Nonverbal Communication – Body Language

Communication in general is a process of sending and receiving messages that enables

humans to share knowledge, attitudes and skills. It is composed of two dimensions – verbal and
nonverbal.
Nonverbal communication (NVC) is the process of transmitting messages without spoken
words, sometimes called body language. Messages can be communicated through facial expressions,
gestures, gaze and posture. Clothing, hairstyles, adornment, shoes and even architecture or symbols are
considered as nonverbal messages. The paralinguistic features of speech such as voice quality,
intonation and stress, emotion and speaking style give an important part of a message. Nonverbal
communication is subject of nonverbal behavior. It can occur through any sensory channel – sight,
smell, sound, taste or touch.

Humans use nonverbal communication because:

 Words have limitations. (when explain shape, directions, personalities)
 Nonverbal signals are powerful; they express inner feelings, while verbal messages deal with
outside world.
 Nonverbal messages are likely to be more genuine because they cannot be controlled as easily
as spoken words.
 Nonverbal signals can express feelings inappropriate to state: social etiquette limits what can be
said, but nonverbal cues can communicate thoughts.
 A separate communication channel is necessary to help send complex messages: a speaker can
add enormously to the complexity of the verbal message through simple nonverbal signals.

For simplicity, the nonverbal aspects of communication may be divided into three classes: body
language, object language and environmental language. The most common form of object
communication is clothing. A physically attractive person may be more likely to be hired for a job or
to be helped than someone less attractive. A good example of clothing as object of communication is
the uniform.
Proxemics is the study of how people use and perceive the physical space around them. The
way this happen varies across cultures. There are four main categories of perceived space – intimate,
social, professional and public space.
Haptics is the study of touching as nonverbal communication. Touches than can be defined as
communication include: handshakes, holding hands, kissing, back slap, high five, shoulder pat, etc.
each of these give off nonverbal messages. They also cause feelings in the receiver, whether positive or
negative.
Chronemics is the study of the use of time in nonverbal communication. The way we perceive
time, structure our time and react to time is a powerful communication tool, and helps set the stage of
communication. Time perceptions include punctuality, willingness to wait and interactions. The use of
time affects lifestyles, daily agendas, speed of speech and movements and how long people are willing
to listen.
Oculesics is the study of the role of eyes in the nonverbal communication. Studies have found
that people use their eyes to indicate their interest. This can be done through eye contact. Left sided
gestures negative effect while right sided gestures indicate positive effect, and this orientation may
alternate depending whether a person is right or left handed.
 Paralanguage (sometimes-called vocalics) is the study of nonverbal cues of voice. Various
acoustic properties of speech such as tone, pitch, accent, etc. collectively known as prosody can all
give off nonverbal cues. Paralanguage is important because it can help change the meaning of words.
Kinesics is the study of body movements, facial expressions and gestures. Kinesics behaviors
include mutual gaze, smiling, facial warmth or pleasantness, childlike behaviors, direct body
orientation and the like. Psychologists suggested that such gestures could be categorized into five
types: emblems – gestures with direct verbal translations; illustrators – gestures that depict what is said
verbally; affect displays – gestures that convey emotions; regulators – gestures that control interaction
and adaptors – gestures that facilitate release of body tension, such as quickly moving your leg.

Nonverbal gestures:

 Openness, confidence: open hands, palms up, eye contact, smile, leaning forward, relaxed,
hands away from face, standing straight, feet slightly apart, clucking, snapping fingers, unbuttoning or
removing jacket, etc.
 Cooperation, readiness: standing with hands on hips, feet apart, head tilted, uncrossed legs, a
person moves closer to another, smile, eye contact, touching, patting, open arms, etc.
 Professional: taking notes, evaluation gestures especially hand to face, leaning forward, use of
space in seating to avoid barriers, eye contact, absence of gestures indicative of dominance, etc.
 Indifference, boredom: leg over arm of chair, rhythmic drumming, tapping, legs crossed,
straighten up then slouch, glancing at exit, yawning, rigid, turning up nose, “tsk” sound, etc.
 Evaluation, interest: hand to cheek, slight blinking or squinting, chin stroking, head tilted, ear
cocked, arched eyebrows, licking lips, wrinkling nose, scratching head, ruffling hair, etc.
 Doubt: pacing, hand over nose, eyes closed, brow furrowed, arched eyebrows, rubbing eyes,
scratching head, pinching bridge of nose, etc.
 Suspicion, secretiveness: folded arms, crossed legs, head tilted forward, rubbing nose, lack of
eye contact, hand covering mouth, scratching in front of ear, frown, “poker face”, looking at floor, etc.
 Need for reassurance: stroking arms, cuticle picking, hand pinching, sucking on pen, touching
chair before sitting, hand to throat, etc.
 Anxiety: nail biting, finger movement, sighing, hand wringing, twitchy movements, clearing
throat, tremors, heavy breathing, rigidity, crossed fingers, chewing on things, etc.
 Frustration, anger: making fists, stomping, hands on hips, chin out, hostile stare, kicking on the
ground, rubbing back of neck, hand in pocket, snorting, change in skin color, running fingers through
hair, etc.
 Defensiveness: hands in pocket, hands behind back, folded arms, crossed legs, loocking at the
door, hand rubbing back of neck, etc.
 Self-control, inner conflict: hand holding wrist or arm, arm locked behind back, locked ankles,
gripping arms of chair, hand to mouth in astonishment or fear, etc.
 Dominating: elevating self, taking a different posture than others have, sitting straddling the
chair, standing with arms spread and hands gripping desk or table, standing or walking with hands
behind back and chin up, thumbs in lapels, etc.
 Superior and subordinate: the superior usually has hands on top in a handshake while the
person who is subordinate offers his hand with palm up; the superior makes the motion to terminate the
encounter, the superior can violate the subordinate’s space, and can express doubt, evaluation,
domineering gestures; the subordinate is more likely to signify self-control, anxiety, defensiveness
gesture clusters; when putting feet on desk the superior should recognize that subordinate dislike this
gesture, superiors pretend to ignore it, and equals take little note of it.
 Our gestures often tell that we are not able or willing to communicate verbally. They are
categorized into open and closed gestures. These gestures can be observed in all interactions.

Open gesture Closed gesture

Open hands Hand covering mouth
Palms up Making fists
Unbuttoning jacket Peering over top of glasses
Spontaneous eye contact Glancing at exit
Smile Frown
Leaning forward Leaning back
Relaxed Rigid
Hands away from face Looking at floor
Standing straight Moving away
Feet apart Legs crossed, shaking foot
Uncrossed legs Locked ankles
Welcoming handshake Folded arms
Touching Cold shoulder
Patting Open palm tapping
Rubbing palms together Hand wringing
Affirmative head nods Head lowered
Eye contact Lack of eye contact
Calm use of facial movements Staring or eyes closed
Body positioned toward other Rocking

Words are accented and punctuated by body movements and gestures, while the face shows a
myriad of expressions. Humans are like Geneva watches with crystal face which express the
movement.
It is important to be aware of the dominance of the nonverbal message. If there is disagreement
between the verbal and nonverbal message, the nonverbal will win. Also, the validity and reliability of
verbal messages are checked by nonverbal actions. Again, if discrepancy exists, the nonverbal will
dictate.