Download Nonverbal Communication in Conversations: What Does It Mean?

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
IN CONVERSATIONS:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Judith Grunwald, Ph.D., CCC/SLP
March 23, 2017
Brain Injury Association Conference
TWO PURPOSES FOR NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION:
To send a message to someone(s);
To build a relationship.
HOW IMPORTANT IS NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION IN A
CONVERSATION?
 Ninety three percent of the total
communication is nonverbal!
 “We all know what it is, but most of
us are never exactly sure how it
works.” The good news? We can
learn!
 Nonverbal communication is
primarily relational.
WHAT IS NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION?
All the communication that happens
without words.
That includes mainly:
• tone of voice
• facial expressions
• body language
IN FACT,
“YOU CANNOT
NOT COMMUNICATE”
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH:
Making and keeping friends?
“Relationships are built and destroyed by communication.”
~Unknown
Tone of voice
Eye Contact
Smiling
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH:
Finding and Keeping a job?
Tone of voice
Eye Contact
Smiling
SENDING YOUR NONVERBAL MESSAGES
Do You:
 Keep your personal space?
 Stare too long?
 Look down when speaking to
someone?
 Smile too long or too short a time?
 Is your smile genuine?
WHAT DO THEY MEAN???
INTERPRETING NONVERBAL MESSAGES
FROM SOMEONE ELSE:
Do You:

Get anxious when meeting someone new?

Understand facial expressions?

Understand different tones of voice?

Understand the situation you’re in to help you understand the
communication?

Understand the cultural differences of the people you’re
speaking to?

Understand what to do with a “mixed message”?

Understand sarcasm or teasing?

Do you understand when it’s someone else’s turn to talk?
FACES…
REFERENCES
Bird, J., & Parente, R. (2014). Recognition of nonverbal communication of emotion after traumatic brain
injury. NeuroRehabilitation, 34, 39-43. doi:10.3233/NRE-131006. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
Cannizzaro, M., Allen, E. M., & Prelock, P. (2011). Perceptions of communicative competence after traumatic brain injury:
Implications for ecologically-driven intervention targets. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 13(6), 549559. doi:10.3109/17549507.2011.596571. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
Darrow, A. (2016). Unspoken Words. General Music Today, 29(2), 35. doi:10.1177/1048371315609960.
November 17, 2016.
Retrieved
Goman, C. K. (2008). The Nonverbal Advantage : Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work. San Francisco, Calif:
Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
Knox, L., & Douglas, J. (2009). Long-term ability to interpret facial expression after traumatic brain injury and its relation to
social integration. Brain and Cognition, 69(2), 442-449. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2008.09.009|. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
Mehrabian, A. (1981). Silent messages: Implicit communication of emotions and attitudes. (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth.
Phutela, D. (2015). The importance of nonverbal communication. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, IX, 43-49. Retrieved