What is Communication?

It is a process of exchanging the thoughts, ideas, emotions and information through

signals, speech, behavior and writing. The word ‘Communication’ is derived from
the Latin word ‘communicare’ which means to share or to express and convey your
ideas and emotions. Or we can say that:

It is the act of conveying intended meanings from one entity or group to another
through the use of mutually understood signs and semiotic rules.

There are two types of Communication:-

1. Verbal Communication
2. Non Verbal Communication

Verbal Communication:- The Communication which takes place with the help
of words or through the words is known as verbal communication. It is of two
types:

Oral Communication:- The communication which takes place orally or

verbally. For eg: - Face to face conversation.

Written Communication:- The communication which takes place in a written

manner. For eg: - Email.
 Non Verbal Communication
The Communication which takes place without the help of words or the
communication through body gestures, postures, facial expression is known as Non
Verbal communication.

Nonverbal communication describes the processes of conveying a type of

information in the form of non-linguistic representations. Examples of nonverbal
communication include haptic communication, chronemic
communication, gestures, body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and how
one dress. Nonverbal communication also relates to the intent of a message.
Examples of intent are voluntary, intentional movements like shaking a hand or
winking, as well as involuntary, such as sweating. Speech also contains nonverbal
elements known as paralanguage, e.g. rhythm, intonation, tempo, and stress. It
affects communication most at the subconscious level and establishes trust.
Likewise, written texts include nonverbal elements such as handwriting style, the
spatial arrangement of words and the use of emoticons to convey emotion.

“It is estimated that NVC most often conveys a larger share of social information
(65% or more) while verbal communication plays a less salient role(35% or less).
So much information is communicated nonverbally that frequently the verbal
aspect is negligible.”
 What are the different types of Nonverbal Communication?
a) Kinesics (body language)-posture, gesture, facial expression, dressing.

b) Proxemics(space/distance)

c) Haptics(touch language)

d) Chronemics(time language)

e) Occulesics(eye contact)

f) Sign language

g) Color language

h) Paralanguage
 Kinesics
Kinesics is the interpretation of body motion communication such as facial
expressions and gestures, nonverbal behavior related to movement of any part of
the body or the body as a whole. It is the study of the way in which certain
movements such as gestures and expressions serve as a form of non-verbal
communication. It is the study of the body language and these body language and
gestures regarded as a nonverbal communication.

Or we can say a nonverbal cue which can be done with your body movements. It
includes:-

 posture
 gesture
 dressings
 facial expressions
 Posture
The position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting, a
particular approach or attitude. There are various types of postures which are as
follows:-

1) Slumped posture = low spirits

 to assume a slouching, bowed, or bent position or posture.
 Stand up straight and don’t slump.

2) Erect posture = high spirits, energy and confidence

 Upright in posture or position
 Not bent or leaning.

3) Lean forward = open and interested

 It involves walking while bent forward in a slightly stooped posture.
4) Lean away = defensive or disinterested
 Bent backward in a slightly stooped posture.

5) Crossed arms = defensive

 When a person is not in a good mood or angry.

6) Uncrossed arms = willingness to listen

 It shows person interest.
 Body gestures

Body language is a type of non-verbal communication in which physical

behavior, as opposed to words, are used to express or convey information.
Such behavior includes facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye
movement, touch and the use of space. Body language exists in
both animals and humans, but this article focuses on interpretations of
human body language. It is also known as kinesics. It is an effective way of
nonverbal communication as we know that our action speaks louder than the
words.

It includes various gestures like:-

• Emblems:- Emblems are movements which have a direct verbal translation,

generally a word or phrase .These are often culture specific. The popular
hand gesture displayed by University of Texas Longhorns fans that same
emblem displayed to a married Italian man would suggest his wife is having
an affair. Recognizable emblems would include “A-OK” and “Victory”.
• Illustrators:- Illustrators are non-verbal cues directly linked with words
They reinforce verbal communication allow us to accent or emphasize words
or ideas. We also use illustrators to help describe something, as in “It was
this wide.”

• Affect Displays: - These are body movements which reveal our affective,
emotional state. Facial cues are the primary way to reveal our feelings non
verbally. Affect displays can be used to to influence others.A speaker, For
example, displays enthusiasm.

• Regulators: - These are nonverbal cues which regulate interaction. Consider

the regulators used in normal conversation which determine turn-taking.
Individuals utilize eye behavior, inflection, and head nodding to regulate
conversation.
• Adaptors: - Adaptors are movements that satisfy personal needs and help
you adapt to your environment. Adaptors may also be behaviors or objects
that are manipulated for purpose. It includes behaviors like yawning and
moving/adjusting your glasses.
 Facial expression
A facial expression is one or more motions or positions of the muscles beneath
the skin of the face. According to one set of controversial theories, these
movements convey the emotional state of an individual to observers. Facial
expressions are a form of nonverbal communication. This facial expression
includes:-

• Facial management
• Facial Feedback
• Facial Expressions and Culture

As through facial expressions also , people can communicate so to recognize the

meaning of those facial expressions .we have some facial management techqniques
such as:-

• Intensifying – to exaggerate a feeling

• Deintensifying – to underplay a feeling

• Neutralizing – to hide a feeling

• Masking – to replace or substitute the expression of one emotion or another

 Proxemics
Proxemics is the study of spatial communication and how we use it (Devito).
It is termed coined by founder, Edward Hall, in 1968 in his book The Silent
Language.

• Hall’s research concluded that there are four distances we utilize in everyday
interpersonal communication and these are culturally defined

• There are also five dimensions used to assign the importance of space in
status .