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Nonverbal
Communication
Tamara S. Arrington
University of Kentucky
COM 252
Nonverbal Communication
A system of symbolic behaviors that
includes all forms of communication
except words.
-- Waving can mean, “Hello,” “Goodbye,”
“Go ahead,” “I’m over here,” etc.
-- Laughing can mean, “That’s funny,”
“I’m nervous,” “That’s stupid.”
Functions of nonverbal
communication
1. It has to do with verbal
communication
2. It tells what the emotions and
relationship are between the
people getting and sending the
message
1. Nonverbal cues have to do
with verbal communication
► Nonverbal
cues reinforce a verbal message. When
babies are little, the parents will say, “I love you”
to the baby, and hug the baby at the same time.
► Nonverbal cues contradict verbal messages.
“Yeah, let’s go eat at McDonald’s,” says your
girlfriend. But when she says it, she rolls her eyes
and sighs.
► Nonverbal cues act as a substitute for a verbal
message. A police officer may wave his hand and
point at a side street to tell you to take a detour.
Emblems, Illustrators, and
Regulators
The other day, I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a "Honk If You Love Jesus " bumper sticker.
I was feeling particularly sassy that day, because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance,
followed by a thunderous prayer meeting; so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. Boy, I'm glad I
did! What an uplifting experience that followed!
I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He
is...and I didn't notice that the light had changed. It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus, because if he
hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed!
I found that LOTS of people love Jesus!
Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind me started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his
window and screamed, "For the love of GOD! GO! GO! JESUS CHRIST, GO!"
What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking! I just leaned out of my window
and started waving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the
love! There must have been a man from Florida back there, because I heard him yelling something about a
"sunny beach"...
I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. When I asked my
teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign
or something.
Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii; so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.
My grandson burst out laughing... why even he was enjoying this religious experience!
A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started
walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the
light had changed.
So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers, grinning, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed I was
the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again, and I felt kind of sad that I had
to leave them after all the love we had shared; so I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave
them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.
Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!
Grandma
2. Nonverbal communication
tells the emotions and
relationship between the
people.
► Gives
messages about feelings. “I don’t
care what you buy,” says your mom.
But she sits with her arms crossed, not
looking at you.
► Gives messages about relationships. A
close friend might hug you at the
funeral of a relative of yours.
Who won this game of basketball?
Characteristics of nonverbal
communication
Subconscious
2. Contextual
3. Ambiguous
4. Cultural
1.
1. Subconscious
► We
give and respond to others’ nonverbal
messages on the subconscious level. The
body language of jurors can be studied by
experts during jury selection to weed out
jurors that subconsciously may be
prejudiced against or for the defendant.
2. Contextual
► The
nonverbal message depends on the
context or situation in which it occurs. If
you raise your hand in the classroom, it is
expected. If you raise your hand in the
grocery store, other customers are probably
going to look strangely at you.
3. Ambiguous
► Nonverbal
communication is open to each
person’s interpretation. If someone has their
arms crossed, you might think they are
angry. In reality, they may just be cold.
4. Cultural
►A
nonverbal message in one culture may
send a different meaning in another culture.
In America, men greet each other with
handshakes. In Arabia, men greet each
other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Can you guess the meaning of this
Japanese gesture?
a. I'm scared like a bunny
b. I've been hearing things about you
c. I'm angry
This woman from France demonstrates
this gesture. Can you try to guess what
this French gesture means?
a. I don't believe you
b. I wish I hadn't seen that
c. I am looking at a very handsome man
This gesture is performed by a woman
from Iran. Can you guess what this
Iranian gesture means?
a. Good luck to you
b. You will always be number one for me
c. "Screw You" (obscene)
Paralanguage (Voice)
►Types of paralinguisitics:
a. Empahsis
b. Disfluencies
c. Voice (tone, volume, pitch)
d. Rate & Duration
Personal appearance
► Most
first impressions are based on what is
seen. How you dress can influence the way
others respond to you. Your grooming, or
lack of it, shows others if you take pride in
your appearance.
Kinesics
► Kinesics
is the use of the body in communication.
It includes posture and muscular tone and
tension. A straight but relaxed posture makes
you seem confident.
Having loose muscular
tone and tension will
make you seem relaxed,
while taut muscles will
make you seem more
formal and stressed.
Movement and gesture
► Movement
refers to the way you walk or
move. If you are confident in the way
you walk, you will have a positive
image.
► Gestures are movements that reinforce
a message or act as a speech
substitute. Tapping your foot implies
that you are impatient. Making a circular
motion near your ear implies that
someone is crazy.
Facial Communication
► Facial
expressions may last a second, but
they communicate many feelings. Eyes are
used to make contact and to provide space.
Making direct eye contact is seen as being
honest.
Proxemics & Territoriality
► Sometimes
you may identify a space or territory as
“yours.” Even if there was no assigned seat, you
might have selected a chair and occupied it every
day. You felt it was your territory.
► Workers
identify their space and personalize it.
Nonverbal messages can be sent in this way.
Nonverbal Artifacts: How do you
“mark your territory”?
► You
also send messages with your surroundings.
► Most people place personal artifacts on or around
themselves, such as jewelry, pictures on walls,
posters, etc.
► Even what is in or on your backpack sends a
message.
► The colors you select for yourself and even the
fragrance you use send nonverbal messages.
Clothing certainly sends a message…
Edward T. Hall’s “Zones”
► This
refers to your use of space and what
you think of as your “territory.” The way
you use space is personal and influenced by
your culture.
Intimate distance – Up to 18 inches away
Personal distance – 18” to 4 feet away
Social distance – 4 to 12 feet away
Public distance – 12 to 25 feet away
Haptics (Touch)
► To
touch someone has become a critical
question for the workplace and around
friends.
► Touching can be seen as harassment and
intimidation. In many contexts, a handshake
is seen as more appropriate than a hug, a
pat on the shoulder, or other forms of
contact.
► Touch can literally HEAL us
Chronemics (Time)
► Nonverbal
messages can be sent with how
time is managed.
► Are you always late to meet friends? If so,
they may wonder if you care about them.
► How you use time gives a message about
how effective you are as a student, a
worker, and a communicator.