Nonverbal Communication

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 Nonverbal vs Verbal Communication

• Nonverbal Communication is the mode of

communication by which messages are transmitted via
nonverbal modes
• cf. Verbal communication is the mode of
communication in which words are used to transmit
messages/communicate with others.
• It can include both spoken and written
communication.
• many people use the term to describe only
spoken communication. (“Verbal Communication
Skills”) 2
Nonverbal Communication = “all unwritten and
unspoken messages” (Guffey and Loewy 2016)

• “From our handshakes to our hairstyles, nonverbal

details reveal who we are and impact how we relate to
other people” (Cherry 2022).
• Understanding the message conveyed via spoken
medium is difficult (more difficult than that which is
conveyed via written medium)
• Why?
• Because understanding message conveyed via
spoken medium is not only just understanding the
meaning of spoken words,
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– but also understanding the nonverbal cues.
 Nonverbal Cues (aka) “body language”

• These nonverbal cues affect the way in which the

message is interpreted/decoded by the receiver.

• These cues may speak louder than spoken words, i.e.,

– has a strong message
– more meaning to communicate
– more impact on the listener/receiver

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Nonverbal Cues (aka) “body language” – contd.

• Body language is the use of physical behavior,

expressions, and mannerisms to communicate
nonverbally.
– Often speakers (and listeners) in conversations use them
instinctively rather than consciously
– Whether the participants are aware of or not, they “send and
receive wordless signals.”(“Nonverbal Communication”)
• Nonverbal communication and behavior can vary
dramatically between cultures (Cherry 2022).
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Remarks: Mode of Nonverbal Communication

• Successful communicators recognize the power of

nonverbal messages.
• Cues might be helpful in understanding the feelings
and attitudes of senders.
• It is unwise to attach specific meanings to gestures or
actions
– because behavior and its interpretations strongly depend on
context and on one’s cultural background. (Guffey and Loewy
2016)
• Professionals need to be sensitive to/aware of
nonverbal cues used by people from diverse cultures.
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 Types of Nonverbal Communication

Cherry (2022) distinguishes the following types:

(1) Facial Expressions
– What we see first on a person’s face.
– Those for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar
throughout the world.

(2) Gestures
– Deliberate movements and signals
– They include pointing, and using fingers to indicate numeric
amounts
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– others are arbitrary and related to culture.
 Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

(3) Paralinguistics
– Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is
separate from actual language.
– This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness,
inflection, and pitch/intonation.

(4) Body Language and Posture

– They indicate feelings and attitudes
– they include arm-crossing, and leg-crossing
– They are far more subtle and less definitive than previously
believed. 8
Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

(5) Proxemics
– It refers to the amount of space that people feel it
necessary to have between themselves and others.
– the space between individuals are determined by social
norms, cultural expectations, situational factors, personality
characteristics, and level of familiarity
– personal space for:
(i) casual conversation – 18 inches to 4 feet
(ii) speaking to a crowd of people – 10 to 12 feet

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Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

(6) Eye Gaze

– It covers looking, staring, patterns of fixation, frequency of
glances, rate of blinking, dilation of pupils including eye
contact.
– Eye contact
(i) steady eye contact
is often taken as a sign that a person is telling the truth
and is trustworthy.
(ii) Shifty eyes and an inability to maintain eye contact
is frequently seen as an indicator that someone is lying
or being deceptive. 10
 Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

(7) Haptics
– It refers to Communicating through touch.
– Touch can be used to communicate affection, familiarity,
sympathy, and other emotions.
– It is used as a way to communicate both status and power.
(i) Women
tend to use touch to convey care, concern, and
nurturance.
(ii) Men
are more likely to use touch to assert power or control
over others. 11
 Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

(8) Appearance
– It includes choice of color, clothing, hairstyles, and other
factors affecting appearance.
– Different colors can evoke different moods.
– Appearance can also alter physiological reactions,
judgments, and interpretations.
– Culture is an important influence on how appearances
are judged.

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 Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

(9) Artifacts
– they include objects and images, e.g., an avatar to represent
your identity online and to communicate information about
who you are and the things you like.
– objects designed to convey information about the things that
are important to them.
– Uniforms, for example, can be used to transmit a tremendous
amount of information about a person.
They tell people what a person does for a living.

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Types of Nonverbal Communication – contd.

Watch the following video on the different types of

nonverbal communication:
https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-
nonverbal-communication-2795397
(Cherry 2022)

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 Activity 1

How do you interpret (i.e., work out the message they

communicate) the following nonverbal cues?
(i) hands on the hip (viii) biting one’s lips
(ii) rapid blinking (ix) seated crossed legged
(iii) a clenched fist (x) slamming the door
(iv) patting on one’s shoulder (xi) dilated pupils (eyes)
(v) The V sign, created by lifting the index and middle finger
(vi) crossed arms highly
(vii) breaking eye contact frequently 15
 Roles of Nonverbal Communiccation

(1) Repetition:
emphazises/strengthens the message one’s making
verbally.
(2) Contradiction:
contradict the message one’s trying to convey, thus
indicating to the listener, s/he may not be telling the truth.
(3) Substitution:
substitute for a verbal message. E.g., one’s facial
expression often conveys a far more vivid message than
what words can. (“Nonverbal Communication”) 16
 Roles of Nonverbal Communication

(4) Complementing:
may add to or complement your verbal message.
As a boss, if one pats an employee (subordinate) on the
back in addition to giving praise, it can increase the
impact of your message.
(5) Accenting:
may accent or underline a verbal message. Pounding the
table, for example, can underline the importance of your
message. (“Nonverbal Communication”)
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Tips for Improving Nonverbal Communication
(Guffey and Loewy 2016)

• Establish and maintain eye contact.

appropriate eye contact signals interest, attentiveness, strength,
and credibility.
• Use posture to show interest.
encourage interaction by leaning forward, sitting or standing
erect, and looking alert.
• Reduce or eliminate physical barriers.
move out from behind a desk or lectern; arrange meeting chairs
in a circle.
• Improve your decoding skills.
watch facial expressions and body language to understand18the
complete verbal and nonverbal messages being communicated.
Tips for Improving Nonverbal Communication
(Guffey and Loewy 2016) – contd.

• Probe for more information

when you perceive nonverbal cues that contradict verbal
meanings, politely seek additional cues (Could you please tell
me more about . . .
• Interpret nonverbal meanings in context
make nonverbal assessments only when you understand a
situation or a culture.
• Associate with people from diverse cultures
learn about other cultures to widen your knowledge and
tolerance of intercultural nonverbal messages. (Guffey and
Loewy 2016) 19
Tips for Improving Nonverbal Communication
(Guffey and Loewy 2016) – contd.

• Appreciate the power of appearance

keep in mind that the appearance of your business documents,
your business space, and yourself sends immediate positive or
negative messages to receivers.
• Observe yourself on video
ensure that your verbal and nonverbal messages are in sync
by recording and evaluating yourself making a presentation.
• Enlist friends and family
ask friends and family to monitor your conscious and
unconscious body movements. (Guffey and Loewy 2016)
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 Activity 2

Watch the following video on verbal and nonverbal

communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOhLMEKLTKE&t=
181s

(1) What are the two kinds of nov-verbal gestures Mary

states? And what are differences between the two
kinds?
(2) What are the six ways in which the verbal
communication and verbal communication interact?
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 References

Cherry, Kendra. “Types of Nonverbal Communication.”

verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/types-
of-nonverbal-communication-2795397. Accessed
26.03.2022.
______ . “Understanding Body Language and Facial
Expressions.” verywellmind. https://www.
verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-
facial-expressions-4147228. Accessed 26.03.2022.
Guffey, M. E and D. Loewy. (2016). Essentials of
Business Communication. 10th ed. South-Western
Cengage Learning: Australia, Brazil, Japan … 22
 References

“Verbal Communication Skills.” skillsyouneed. https://

www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/verbal-communication.
Html. Accessed 26.03.2022.
“Nonverbal Communication and Body Language.”
HelpGuide. https://www. helpguide.org/articles/
relationships-communication/ nonverbal-
communication.htm. Accessed 26.03.2022.

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Thank you

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