1. Non-verbal Communication
The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.
– Peter Drucker
MC1
Praxis Business School

2. Non-verbal Communication
We are constantly communicating– even if we say nothing at all.
Communication beyond words …..
Non-verbal cues communicate 65% of the message - Birdwhistell (1970)
90% of the meaning of a message is transmitted non-verbally - Fromkin and Rodman (1983) .
MC1
Praxis Business School

3. Non-verbal Communication
What is non-verbal communication?
…. anything other than word utterances is non-verbal communication, i.e. any communication that takes place using non-linguistic signs, or “non word signs”
.... difficult to draw a boundary between verbal and “non”
(throat clearance noise??) .
MC1
Praxis Business School

4. Non-verbal Communication
NV messages can be communicated through
gesture
body language or posture
facial expression and eye contact
object communication such as
clothing, hairstyles
architecture
symbols and infographics .
MC1
Praxis Business School

5. Non-verbal Communication
The first scientific study of nonverbal communication:
Charles Darwin's book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872). .
MC1
Praxis Business School

6. Non-verbal Communication
Influences
Culture
interpretation of non-verbal signs is often subconscious and hence culture-dependent
facial expression agreement across boundaries
…. but extent is culture dependent (Japanese!)
interpretation is again culture-dependent
Gender
women smile more often than men (good for them!)
changes based on same or opposite gender .
MC1
Praxis Business School

7. Non-verbal Communication
…. Influences
Age
Personal Idiosyncrasies
No pattern
Situational factors
Timing
Size (of audience, platform)
(Actors make exaggerated gestures in theatre) .
MC1
Praxis Business School

8. Non-verbal Communication Types
Kinesics
(body) movement as a factor in non-verbal behaviour
Chronemics
use of time in non-verbal communication
Oculesics
visual contact on the perceived message.
Haptics
describes touching behaviour
Proxemics
personal space usage
Paralanguage
non-word utterances and other non-verbal clues relatively closely related to language use.
Appearance, Symbolism, Olfactory .
MC1
Praxis Business School

9. Non-verbal Communication Types
Kinesics
emblems - non-verbal messages that have a verbal counterpart - goodbye wave
illustrators - less clearly linked to specific sayings or words
affect displays - body or facial movements that display a certain affective state
regulators - regulate, modulate and maintain flow of speech during a conversation
adapters - postural changes and other movements at a low level of awareness .
MC1
Praxis Business School

10. Non-verbal Communication Types
Kinesics
emblems - non-verbal messages that have a verbal counterpart - goodbye wave
illustrators - less clearly linked to specific sayings or words
affect displays - body or facial movements that display a certain affective state
regulators - regulate, modulate and maintain flow of speech during a conversation
adapters - postural changes and other movements at a low level of awareness .
MC1
Praxis Business School

11. Non-verbal Communication Types
Oculesics
looking (where?!) while talking and listening
can indicate interest, attention, involvement
variation in amount of gaze, frequency of glances, blink rate etc.
Haptics
Touching others:
Handshakes, holding hands, kissing (cheek, hand, lips), high 5’s, back slapping, brushing an arm, shoulder pat
Touching oneself
picking, scratching, licking, holding
Show intention and feelings of the communicator
Interpretation is person, context relationship, culture .
MC1
Praxis Business School

12. Non-verbal Communication Types
Chronesics
Punctuality, willingness to wait, speed of speech, how long will people listen
The stage for communication is set by the way we
perceive, structure and react to time
Monochronic time schedule (M-time)
time can be controlled or wasted by individuals
emphasis is on the use of time schedules and appointments
people tend to do one thing at a time
Polychronic time schedule (P-time)
personal involvement is more important than schedules
emphasis on personal relationships rather than appointments .
MC1
Praxis Business School

13. Non-verbal Communication
Proxemics
Primary territory: this refers to an area that is associated with someone who has exclusive use of it.
Secondary territory: unlike the previous type, there is no “right” to occupancy, but people may still feel some degree of ownership of a particular space.
Public territory: this refers to an area that is available to all, but only for a set period, such as a parking space or a seat in a library. Although people have only a limited claim over that space, they often exceed that claim.
Interaction territory: this is space created by others when they are interacting. .
MC1
Praxis Business School