Non-verbal communication:

Nonverbal communication evolved earlier than verbal communication and served an early
and important survival function that helped humans later develop verbal communication. While
the key to success in both personal and professional relationships lies in your ability to
communicate well, it’s not the words that you use but your nonverbal cues or “body language”
that speak the loudest. Non-verbal communication occurs without using any oral or written word.
Instead of written or oral words, it relies on various non-verbal cues like physical movements,
tasks, colors, signs, symbols, signals charts, etc. to express feelings, attitudes or information.
Although no word is used in non-verbal communication, it can effectively communicate many
human feelings more accurately than verbal methods of communication. Some studies have
claimed that 90 percent of our meaning is derived from nonverbal signals, but more recent and
reliable findings claim that it is closer to 65 percent. Laura K. Guerrero and Kory Floyd, Nonverbal
Communication in Close Relationships (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2006).

Few of the definitions of NVC are,

Non-verbal communication is defined as communication without the use of
words.
( Adejimola,2008).

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It is also defined as behaviors, excluding the words themselves that could function as
message in a given speech community.
(Sanchez; Pico & Lucette,2010).

Why does non-verbal communication matter?

Whether you’re aware of it or not, when you interact with others, you’re continuously
giving and receiving wordless signals. All of your nonverbal behaviors—the gestures you make,
your posture, your tone of voice, how much eye contact you make—send strong messages. They
can put people at ease, build trust, and draw others towards you, or they can offend, confuse, and
undermine what you’re trying to convey. These messages don’t stop when you stop speaking
either. Even when you’re silent, you’re still communicating nonverbally.

In some instances, what comes out of your mouth and what you communicate through your
body language may be two totally different things. If you say one thing, but your body language
says something else, your listener will likely feel that you’re being dishonest. If you say “yes”
while shaking your head no, for example. When faced with such mixed signals, the listener has to
choose whether to believe your verbal or nonverbal message. Since body language is a natural,
unconscious language that broadcasts your true feelings and intentions, they’ll likely choose the
nonverbal message.

Repetition: It repeats and often strengthens the message you’re making verbally.

Contradiction: It can contradict the message you’re trying to convey, thus indicating to your
listener that you may not be telling the truth.

Substitution: It can substitute for a verbal message. For example, your facial expression often
conveys a far more vivid message than words ever can. Nonverbal communication can substitute
for verbal communication in a variety of ways. Nonverbal communication can convey much
meaning when verbal communication isn’t effective because of language barriers. Language
barriers are present when a person hasn’t yet learned to speak or loses the ability to speak. For
example, babies who have not yet developed language skills make facial expressions, at a few
months old, that are similar to those of adults and therefore can generate meaning.

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Complementing: It may add to or complement your verbal message. As a boss, if you pat an
employee on the back in addition to giving praise, it can increase the impact of your message.

Accenting: It may accent or underline a verbal message. Pounding the table, for example, can
underline the importance of your message.

Source: The Importance of Effective Communication, Edward G. Wertheim, Ph.D.

Types of non-verbal communication:

The study of non-verbal communication is divided into several specific categories,

1. Kinesics

The word kinesics comes from the root word kinesis, which means “movement,” and refers
to the study of hand, arm, body, and face movements. It includes gestures, posture, eye contact,
and facial expressions.

a. Gestures: A gesture is a non-vocal bodily movement intended to express meaning. They may
be articulated with the hands, arms or body, and also include movements of the head, face and
eyes, such as winking, nodding, or rolling ones' eyes. Common gestures include waving, pointing,
and using fingers to indicate numeric amounts. Culture-specific gestures that can be used as
replacement for words, such as the hand wave used in western cultures for “hello” and “goodbye”.
Interpretations of some gestures also differ across cultures. For example, in Europe, raising thumb
is used to convey that someone has done something excellent while in Bangladesh the same gesture
means something idiotic.

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b. Posture: Posture indicates the position in which we hold the body when standing or sitting. It
can help to communicate non-verbally. Consider the following actions and note cultural
differences:

• Bowing not done criticized or affected in US; shows rank in Japan.

• Slouching rude in most Northern European areas.
• Hands in pocket-disrespectful in Turkey.
• Sitting with legs crossed-offensive in Ghana, Turkey.
• Showing soles of feet-offensive in Thailand, Saudi Arabia.

c. Eye contact. Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially
important type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can communicate
many things, including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction. Eye contact is also important in
maintaining the flow of conversation and for gauging the other person’s interest and response.

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d. Facial expressions. The human face is extremely expressive, able to convey countless emotions
without saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions
are universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are
the same across cultures.

2. Proxemics

Is the study of how our use of space influences the ways we relate with others. It also
demonstrates our relational standing with those around us.

a. Intimate space

It consists of space that ranges from 0 to 18 inches. We use intimate space with those whom we
are close (family members, close friends, and intimate partners). Intimate space is also the context
for physical fighting and violence.

b. Personal space

It ranges from 18 inches to 4 feet, and is reserved for most conversations with non-intimate others
(friends and acquaintances).

c. Social space

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It extends from four to twelve feet and is used for small group interactions such as sitting around
a dinner table with others or a group meeting.

d. Public space

It extends beyond twelve feet and is most often used in public speaking situations. We use space
to regulate our verbal communication and communicate relational and social meanings.

3. Chronemics

Is the study of how people use time. Are you someone who is always early or on-time?
Or, are you someone who arrives late to most events? Levine believes our use of time
communicates a variety of meanings to those around us. Think about the person you know who is
most frequently late. How do you describe that person based on their use of time? Now, think
about someone else who is always on time. How do you describe that person? Is there a difference?
If so, these differences are probably based on their use of time. In the U.S., we place high value on
being on time, and respond more positively to people who are punctual. But, in many Arab and
Latin American countries, time is used more loosely, and punctuality is not necessarily a goal to
achieve. You may have heard the expression, “Indian time” to refer to “the perception of time
[that] is circular and flexible” (Harris, Shutiva). This is the belief that activities will commence
when everyone is present and ready; not according to an arbitrary schedule based on a clock or

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calendar. Neither approach is better than the other, but the dissimilar uses of time can create
misunderstandings among those from different cultural groups.

a. Personal time

It refers to the ways in which individuals experience time. The way we experience time varies
based on our mood, our interest level, and other factors. Time passes quickly when you are
interested in and therefore engaged in something.

b. Physical time

It refers to the fixed cycles of days, years, and seasons. Physical time, especially seasons, can
affect our mood and psychological states. Some people experience seasonal affective disorder that
leads them to experience emotional distress and anxiety during the changes of seasons, primarily
from warm and bright to dark and cold (summer to fall and winter).

c. Cultural time

It refers to how a large group of people view time. Polychronic time system is where several
things can be done at once like typing while answering phone calls .polychroni societies are more
focused on traditions and relationships rather than tasks. They are more focused on relationships
rather than on clock. people do not view time as a linear progression that needs to be divided into
small units and scheduled in advance. Polychronic people keep more flexible schedules and may
engage in several activities at once. Monochronic people tend to schedule their time more rigidly
and do one thing at a time. A polychronic or monochronic orientation to time influences our social
realities and how we interact with others. studies show that monochronemic ( talking about one
thing at a time) more common in Northern Europe and north America while Latin America, Asian
and Middle Eastern countries are more likely to use polychronemic conversation(Multiple
conversations at the same time).

4. Vocalics/paralanguage

Vocalic or paralanguage refers to the vocalized but nonverbal parts of a message. Vocalics
is the study of paralanguage, which includes the vocal qualities that go along with verbal messages,
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tone of voice, pitch, volume, rate of speech, vocal quality and vocal filters. Paralanguage may
change the meaning of words. While the types of nonverbal communication we’ve discussed so
far are non-vocal, some nonverbal communication is actually vocal (noise is produced). How we
say words often expresses greater meaning than the actual words themselves. Sarcasm and
incongruence are two examples of this.

a. pitch

Pitch helps convey meaning, regulate conversational flow, and communicate the intensity of a
message. Even babies recognize a sentence with a higher pitched ending as a question.

b. Volume

volume helps communicate intensity. A louder voice is usually thought of as more intense,
although a soft voice combined with a certain tone and facial expression can be just as intense. We
typically adjust our volume based on our setting, the distance between people, and the relationship.
In our age of computer-mediated communication, TYPING IN ALL CAPS is usually seen as
offensive, as it is equated with yelling. A voice at a low volume or a whisper can be very
appropriate when sending a covert message or flirting with a romantic partner, but it wouldn’t
enhance a person’s credibility if used during a professional presentation.

c. Speaking rate

refers to how fast or slow a person speaks and can lead others to form impressions about our
emotional state, credibility, and intelligence. As with volume, variations in speaking rate can
interfere with the ability of others to receive and understand verbal messages. A slow speaker
could bore others and lead their attention to wander. A fast speaker may be difficult to follow, and
the fast delivery can actually distract from the message.

d. Tone of voice

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Our tone of voice can be controlled somewhat with pitch, volume, and emphasis, but each voice
has a distinct quality known as a vocal signature. Voices vary in terms of resonance, pitch, and
tone, and some voices are more pleasing than others. People typically find pleasing voices that
employ vocal variety and are not monotone, are lower pitched (particularly for males), and do not
exhibit particular regional accents. Many people perceive nasal voices negatively and assign
negative personality characteristics to them

e. Vocal filters

Verbal fillers are sounds that fill gaps in our speech as we think about what to say next. They are
considered a part of nonverbal communication because they are not like typical words that stand
in for a specific meaning or meanings. Verbal fillers such as “um,” “uh,” “like,” and “ah” are
common in regular conversation and are not typically disruptive. As we learned earlier, the use of
verbal fillers can help a person “keep the floor” during a conversation if they need to pause for a
moment to think before continuing on with verbal communication. Verbal fillers in more formal
settings, like a public speech, can hurt a speaker’s credibility.

5. Haptics

Haptics is the study of touch. Touch is the first type of nonverbal communication we
experience as humans and is vital to our development and health (Dolin & Booth-Butterfield;
Wilson, et al.). Those who don’t have positive touch in their lives are less healthy both mentally
and physically than those who experience positive touch. We use touch to share feelings and
relational meanings. Hugs, kisses, handshakes, or even playful roughhousing demonstrate
relational meanings and indicate relational closeness. In western society, touch is largely reserved
for family and romantic relationships. Generally girls and women in same-sex friendships have
more liberty to express touch as part of the relationship than men in same-sex friendships.
However, despite these unfortunate social taboos, the need for touch is so strong that men are quite
sophisticated at finding ways to incorporate this into their friendships in socially acceptable ways.
One such example is wrestling among adolescent and young-adult males. Do you ever wonder
why you don’t see as many women doing this? Perhaps it’s because wrestling is socially acceptable
for men whereas women are more likely to hug, hold hands, and sit touching one another. In

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contrast, an exchange student from Brazil recognized the differences in touch between cultures
when arriving in the United States. She was surprised when someone hesitated to remove an
eyelash from her face and apologized for touching her. In her country, no one would hesitate to do
this act. She realized how much more physical touch is accepted and even expected in her culture.
Cultural norms around touch and gender constructs, and everyone can prevent and limit touching
behaviors in ways that are comfortable to them.

6. Artifacts/Personal appearance

Personal Appearance, Objects, and Artifacts are types of nonverbal communication we use
on our bodies and surroundings communicate meaning to others. Consider your preferences for
hair-style, clothing, jewelry, and automobiles, as well the way you maintain your body. Your
choices express meanings to those around you about what you value and the image you wish to
put forth. As with most communication, our choices for personal appearance, objects, and artifacts
occur within cultural contexts, and are interpreted in light of these contexts. Consider the recent
trendiness and popularity of tattoos. While once associated primarily with prison and armed
services, tattoos have become mainstream and are used to articulate a variety of personal, political
and cultural messages.

7. Olfactics

It is an aspect of non-verbal communication dealing with smells. though not widely studied
from a communication perspective, olfactics might include the use of perfumes and spices.

Disadvantages or limitations of non-verbal communication:

Despite of advantages of non-verbal communication, it is not free from its limitations or

disadvantages which are:

1. Vague and imprecise: Non-verbal communication is quite vague and imprecise. Since
in this communication, there is no use of words or language which expresses clear
meaning to the receiver. No dictionary can accurately classify them. Their meaning
varies not only by culture and context but by the degree of intention.

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2. Continuous: It is possible to stop talking in verbal communication, but it is generally
not possible to stop nonverbal cues. Also, spoken language has a structure that makes it
easier to tell when a subject has changed, for instance, or to analyze its grammar.
Nonverbal does not lend itself to this kind of analysis.
3. Multi-channel: while watching someone’s eyes, you may miss something significant
in a hand gesture. Everything is happening at once and therefore it may be confusing to
try to keep up with everything. Most of us simply do not do so, at least not consciously.
4. Culture-bound: Non-verbal communication is learned in childhood, passed on to you
by your parents and others with whom you associate. A few other gestures seem to be
universal. Evidence suggests that humans of all cultures smile when happy and frown
when unhappy. However, most nonverbal symbols seem to be even further disconnected
from any “essential meaning” than verbal symbols. Gestures seen as positive in one
culture (Like the thumbs-up gesture in the USA) may be seen as obscene in another
culture.
5. Long conversations are not possible: In non-verbal communication, long conversation
and necessary explanations are not possible. No party can discuss the particular issues
of the messages.
6. Difficult to understand: Difficult to understand and requires a lot of repetitions in non-
verbal communication. Since it uses gestures, facial expressions eye contact, touch, etc.
for communicating with others which may not be understandable for the simple and
foolish people.
7. Not everybody prefers: Everybody does not prefer to communicate through non-verbal
communication with others. Sometimes it cannot create an impression upon people or
listeners. It is less influential and cannot be used everywhere. It is cannot be used as a
public tool for communication.
8. Lack of formality: Non-verbal communication does not follow any rules, formality or
structure like other communication. Most of the cases, people unconsciously and
habitually engaged in non-verbal communication by moving the various parts of the
body.

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 9. Costly: In some cases, non-verbal communication involves huge costs. For example,
neon signs, power point presentations, cinema, etc are very much costly compared to
other forms of communication.
10. Distortion of information: Since it uses gestures, facial expressions, eye contact,
touch, sign, sound, paralanguage, etc. for communicating with others, there is a great
possibility in distortion of information in non-verbal communication.

How to improve non-verbal communications:

The following tips can help you learn to read the nonverbal signals of other people and enhance
your own ability to communicate effectively.

1. Pay Attention to Nonverbal Signals

People can communicate information in numerous ways, so pay attention to things like eye
contact, gestures, posture, body movements, and tone of voice. All of these signals can convey
important information that is not put into words.
Look for Incongruent Behaviors If someone's words do not match their nonverbal behaviors, you
should pay careful attention. For example, someone might tell you they are happy while frowning
and staring at the ground. Research has shown that when words fail to match up with nonverbal
signals, people tend to ignore what has been said and focus instead on unspoken expressions of
moods, thoughts, and emotions. So when someone says one thing, but his or her body language
seems to suggest something else, it can be useful to pay extra attention to those subtle nonverbal
cues.

2. Concentrate on Your Tone of Voice When Speaking

Your tone of voice can convey a wealth of information, ranging from enthusiasm to
disinterest to anger. Start noticing how your tone of voice affects how others respond to you and
try using your tone to emphasize ideas that you want to communicate. For example, if you want to
show genuine interest in something, express your enthusiasm by using an animated tone of voice.
Such signals not only convey your feelings about a topic; they can also help generate interest in
the people listening to you speak. Your tone of voice can convey a wealth of information, ranging
from enthusiasm to disinterest to anger. Start noticing how your tone of voice affects how others

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respond to you and try using your tone to emphasize ideas that you want to communicate. For
example, if you want to show genuine interest in something, express your enthusiasm by using an
animated tone of voice. Such signals not only convey your feelings about a topic; they can also
help generate interest in the people listening to you speak.

3. Use Good Eye Contact

Good eye contact is another essential nonverbal communication skill. When people fail to
look others in the eye, it can seem as if they are evading or trying to hide something. On the other
hand, too much eye contact can seem confrontational or intimidating. While eye contact is an
important part of communication, it's important to remember that good eye contact does not mean
staring fixedly into someone's eyes. How can you tell how much eye contact is correct? Some
communication experts recommend intervals of eye contact lasting four to five seconds. Effective
eye contact should feel natural and comfortable for both you and the person you are speaking with.

4. Ask Questions About Nonverbal Signals

If you are confused about another person's nonverbal signals, don't be afraid to ask
questions. A good idea is to repeat back your interpretation of what has been said and ask for
clarification. An example of this might be, "So what you are saying is that..." Sometimes simply
asking such questions can lend a great deal of clarity to a situation. For example, a person might
be giving off certain nonverbal signals because he has something else on his mind. By inquiring
further into his message and intent, you might get a better idea of what he is really trying to say

5. Use Signals to Make Communication More Meaningful

Remember that verbal and nonverbal communication work together to convey a message.
You can improve your spoken communication by using body language that reinforces and supports
what you are saying. This can be especially useful when making presentations or when speaking
to a large group of people. For example, if your goal is to appear confident and prepared during a
presentation, you will want to focus on sending nonverbal signals that ensure that others see you
as self-assured and capable. Standing firmly in one place, shoulder back, and your weight balanced
on both feet is a great way to strike a confident pose.

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6. Look at Signals as a Group

Another important part of good nonverbal communication skills involves being able to take
a more holistic approach to what a person is communicating. A single gesture can mean any
number of things, or maybe even nothing at all. The key to accurately reading nonverbal behavior
is to look for groups of signals that reinforce a common point. If you place too much emphasis on
just one signal out of many, you might come to an inaccurate conclusion about what a person is
trying to say.

7. Consider the Context

When you are communicating with others, always consider the situation and the context in
which the communication occurs. Some situations require more formal behaviors that might be
interpreted very differently in any other setting. Consider whether or not nonverbal behaviors are
appropriate for the context. If you are trying to improve your own nonverbal communication,
concentrate on ways to make your signals match the level of formality necessitated by the situation.
For example, the body language and nonverbal communication you utilize at work are probably
very different from the sort of signals you would send on a casual Friday night out with friends.
Strive to match your nonverbal signals to the situation to ensure that you are conveying the
message you really want to send.

8. Be Aware That Signals Can be Misread

According to some, a firm hand shake indicates a strong personality while a weak
handshake is taken as a lack of fortitude. this exaple illustrate an important point about
possibility of misbranding non-verbal signals. a limp hand shake can also indicate that the person
actually has arthritis.

9. Practice, Practice, Practice

Some people just seem to have a knack for using nonverbal communication effectively and
correctly interpreting signals from others. These people are often described as being able to "read
people." In reality, you can build this skill by paying careful attention to nonverbal behavior and
practicing different types of nonverbal communication with others. By noticing nonverbal

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behavior and practicing your own skills, you can dramatically improve your communication
abilities.

10. Consider the Context

For example, the body language and nonverbal communication you utilize at work are
probably very different from the sort of signals you would send on a casual Friday night out with
friends. Strive to match your nonverbal signals to the situation to ensure that you are conveying
the message you really want to send.

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