Download Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication
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:
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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. (Iatrogenics is
an example.)
 It can be confusing. (crossing
arms/crossing legs/ passive)
 It conveys emotion.
 It is guided by norms and rules of
appropriateness.
 It is cultural-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 – nonverbal cues that
regulate the giveand-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
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