Lee Smith and was
followed with research of other aspects of paralanguage.

We all know that what you say can have several different
meanings depending on how you say it.

Take the notion of sarcasm, for instance. If someone says something with a sarcastic tone, it makes the
meaning of what has been said be the complete opposite of what the words actually mean.

Paralanguage can be a confusing factor in intercultural communication. For example, Europeans

interpret the loudness of Americans to aggressive behavior, while Americans might think the British are
secretive because they talk quietly. Talking speed and the amount of silence in conversations also differ
among cultures.

For instance, the Japanese are comfortable having several pauses in their conversations, while Americans
and many Arabic people are uncomfortable with any silence.

Ingredients of Paralanguage:

Voice Qualities:
• pitch range
• vocal lip control
• articulation control
• rhythm control
• resonance
• tempo

Vocal Characteristics:
• laughing, crying, whispering, snoring, yelling, moaning, groaning, yawning, whining, sucking, sneezing,
sighing, belches, hiccups
• Remember that these characteristics are the vocal aspects of these actions, so imagine that these
pictures are making noises.

Voice Qualifiers:
• intensity (overloud, over soft)
• pitch height
• extent
Vocal Segregates: examples:
• "uh"
• "um"
• "uh-huh"
• silent pauses

Messages in the Voice:

Phrases have different messages depending on what parts we

emphasize. For instance, take the sentence; she’s giving this money
to me.
• She is giving this money to me.
SHE is the one giving the money, nobody else.
• She is giving this money to me.
She is GIVING, not lending.
• She is giving this money to me.
MONEY is being exchanged, not anything else.
• She is giving this money to me.
I am getting the money, nobody else.

The voice is used to infer personality traits.

• An increased rate of speaking generally infers that the individual is
more animated and extroverted.
• A flatness in the tone of voice generally indicates more withdrawn
and masculine characteristics.
• A nasal sound in one's voice is generally thought of to be
undesirable.

The voice is also used to infer emotional states.

Feeling Loudness Pitch Timbre Rate Enunciation
Anger Loud High Blaring Fast clipped
Joy Loud High Moderately Blaring Fast Somewhat Clipped
Sadness Soft Low Resonant Slow Slurred