UNIT 4: NON-VERBAL ACTS

It’s the language that support the spoken language, it formed by the gestures, positions or
looks (make unconsciously)
Verbal Non-verbal
Oral Spoken language Paralanguage
Non-oral Written language Body language and proxemics
Paralanguage: Is the study of non semantic aspects of language: Gasp (suspiro), sigh (suspirar), whisper
or shout
Proxemics: Physical space to feel comfortable.
1. Non-verbal acts
Origin: It is imposed by our nervous system or resulting from our environment and
many times cannot be controlled by ourselves.
Usage: Enhance, repeat or illustrate a verbal message. Sometimes these acts may be
contradictory.
Encoding: The relation between the signs and its meaning:
- Arbitrary
- Iconic
Types of non-verbal acts:
1. Emblems: Gesture that become a sentence without words.
2. Illustrators: Reinforce the meaning of the information.
3. Regulators: Who organize or lead the conversation between the interlocutors
4. Adaptors: Acts that we do unconsciously.
a. Social Adaptor: Shaking hands or bowing.
b. Instrumental adaptors: Performance of a task.
c. Subsistence adaptors: Organic needs, sleep, eat…
2. Factors related to non-verbal language
Factors related to verbal language and behavior

Level of intimacy and harmony with a person

1. Intimate distance
2. Personal distance
3. Social distance
4. Public distance
3. Functions fo non-verbal communication
- Emphasizing verbal language:
Non verbal communication can merely repeat what was said verbally.
- Expressing feeling and emotions:
It communicates our level of feeling
- Replacing words:
Nonverbal acts replace the verbal acts with gestures
- Guiding the way in which verbal message should be interpreted:
The same message can be different, depending on the volume and the tone…
- Possible conflict with verbal communication:
Say something but with the gestures say the opposite
- Regulating communication:
Regulate the message with gestures.
UNIT 5: ORAL COMMUNICATION
1. Oral expression
The most important thing is the medium or channel that is used to transmit: In
oral communication, the interlocutors often used to refer to the senders and
receiver of communication. If the interlocutors may be present its called
FACE-TO-FACE oral communication.
Fillers: Is a word or sentence that usually is the result of the nerves and they are
used to fill gaps (Rellenar los huecos), uncertainties or inadequacies in the
message. Typically are sounds, single words or sentences.
Goals of language and oral communication:
1. Report - teach - train
2. Stimulate - encourage - motivate (animar)
3. Persuade - convince (intentar convencer)
4. Find out - discuss - negotiate
5. Amuse - entertain (divertir/entretener)
1.1. Requirements and characteristics
● Intentions
● Relationship
● Space
● Time
1.2. Stages of development

1.3. Forms of oral communication

1. Dialogue and debate
Exchange of information between two or more people. In the dialogue
the role of sender and receiver are alternated.
2. The report
Is the exposition of a set of information specifically. His objective is
explain data and is used to report arguments and prepare a decision
making.
3. The Conference
Is the organized explanation of ideas, thoughts of a particular thing.
4. Interview:
Oral communication which someone make some questions to obtain
information:
 - individual
- Panel
- Group
2. Listening for better communication
Active listening: The ability to put all our attention to listening, and showing to
the other person that we are interest.
2.1. Barriers to active listening
- Self expectations
- The tendency to make judgments (halo effect)
- Disconnection
- Hurry
- Distractions
2.2. Techniques to reach active listening
- Listening attitude
- Paraphrasing and summarizing
- Using reinforcement words or complements (elogios)
- Choosing the right place and time
- Looking our interlocutor
2.3. Showing empathy
Is the ability to take the place of other people and share his feeling.
The steps are:
● Knowledge of the feeling: Experience our feeling and identify
them.
● Recognition of the feeling: Recognize our and the other feeling.
How to empathize:
- Though verbal communication
- Though non verbal communication
How to empathize:
● Thought verbal communication
● Thought non verbal communication
2.4. Knowing how to ask
- The benefits of asking
- The art of good questions
- Basic types of questions
3. Improving feedback
- The interlocutor has requested it
- Not being request
- Be neutral, avoid personal things
- Avoid making value judgements
- Transmit transmitted directly
- Encourage the exchange of information
- Offering alternatives
- Focussing on the present
3.1. Strategies to attract receiver’s attention

Using questions Using comparison Using humor

Mentioning names Dramatizing events / pauses Speak louder