Nonverbal Communication

Today I will learn all the types of nonverbal communication

So that I can become a better communicator
I will know I have it when I can explain the importance of each
kind to a classmate
Nonverbal communication is any information or
emotion communicated in a way other than
words.

 APA numbers indicate that:

 38% of the meaning of any message is VOCAL

 55% of the meaning of any message is FACIAL
EXPRESSION
 7% of the meaning of any message is VERBAL
 That means that 93% of communication is
“nonverbal.”
 MLA numbers indicate that the number is closer
to 70-75% of all communication is nonverbal.
5 Reasons that nonverbal
communication is relevant:
 Nonverbal communication is our richest source of
information about emotions and feelings.
 Nonverbal communication is less apt to deceive,
distort, or conceal.
 Paralanguage communicates “between the lines.”
Paralanguage is defined as vocal quality such as
pitch, rate, and tone.
 It is highly efficient. Think of gestures that
communicate easily and readily what it may take
several words to communicate.
 It provides subtlety and suggestion to imply what we
cannot or do not want to commit to words.
Characteristics of Nonverbal
Communication
 It is continuous.
 It is rich in meaning. It can be
confusing. (crossing arms/crossing
legs/ passive)
 It conveys emotion.
 It is guided by norms and rules of
appropriateness.
 It is culture-bound.
Functions of Nonverbal
Communication…
 Redundancy – this
refers to when
nonverbal
communication
may say the same
thing as the words
Functions Continued…
 Substitution –
nonverbal
communicated
may serve to
replace words all
together
Functions Continued…
 Complementation
– it may
supplement or
modify the words
 Emphasis – it may
accentuate or
punctuate the
words
Functions, continued…
 Contradiction – it may conflict with the
words (lie detector tests/sarcasm)
 Regulation – it may regulate the flow of
verbal interaction
Forms of Nonverbal Communication
 Emblems – have a
distinct verbal
translation

 Illustrators –
nonverbal cues
directly tied to
speech
Forms continued…
 Affect displays –
nonverbal cues
that reveal
emotions
 Regulators – non-
verbal cues that
regulate the give-
and-take of
speaking
Forms, continued…
 Adaptors – objects
manipulated for a
purpose serve
unique purposes of
nonverbal
communication
Nonverbal Cues
 spatial cues
 personal bubbles
 Intimate, personal, social distance
 visual cues
 facial expressions
 eye contact
 body stance and posture
 personal appearance
 vocal cues
 attributes of sound that convey meaning
 silence
 touch cues
Posture
 Position of a person’s body during a
presentation
 A speaker’s posture should be
straight and formal
Poise
 A person’s overall composure and
confidence.
 A speaker’s poise should be confident
and calm
Rate
 The speed at which you speak
 A speaker’s rate should be not too
slow and not too fast. The audience
should be able to easily follow your
speech.
Enunciation
 The clarity of a speaker’s words
 A speaker’s enunciation should be
clear without being overly dramatic
Volume
 The decibel level of a speaker’s voice
 A speaker’s volume should be loud
enough for all people in the audience
to hear easily, but not over powering
Eye Contact
 A speaker’s ability to look up
 A speaker’s eye contact should be
50% (or less) on notes and 50% (or
more) looking up
Pauses
 A speaker’s use of pauses to guide a
speech
 A speaker’s use of pauses should be
purposeful and silent (no ummms,
uhhs, etc.)