The nonverbal way is the most commonly used communication medium in the world in culture. Sometimes, we may not know the exact name of those, but we use them almost every time. However, nonverbal behaviors enjoy close to zero formality, depending on the situation.
Learn Nonverbal Communication
What is Nonverbal Communication?
Non-verbal communication occurs without using any oral or written word.
Instead of written or oral words, it relies on various non-verbal cues like physical movements, tasks, colors, signs, symbols, signals charts, etc., to express feelings, attitudes, or information.
Although no word is used in non-verbal communication, it can effectively communicate many human feelings more accurately than verbal methods of communication.
Common types of nonverbal communication are eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture and body orientation, body language, touch, para-linguistic, and silence.
Non-verbal communication is made without words or the utterance of words.
Bartol and Martin (2000:441) define nonverbal communication as “communication by means of elements and behavior that are not coded into words.”
It is carried out using nonverbal codes, which consist of symbols that are not words, including non-word vocalizations.
Bodily movement, facial expressions, the use of space, or other artifacts are all nonverbal codes. Lesikar and Pettit (2002:648) define non-verbal communication as “All communication that involves neither written nor spoken words but occurs without words.” When communication is made with the use of nonverbal codes, it is referred to as nonverbal communication.
Studies estimate that nonverbal aspects account for between 65 and 93 percent of what is communicated (Birdwhistell, 1970). Sometimes, nonverbal messages contradict verbal communication, but often, they express feelings more accurately than spoken or written language.
Functions of Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication plays a significant role in our daily interactions. It is the symbolic expression of messages without the use of words or verbal utterances.
Non-verbal messages work in conjunction with verbal messages to convey meaning. The question to ask is: How do nonverbal messages function in relation to speech?
In this regard, Hickson and Stacks (1989) identified six major functions of nonverbal communication: repetition, contradiction, substitution, accentuation, supplementation or modification, and regulation. The following discussion provides details on these functions:
Repetition
Repetition involves reinforcing verbal messages through redundancy. For example, if someone asks, “How far is the next town?” and you respond with “Two miles” while simultaneously holding up two fingers, this redundancy repeats the verbal message using a different channel, making it easier for others to understand.
Contradiction
Contradiction is the opposite of repetition and negates the verbal message. It occurs when nonverbal cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, contradict the spoken words. For instance, when a person’s tone is sarcastic, it contradicts the literal meaning of their words.
Substitution
Substitution involves using nonverbal messages to replace verbal messages. For example, a person may convey happiness by smiling and making a fist with a raised thumb, substituting the need for spoken words to express their joy.
Accentuation
Accentuation occurs when nonverbal messages are used to emphasize or strengthen words. For instance, some people may raise their voices or use gestures to emphasize a point during a conversation. These nonverbal cues accentuate their verbal statements.
Supplementation/Modification
Supplementation or modification happens when nonverbal messages accompany verbal words to slightly change or enhance their meaning. For example, a hug may supplement the words “I love you,” and a smile can modify the sentence “It’s nice to see you.”
Regulation
Regulation takes place when nonverbal messages help control the flow of verbal communication. Elements like eye contact, touch, body positioning, and vocal pitch are used to regulate conversations. For example, a professor may call on a student by making eye contact.
These functions can occur separately or in combination, through multiple channels, and simultaneously. They are crucial for effective communication. However, nonverbal messages can also be a source of confusion and miscommunication.
Importance of Nonverbal Communication
Some important points expressing the importance, necessity, advantages or functions of non-verbal communication are discussed below:
Well Expression of the Speaker’s Attitude
Various non-verbal cues of the speaker, like physical movements, facial expressions, a way of expression, etc., play an important role in expressing the inner meaning of the messages in face-to-face conversation and interviews.
For example, the speaker’s facial expression indicates his attitude, determination, depth of knowledge, etc.
Providing Information Regarding the Sender of The Written Message
The format, neatness, language, and appearance of the envelope used in a written message send a non-verbal message regarding the writer’s tests, choice, level of education, etc.
Expressing the Attitude of the Listener and Receiver
Sometimes the appearance of the listeners and receivers conveys their attitudes, feelings, and thoughts regarding the messages they have read or heard.
Gaining Knowledge about a Class of People
Clothing, hairstyle, neatness, jewelry, cosmetics, and stature of people convey impressions regarding their occupation, age, nationality, social or economic level, job status, etc.
For example, students, policemen, nurses, etc., can easily be identified through their dresses.
Gaining Knowledge about the Status of a Person
Non-verbal cues also help to determine the relative status of persons working in an organization. For example, room size, location, furnishings, decorations, lighting, etc. indicate the position of a person in the organization.
Communicating Common Message to All People
In some cases, non-verbal cues can effectively express many true messages more accurately than those of any other method of communication.
For example, the use of red, yellow, and green lights and the use of various signs in controlling vehicles on the roads.
Communicating with the Handicapped People
Non-verbal cues of communication greatly help in communicating with handicapped people.
For example, the language of communication with the deaf depends on the movements of the hands, fingers, and eyeballs.
Conveying Message to the Illiterate People
Communication with illiterate people through written media is impossible. There may also be some situations that do not allow the use of oral media to communicate with them.
In such situations, non-verbal methods like pictures, colors, graphs, signs, and symbols are used as the media of communication.
For example, to indicate danger, we use a red sign, and to mean dangerous, we use a skull placed between two pieces of bone in a crosswise fashion.
Quick Expression of Message
Non-verbal cues like signs and symbols can also communicate some messages more quickly than written or oral media.
For example, when drivers of a running vehicle are to be communicated that the road ahead is narrow or there is a turn in the road ahead, we generally use signs or symbols rather than any written or oral message.
Presenting Information Precisely
Sometimes, quantitative information on any issue may require a lengthy written message. But this quantitative information can be presented easily and precisely through tables, graphs, charts, etc.
Methods of Nonverbal Communication
- Eye contact,
- Facial expressions,
- Gestures,
- Posture and body orientation,
- Body Language,
- Space and Distance,
- Proximity,
- Para-linguistic,
- Humor,
- Touch,
- Silence,
- Personal Appearance,
- Symbol,
- Visual Communication.
Eye contact
Eye contact, an important channel of interpersonal communication, helps regulate the flow of communication. And it signals interest in others.
Furthermore,
Eye contact with audience increases the speaker’s credibility. Teachers who make eye contact open the flow of communication and convey interest, concern, warmth, and credibility.
Facial expressions
The face is an important communicator. It is commonly said that the face is the index of the mind.
It expresses the type of emotions or feelings such as joy, love, interest, sorrow, anger, annoyance, confusion, enthusiasm, fear, hatred, surprise, and uncertainty.
Facial expressions are indicated through the mouth (open, wide, or closed), eyelids (raised or lowered), nose (wrinkled or relaxed), cheeks (drawn up or back), and forehead (lowered or raised).
Within the facial area, the eyes are especially effective for indicating attention and interest. However, interpretations of facial expressions differ from culture to culture.
Smiling is a powerful cue that transmits:
- Happiness.
- Friendliness.
- Warmth.
- Liking.
- Affiliation.
Thus, if you smile frequently, you will be perceived as more likable, friendly, warm, and approachable.
Smiling is often contagious, and students will react favorably and learn more.
Gestures
If you fail to gesture while speaking, you may be perceived as boring, stiff, and un-animated.
A lively and animated teaching style captures students’ attention, makes the material more interesting, facilitates learning and provides a bit of entertainment.
Head nods, a form of gesture, communicate positive reinforcement to students and indicate that you are listening.
Gestures are movements of the arms, legs, hands, and head. Some authors opine that gestures are deliberate body movements because they express specific and intentional meanings.
For example, a wave of the hand has a specific meaning-“hello” or “good-bye”; a forefinger and a thumb touching to form a circle have the meaning -“ok”.
Like facial expressions, interpretations of some gestures also differ across cultures.
For example, in Europe, raising a thumb is used to convey that someone has done something excellent, while in South Asia, the same gesture means something idiotic.
Posture and body orientation
You communicate numerous messages by the way you walk, talk, stand and sit.
Standing erect but not rigid and leaning slightly forward communicates to students that you are approachable, receptive, and friendly.
Furthermore,
Interpersonal closeness results when you and your students face each other.
Speaking with your back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates disinterest to your class.
Body Language
Body language is another widely recognized form of non-verbal communication. Body movements can convey meanings and messages. Body language may take two forms: unconscious movements and consciously controlled movements.
For example;
When a person is bored, he may gaze around the room rather than look at the speaker or he may shift positions frequently.
When a person is nervous, he may bite his nails or mash his hair. These are usually made unconsciously. On the other hand, leaning forward toward the speaker to express interest is the case of conscious body movements.
Space and Distance
Space and distance are significant non-verbal tools in the case of organizational communication.
A spacious and well-decorated room indicates a person’s position in the organization hierarchy, and external people get a message about his importance and authority only by visiting his room.
Distance is another communication tool that expresses the degree of intimacy and individual acceptance.
Proximity
Cultural norms dictate a comfortable distance for interaction with students.
You should look for signals of discomfort caused by invading students’ space. Some of these are:
- Rocking
- Leg swinging
- Tapping
- Gaze aversion
Typically, in large college classes, space invasion is not a problem. There is usually too much distance.
To counteract this, move around the classroom to increase interaction with your students.
Increasing proximity enables you to make better eye contact and increases the opportunities for students to speak.
Para-linguistic
This facet of nonverbal communication includes such vocal elements as:
- Tone
- Pitch
- Rhythm
- Timbre
- Loudness
- Inflection
For maximum teaching effectiveness, learn to vary these six elements of your voice.
One of the major criticisms is of instructors who speak in a monotone. Listeners perceive these instructors as boring and dull.
Students report that they learn less and lose interest more quickly when listening to teachers who have not learned to modulate their voices.
Humor
Humor is often overlooked as a teaching tool, and it is too often not encouraged in college classrooms. Laughter releases stress and tension for both the instructor and the student.
You should develop the ability to laugh at yourself and encourage students to do the same. It fosters a friendly environment that facilitates learning.
Adequate knowledge of the subject matter is crucial to your success; however, it’s not the only crucial element.
Creating a climate that facilitates learning and retention demands good nonverbal and verbal skills.
Touch
Touch is a widely used form of non-verbal communication tool.
By touching, one can express a wide range of emotions. However, the accepted modes of touch vary depending on the gender, age, relative status, intimacy, and cultural background of the person.
For example, in the context of our culture, when one touches you from the back of the examination hall, your understanding is that he wants to know something.
Silence
Silence is a powerful tool for communication. It may have a positive or negative meaning.
In a classroom, silence indicates that students are listening carefully and attentively. In the same way, through silence, one can communicate his lack of interest or a failure to understand.
For example, silence often indicates that a person receiving instruction does not understand the action required, or sometimes silence indicates consent.
Personal Appearance
Appearance is also an important non-verbal communication tool. Appearance includes dress, hair, jewelry, makeup, belt buckles and so on.
Appearance indicates the degree of importance or interest a person conveys to an occasion. Through uniforms, we can identify a student, a doctor, a lawyer, a police officer, etc.
In an organization, one’s dress is keenly observed to see whether it conforms to accepted standards of appearance. As an example, workers may wear different clothes when they are on strike than they do when they are working.
Symbol
A symbol is something that represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning.
For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for “stop”.
On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for numbers. Personal names are symbols representing individuals. A red rose symbolizes love and compassion.
Visual Communication
When communication occurs using any visual aids, it is known as visual communication.
Thus, communication that occurs through facial expression, personal appearance, gesture, posture, printed picture, sign, signal, symbol, map, poster, slide, chart, diagram, graph, etc., is called visual communication.
For example, to indicate ‘danger,’ we use a red sign; to mean ‘dangerous,’ we use a skull placed between two pieces of bone put in a crosswise fashion; to indicate ‘no smoking,’ we use an image showing a lighted cigarette with a cross mark on it.
Types of Nonverbal Communication
nonverbal communication is of many ties on the basis of its mode of communication. A large number of artifacts are used to communicate without words. However, these are the types of nonverbal communication.
Body Language or Kinesics Communication
Body language consists of body movements such as gestures, facial expressions, eye movements and posture. The study of posture, movement, gestures and facial expression is called Kinesics.
The Kinesics is derived from the Greek word Kinesis, meaning movement. In assessing people’s feelings about an issue, we often draw conclusions from their words and nonverbal behaviour.
Lesikar and Pettit (2002:649) said, “Kinesics is the study of body’s physical movements”. In other words, it is the way the body communicates without words, that is, through various movements of its parts.
Gamble and Gamble (1996:132) define, “Non-verbal communication as all the kinds of human responses not expressed in words”.
The complication of the body language is that we can’t just “read” another person’s body language; instead we observe, analyze, and interpret before we decide the probable meaning.
Interpreting the meaning of nonverbal communication is partly a matter of assessing the other person’s unique behaviour and considering the context.
Assessing another person’s unique behaviour means that you need to know how that person usually acts. A taciturn person might be unflappable even in an emergency situation.
A person who never smiles may be unhappy and someone who acts happy might not be actually happy. Therefore, you need to know how the person expresses emotions before you can interpret what his or her nonverbal communication means.
Considering the context means that the situation alters how you interpret nonverbal communication. Many people get talkative, candid, and sometimes stupid when they take mind-altering drugs.
So, without considering context of body language, we cannot precisely understand the meaning of such language. People tend to be formally polite at ceremonies, emotionally unguarded in their homes, and excessively prudent when applying for a job.
Categories of Body Language or Kinesics Communication
There are several categories of body movement and facial expression. The three bases of communication situations prevailing among the participant are Linking, Status, and Responsiveness.
Paul Ekman and Wallace Friesen (1969:711-24) have categorized nonverbal communication based on its functions, origins, and meanings into five categories: Emblems, Illustrators, Affect Displays, Regulators, and Adaptors.
The categories are discussed below:
Linking
Linking is expressed through leaning forward, maintaining direct body orientation, open arms and body posture, positive facial expressions, and eye contact.
Status
Status, especially high status, is communicated nonverbally through more significant gestures, a relaxed posture, and reduced eye contact. For instance, male bosses often talk to subordinates while leaning back in their desk chairs, with their hands behind their heads and elbows out, a behavior rarely observed in subordinates.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness in nonverbal communication is exhibited by spontaneous gestures, shifts in posture and position, and facial expressiveness. In other words, the face and body provide positive feedback to the other person during the conversation.
Emblems
Emblems are specific movements that substitute for words or phrases. Examples of emblems include using a beckoning first finger to signal “come here,” holding up an open hand to signify “stop,” and forming a forefinger and thumb into a circle to convey “O.K.” However, emblems may have different meanings in other cultures, so caution is necessary.
Illustrators
Illustrators are nonverbal movements that either accompany or reinforce verbal messages. For instance, nodding your head when saying yes, shaking your head when saying no, patting your stomach when expressing hunger, or raising a clenched fist when saying “get out of here.” These nonverbal cues tend to have more universal meanings than other types of nonverbal communication.
Regulators
Regulators are nonverbal actions that control the flow or pace of communication. Examples of regulators include moving away to signal the conversation should stop, looking at the floor or away when disinterested, or yawning and checking the watch when bored.
Affect Displays
Affect displays involve movements of the face and body to express emotions. For example, observing people’s behavior when their favorite team wins a game, hearing the door slam shut when an angry person leaves the room, or watching men make threatening gestures when they are upset with each other but choose not to engage in a direct fight.
Adaptors
Adaptors are movements that may be performed fully in private but only partially in public. For instance, scratching one’s nose in public, but not scratching everywhere it itches.
Facial expressions provide information to others about our emotional state, while body orientation indicates the intensity of those emotions. When combined, facial expressions and body orientation enhance the accuracy of interpreting nonverbal messages.
Audiences who can see the speaker typically understand the message better than those who cannot.
Therefore, body movement and facial expressions increase the ability to correctly interpret the message’s meaning of the message in a correct manner.
Space Communication
This is the influence of space on communication. Edward T. Hall (1966) terms it proxemics communication – the study of the human use of space.
Some managers arrange their offices so that they have an informal area where people can sit without experiencing the spatial distance and formality created by a big desk.
Robert Sommer (1987) has also demonstrated the role of personal space in human communication. It involves two essential concepts: territoriality and personal space.
Essential Concepts of Space
Territoriality: Territoriality refers to our need to establish and maintain certain spaces as our own. In a shared dormitory room, the items on the common desk area mark the territory.
On a cafeteria table, the placement of the plate, glass, napkin, and eating utensils marks the territory. All are nonverbal indicators that signal ownership.
Personal Space: Personal space is the personal bubble of space that moves around with you. It is the distance you maintain between yourself and others, the amount of room you claim as your own.
Larger individuals usually claim more space because of their size, and men often take up more space than women.
Hall mentions and defines four distances people regularly use while they communicate. His categories have been helpful in understanding the communicative behavior that might occur when two communicators are at a particular distance from each other. The categories of distances are as follows:
Categories of Distance
Intimate distance
It extends from you outward to eighteen inches and is used by people who are relationally close to you. It is used more often in private than in public. This intimate distance is employed to show affection, give comfort, and offer protection. Judee K. Burgoon (1978:129-42) found in her research that it usually elicits a positive response because we tend to stand and sit close to people to whom we are attracted.
Personal distance
It ranges from eighteen inches to four feet and is most often used by people for conversation and other non-intimate exchanges.
Social distance
It ranges from four to twelve feet and is used most often for business in the workplace, especially in formal, less personal situations. The higher the status of one person, the greater the distance.
Public distance
It exceeds twelve feet and is most often used in public speaking settings such as lecture halls, churches, mosques, synagogues, courtrooms, and convention halls. Professors often stand at this distance while lecturing.
Distance is, then, a nonverbal means of communicating everything from the size of your personal bubble to your relationship with the person to whom you are speaking or listening. In fact, sex, size, and similarity seem to be among the important determiners of your personal space.
Your relationship with other people is related to your use of space. You stand closer to friends and farther from enemies. You stand farther from strangers, authority figures, high-status people, physically challenged individuals, and people from racial groups different from your own. You also stand closer to people you perceive as similar or unthreatening because closeness communicates trust.
The physical setting can also alter the use of space. People tend to stand closer together in large rooms and farther apart in small rooms. In addition, physical obstacles and furniture arrangements can affect the use of personal space.
The cultural background of the people communicating must also be considered when evaluating personal space. Hall recognizes the importance of cultural background when he observes that American service personnel serving overseas confront a variety of difficulties because of cultural differences in the handling of space.
People stood “too close” during conversations, and when the Americans backed away to a comfortable, conversational distance, this was taken to mean that Americans were cold, aloof, withdrawn, and disinterested in the people of the country.
In England, Americans who were used to neighborliness were hurt when they discovered that their neighbors were no more accessible or friendly than other people. In South Asia, people maintain close distance with others.
Cultural background can result in significant differences in the use of space and in people’s interpretation of such use. As our world continues to shrink, more of us will be working in multinational corporations, regularly traveling to different countries, and interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds. Sensitivity to space use in different cultures and quick, appropriate responses to those variations are imperative.
Touching Communication
Tactile communication is the use of touch in communication.
Because touch always involves invasion of another’s personal space, it is not a kind of communication that can be ignored. It can be welcome, as when a parent holds a crying child, or unwelcome, as in sexual harassment, and our need for and appreciation of tactile communication starts early in life.
William T. Schutz (1971:16) observes that the unconscious parental feelings communicated through touch or lack of touch can lead to feelings of confusion and conflict in a child.
Insufficient touching can lead to health disorders, such as allergies and eczema, speech problems, and even death (Montagu: 1971:42). Researchers have found that untouched babies and small children grow increasingly ill or die.
For adults, touch is a powerful means of communication. Usually, touch is perceived as positive, pleasurable, and reinforcing. The association of touch with the warmth and caring that began in infancy carries over into adulthood.
People who are comfortable with touch are more likely to be satisfied with their past and current lives. They are self-confident, assertive, socially acceptable, and active in confronting problems (Fromme et al.: 1951; Adler and Neil (1975: 225-26).
Touch is part of many important rituals. In baptism, the practice in many churches is as little as a touch on the head during the ceremony to as much as total immersion in water.
Physician Bernie Siegel (1990:134) writes about the healing power of touch in treating patients. Thus, religion and medicine are just two professions in which touch is important for ceremonial and curative purposes.
Touch varies with each subculture. Pearson and Nelson (1997: 78) have cited many findings of research that indicate the role of touching in human communication, which is culture-bound:
- Women value touch more than men do.
- Women are touched more than men from the sixth month on.
- Women touch female children more often than they touch male children.
- Men and their sons touch each other the least.
- Female students are touched more and in more places than are male students.
- Males touch others more than females touch others.
- Men have more access to women’s bodies than they do to men’s bodies.
- Males may use touch to indicate power or dominance.
It is not only subculture but culture that determines the frequency and kind of nonverbal communication; people from different countries handle nonverbal communication differently – even something as simple as touch.
Sidney Jourard (1968) determined the rates of touch per hour among adults from various cultures. In a coffee shop, adults in Puerto Rico touch 180 times per hour, while those in Paris touch about 110 times per hour. In Florida, USA, adults touch 2 times per hour, and in England only once per hour.
Touch sends such a powerful message that it has to be handled with responsibility. When the right to touch is abused, it can result in a breach of trust, anxiety, and hostility. When touch is used to communicate concern, caring, and affection, it is welcome, desired, and appreciated.
Paralanguage Communication
Nonverbal communication does include some sounds, as long as they are not words. This state of sound is known as paralanguage or paralinguistic features. It means the non-word sounds and non-word characteristics of language, such as pitch, volume, rate, and quality. Lesikar and Pettit (2002:656) said, “Paralanguage involves how we say something.”
Paralanguage consists of vocal aspects of communication that relate to how something is said rather than to what is said. The prefix “para” means alongside or parallel to, so “paralinguistic” means “alongside the word or language.”
Paralinguistic features are an examination of vocal cues that include all the oral aspects of sound except words themselves. The following are a few of these sorts of vocal cues:
- Pitch: the highness or lowness of your voice.
- Rate: how rapidly or slowly you speak.
- Inflection: the variety or changes in pitch.
- Volume: the loudness or softness of your voice.
- Quality: the unique resonance of your voice, such as huskiness, nasality, raspiness, and whininess.
- Sounds and silence: such non-word sounds as mmh, huh, and ahh, and pauses or the absence of sound used for effect in speaking.
- Pronunciation: whether or not you say a word correctly.
- Articulation: whether or not your mouth, tongue, and teeth coordinate to make a word understandable to others. A lisp is an example of an articulation problem.
- Enunciation: whether or not you combine pronunciation and articulation to produce a word with clarity and distinction so it can be understood. A person who mumbles has an enunciation problem.
Factors Affecting Vocal Cues
Vocal cues are important because they are linked in our minds with certain features of speakers. These include the speaker’s physical characteristics, emotional state, personality traits, gender characteristics, and even credibility. They are discussed below:
Speaker’s Physical Characteristics
Vocal cues frequently convey information about the speaker’s physical characteristics, such as age, height, appearance, and body type. For example, we associate a high-pitched voice with someone who is female rather than male, someone who is younger rather than older, and someone who is smaller rather than larger. We visualize someone who uses a loud voice as being taller rather than shorter and larger rather than smaller. People who speak quickly may be thought to be nervous rather than calm. People who tend to speak slowly and deliberately may be given credit as high-status individuals or people who have high credibility.
Emotional State
Emotional states are related to specific vocal cues. Joy and hate appear to be the most accurately communicated emotions, whereas shame and love are among the most difficult to communicate accurately (McCroskey, Larson, Knapp: 1971:116-18). Joy and hate appear to be conveyed by fewer vocal cues, which makes their interpretation less difficult than the complex sets of vocal cues that identify emotions such as shame and love. Ernest Kramer (1963:408-20) observes that “active” feelings such as joy and hate are associated with a loud voice, a high pitch, and a rapid rate. Conversely, “passive” feelings, which include affection and sadness, are communicated with a soft voice, a low pitch, and a relatively slow rate.
Personality Characteristics
Personality traits such as introversion, social orientation, brightness, shyness, etc., are determinants of voice patterns. They are also related to vocal cues. Dominance, social adjustment, and sociability have been clearly correlated with specific vocal cues.
Sex Differences
Vocal cues are related to sex differences. Men and women demonstrate different intonation patterns. For instance, many women tend to state declarative sentences with an upward inflection to suggest a question rather than a declaration.
Credibility
Vocal cues can help a public speaker establish credibility with an audience and can clarify the message.
Pitch and inflection can be used to make the speech sound aesthetically pleasing, to accomplish subtle changes in meaning, and to signal to the audience whether you are asking a question or making a statement, being sincere or sarcastic, or expressing doubt or assertiveness.
Objective Language Communication
Objects or object language refers to the study of the human use of clothing and other artifacts as nonverbal codes (Pearson and Nelson, 1997:80).
Artifacts are ornaments or adornments we display that hold communicative potential, including jewelry, hairstyles, cosmetics, automobiles, canes, watches, shoes, portfolios, hats, glasses, and even the fillings in our teeth.
Our clothing and other adornments communicate our age, status, role, socioeconomic class, group memberships, personality, and relationship to the opposite sex.
Men seldom wear dresses; low-cut gowns are not the choice of shy women; reticent people avoid bright colors.
Functions of Object Language Communication
Clothing and artifacts provide physical and psychological protection and are used for sexual attraction and to indicate self-concept.
Our clothing and artifacts clarify the sort of person we believe we are (Fisher, 1975).
They permit us personal expression (Procter, 1978).
They satisfy our need for creative self-expression (Hom, 1975). A person who exhibits an interest in using clothing as a means of expression may be demonstrating a high level of self-actualization (Perry, Schutz, and Rucher, 1983).
Clothing is important in forming a first impression of a person.
They express the individual’s characteristics, too. Conformity to current styles is correlated with an individual’s desire to be accepted and liked.
They affect others’ impressions of the status and personality traits of an individual.
Physical Context Communication
Physical context in nonverbal communication refers to how color and layout/design communicate (Lesikar and Pettit, 2002:657). It is the physical context of our surroundings that affects our communication efforts. This context is the most general and abstract of the nonverbal types. It is also known as environmental communication.
Our environment tells something about how we feel and how we will react to people and situations. The color or size of a room says something to you or about you. The color and layout of the environment are the most significant components.
People prefer attractive surroundings, and they evaluate other people based largely on their reactions to the immediate environment.
For example, people feel better about their surroundings and themselves when they are in a bright, sun-filled room.
Businesspeople improve the physical environment of their offices and showrooms by basing their rationale on this type of information. The arrangement of objects in an environment sends a message to the observer or listener.
Suppose you enter a teacher’s office and see a great clutter of papers on the desk and piles of books and folders strewn about the room. You probably wonder if that instructor is as disorganized in his thoughts about the subject as he is in maintaining order in his office.
Colors are associated with moods and behaviors. Thus, we have a color language. Black and gray colors convey negative feelings; blue and yellow colors show positive feelings; red color shows danger; green color conveys jubilation or youth; and white color shows peace.
Colors of our clothing, office interiors, and the like do make an impression. Moreover, we receive meanings from the colors we perceive. Therefore, we must give attention to color when doing so will help us achieve the desired effect. In addition, we should consider lighting, sound, and other contextual features with equal diligence.
Layout and design of surroundings communicate our tastes and preferences as well as our aristocracy. The space arrangements of an office, the presence or absence of carpeting, the layout of the desk and chairs, and the office size all tell someone something about us. So, we must use the meanings that layout or design conveys diligently so that we can use these nonverbal messages effectively.
Time Language or Chronemics Communication
The way that each of us uses and structures time in our relations with others is called chronemics (Gibson and Hanna, 1992:107). Time is a powerful element of nonverbal communication.
Time language involves the meaning we give to time, that is, how we communicate to others what time means to us (Lesikar and Pettit, 2002:655). In order to give meaning to time, we must perceive it, filter it, and symbolize it.
Managers place much emphasis on time management. It indicates people’s commitment and sincerity to their duties. Culture teaches us the meanings of time. Therefore, time-related behavior indicates the cultural differences between people. Compare your time orientation with that of members of another culture.
We accept and expect timeliness as an essential element in some of our daily activities. Punctuality is an important factor in time communication. It can also express a power relation between two people.
For example, if there is an employee meeting at work, it is probably more acceptable for your boss to come in late than it is for you to come in late. Being late can also demonstrate social power.
The power of chronemics is great. Waiting, rushing, and hesitating occur as a result of a time orientation, and our response to time delivers a strong message about us and other people. It suggests how we may feel about the individual or the mission.
The time element is strongly receiver-oriented. The other person is negatively or positively affected by our actions.
Ways to Improve the Effectiveness of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is a powerful communication tool. Skillful use of this communication tool will increase the effectiveness of your communication.
Many of our judgments and decisions are based on nonverbal cues. Therefore, we should develop our ability to observe and appropriately use nonverbal cues.
The following guidelines will help us make valid judgments and decisions based on nonverbal communication:
Examine the Environment
Ask yourself if any environmental stimuli are likely to affect your nonverbal interaction. Determine if other people present could influence the two communicators. Attempt to determine whether colors and décor will have an impact on the nature and tone of the communication.
Analyze the amount of space available to the interactants. Determine whether architectural factors might alter the outcome. Take suitable action accordingly.
Observe the Communicators
Ask yourself if the sex, age, or status of the communicators will exert an influence on their relationship. Assess to what extent, if any, attractiveness, clothing, or physical appearance should affect the interaction.
Determine if, in your own mind, the communicators’ dress is appropriate to the environment. Decide if the communicators appear to like each other and to have similar goals.
Observe Body Language
Observe the body expressions. Analyze significant bodily cues. Attempt to decide if hand or foot movements suggest honesty or deception.
Decide if either of the interactants moves too much or too little. Ask yourself if both are equally involved in the exchange. Assess the extent to which the interactants mirror each other’s posture.
Watch the eye behavior of the participants. Determine if one looks away more than the other. All these will give you some message and act accordingly.
Listen for Vocal Cues
Assess whether the communicators are using appropriate vocal volumes and rates of speaking, given their situation.
Determine if and how the way something that is said verbally supports or contradicts what is being said nonverbally. Analyze how and when silence is used. Be responsive to signals of nervousness and changes in pitch.
Observe Touching
Watch to see if the participants touch each other at all. Determine, if you can, why they touched. How did touching or being touched affect the interactants? Was the contact appropriate or inappropriate for the situation, and why? Make your judgment with probable answers and take action.
Conclusion
To improve your nonverbal skills, record your speaking on videotape. Then, ask a colleague in communications to suggest refinements.
Non-verbal communication can take many forms depending on the situation, the ability of communicators, etc.
According to one estimate, there are more than 0.70 million forms of non-verbal communication. The most common forms of non-verbal communication are as follows.