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:  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 – non- verbal cues that regulate the give- and-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