1. Communication between cultures Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication:
8TH EDITION
Chapter 9
Nonverbal Communication:
The Messages of Action, Space,
Time, and Silence
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

2. Key Ideas Functions of nonverbal communication
Defining nonverbal communication
Studying nonverbal communication
Classification of nonverbal communication
Improving nonverbal communication skills
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

3. Functions of nonverbal communication
Expressing internal states
Important judgments and decisions based on observations of nonverbal behavior
Emotions reflected in posture, face, eyes, tone of voice, proximity, and touch
Creating identity
Variety of non-verbal messages help people make judgments about others
Things such as skin color, use of makeup, facial expressions, dress, etc.
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

4. Functions of nonverbal communication
Regulating interaction
Repeating the message
Substituting for words
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

5. Defining nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication involves all those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source and/or receiver.
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

6. Defining nonverbal communication
Messages may be intentional or unintentional
Verbal and nonverbal messages
Difficult to separate verbal and nonverbal messages
Often use nonverbal message to repeat a point
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

7. Studying nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication can be ambiguous
Multiple factors influence nonverbal communication
It includes cultural universals
Nonverbal communication is learned in the process of socialization
Different cultures have their own rules for nonverbal communication such as the use of facial expression
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

8. Classification of nonverbal communication
Messages of the body
Appearance
Judgment of beauty
Skin color
Attire
Body movement – Kinesics
Posture
Gestures
Facial expressions
Eye contact and gaze
Touch
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

9. Classification of nonverbal communication
Body movement – Kinesics
Vocal qualities (pitch, rate, pitch, tempo, resonance, pronunciation, tone)
Vocal characteristics (laughing, crying, moaning, whining, yawning)
Vocal segrates (“uh-huh,” “shh,”, “uh,” “ooh,” “um,” “mmmh,” “hmmm”
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

10. Classification of nonverbal communication
Space and distance
Personal space
Intimate distance
Personal distance
Social distance
Public distance
Seating
Furniture and arrangement
Time
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

11. Classification of nonverbal communication
Time
Informal time
Punctuality
Pace
Monrchromatic (M-Time) and Polychromatic (P-Time)
M-time: time is linear, sequential, and segmented
P-Time: For P-time cultures, time is less tangible and people are usually not in a hurry to finish an assignment or chore
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

12. Classification of nonverbal communication
Silence
Periods of provide an interval in an ongoing interaction during which the participants have time to think, check or suppress an emotion, encode a lengthy response, or inaugurate another line of thought
Silence also provides feedback, informing both sender and receiver about the clarity of an idea or its significance in the overall interpersonal exchange
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

13. Classification of nonverbal communication
Silence
In most Western cultures, talk is highly valued, and it is often difficult to determine the meaning behind someone’s silence, because it can be interpreted as an indication of agreement, anger, lack of interest, injured feelings, or contempt
Silence can be interpreted as an indication of agreement, anger, lack of interest, injured feelings, or contempt
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

14. Classification of nonverbal communication
Silence
Intercultural implications of silence as a means of interpreting ongoing verbal interactions are as diverse as those of other nonverbal cues
Knowing how various cultures use silence is essential
Buddhism - many people feel comfortable with the absence of noise or talk and actually believe that words can contaminate an experience
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

15. Classification of nonverbal communication
Silence
Japanese – silence is important and complex
People are expected to know what another person is thinking and feeling without anything being said
Silence is linked to credibility
Hindu
Self-realization, salvation, truth, wisdom, peace, and bliss are all achieved in a state of meditation and introspection when the individual is communicating with himself or herself in silence
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

16. Improving nonverbal communication skills
Monitor your nonverbal actions
Is my behavior making people feel comfortable or uncomfortable?
Am I am adjusting my nonverbal messages to the feedback I am receiving from my communication “partner”?
How are people reacting to my use of space, touch, paralanguage, time, and the like?
If my messages are being misinterpreted is it because my unintentional messages, rather than my intentional messages, are impacting my communication “partner”?
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

17. Improving nonverbal communication skills
Monitor feedback
Be sensitive to the context
Be aware of nonverbal ambiguity
Know your culture
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

18. Communication between cultures Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication:
8TH EDITION
Chapter 9
Nonverbal Communication:
The Messages of Action, Space,
Time, and Silence
© Cengage 2012
Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space