Facial Expression is the type of Nonverbal Communication that assists the Listener in

understanding the Message better. It is important to the Communication Process that the Listener
monitors any and all the facial expressions of the Speaker. This will be the Listener’s gauge as to
whether the Speaker is sincere and serious and whether the Speaker treats the Listener with
affection or with contempt. Eye contact is number one. Looking at the Listener is crucial for
connecting with the Listener, especially when there is more than one Listener. 

Facial Expression, however, is not just the use of the eyes. A frown on the forehead of a Listener
may mean that what was said was confusing or not understandable. Raised eyebrows might mean
either surprise or incredulity. A wrinkled nose could be dislike for what was said. Scrunched
cheeks and pursed lips are signs of displeasure for Filipinos. 

When Filipinos greet each other, they usually kiss only one cheek of the other person; people in
Latin countries kiss both cheeks (which Filipinos sometimes do nowadays). The Dutch and
Swedes kiss the cheek of the person they are greeting three times (right cheek-left cheek-right
cheek), while the Moroccans and Croatians kiss the cheeks four times.

Posture and Personal Appearance

Posture and Personal Appearanceare the last type of Nonverbal Communication. How one stands
or sits in Communicative Situations tells the people around how one sees oneself as a Speaker,
one’s attitude towards the Message, and how one looks at the Listener. When one carries oneself
well and with confidence, people will want to listen. Listeners pay attention because they are
made to feel important. Personal Appearance also says a lot about the Speaker and the Message.
Especially in Formal Communicative Situations, being appropriately dressed shows the
Speaker’s readiness and ability to deliver the Message. Being dressed well also adds to one’s
self-confidence.

All of the above types of Nonverbal Communication assist a Speaker in imparting the Message
to the Listener. Seldom does communication take place without being accompanied or
substituted by one or more of these types of Nonverbal Communication. What must be
remembered is that all of these are culture-bound or specific to some cultures but not in others.
Miscommunication occurs when these cultural concepts clash or simply do not meet. Remember
Schramm’s model where communication takes place if and only if there is an overlap of the
fields of experience? In summary, miscommunication may occur in all the Dimensions of
Communication, especially in the Nonverbal Dimension due to our unfamiliarity with gender
practices in other cultures and their societies’ customs and traditions.