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G E ST U R E
 NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Nonverbal communication is the process of communicating
without the use of words. It is defined as non-word human
responses like facial expressions and gestures and the perceived
characteristics of the environment through which the human verbal
and nonverbal messages are transmitted.
• Nonverbal communication is also known as “silent language”. It
involves the use of cues, gestures, vocal characteristics, facial
expressions, and spatial relationship between the sender and the
receiver to convey a message.
FUNCTIONS OF NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION
Nonverbal supplements verbal message
Ex. You congratulate somebody through a handshake because of the
accomplishments made like graduating with flying colors or being a recipient
of a certain award.
Nonverbal guides verbal communication
Ex. You are talking to somebody then you need to leave since you still have
other engagements to attend to. The person is looking at this watch and the
other one somehow got the point that the person whom is talking to should
leave.
Nonverbal messages stand for the complete message itself.
Ex. A person claps his hands because he was entertained by the
performance of his classmates on stage or waves his hand to his friend to say
goodbye. Verbal message is not required anymore.

Nonverbal messages emphasize what we are saying.

Ex. When a speaker is talking in front of the audience and he made use of
gestures and body movements as he conveys the message.
COMPONENTS
1. KINESICS
The use of physical space and body movements. This system is
concerned about how the eyes, face, and even the body are used in
communication people; it may include the following:
a) Eye contact/ Oculesics
b) Posture
c) Gestures
d) Facial expressions
e) Head and shoulder movements
• For example, raising an eyebrow conveys disbelief, rubbing the
nose indicates puzzlement and shrugging shoulders shows
indifference. When a person is eager to hear something, he sits
with his feet under the chair, toes pressed to the ground, and
leans forward on the desk. When a person is listening carefully, he
maintains eye contact and frequently nods his head.
• Body language coupled with verbal communication gives more
meaning to a message.
2. PROXEMICS

• Proxemics is the technical term for the personal space aspect

of body language. Proxemics is the study of measurable distance
between people as they interact.
• Intimate distance for embracing, touching or
whispering
Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm)
Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)

• Personal distance for interactions among good

friends or family members
Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76
cm)
Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 120 cm)

• Social distance for interactions among

acquaintances
Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)
Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)

• Public distance used for public speaking

Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m)
Far phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.
3. OCULESICS

• It is the study of the role of eye contact in non verbal

communication.
• Oculesics is one form of nonverbal communication, which
is the transmission and reception of meaning between
communicators without the use of words. It can include
the environment around the communicators, the physical
attributes or characteristics of the communicators, and the
behavior of the communicators.
• Applications/Uses:
listening
Affective Displays
Regulators

• Length of eye contact shows your impression on someone.

4. CHRONEMICS
• Chronemics is the study of the use of time in nonverbal
Communication. The way we perceive time, structure our time and
react to time is a powerful communication tool, and helps set the
stage for the communication process. Across cultures, time
perception plays a large role in the nonverbal communication
process. Time perceptions include punctuality, willingness to wait,
and interactions. The use of time can affect lifestyles, daily agendas,
speed of speech, movements and how long people are willing to
listen.
• Time can be used as an indicator of status. For example, in most
companies the boss can interrupt progress to hold an impromptu
meeting in the middle of the work day, yet the average worker would
have to make an appointment to see the boss.
5. HAPTICS
• Haptic communication is a branch of non-verbal
communication that refers to the ways in which people and
animals communicate and interact via the sense of touch.
Touch is the most sophisticated and intimate of the six senses.
• Haptics refers to the study of touching.
 7 TYPES OF HAPTICS
BY: J O N E S A N D YA R B R O U G H ( 1 9 8 5 )

• Positive affect - These touches communicate positive emotions

and occur mostly between persons who have close relationships. These
touches can be further classified as support, appreciation, inclusion,
sexual interest or intent, and affection. Research has shown that hugging
can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Support: Serve to nurture, reassure, or promise protection. These

touches generally occur in situations which either virtually require or
make it clearly preferable that one person show concern for another
who is experiencing distress.
Appreciation: Express gratitude for something another person has
done.
Inclusion: Draw attention to the act of being together and suggest
psychological closeness.
Sexual: Express physical attraction or sexual interest.
Affection: Express generalized positive regard beyond mere
acknowledgment of the other.
• Playful - These touches serve to lighten an interaction. These touches
communicate a double message since they always involve a play signal, either
verbal or nonverbal, which indicates the behavior is not to be taken seriously.
These touches can be further classified as affectionate and aggressive.

Playful affection: Serve to lighten interaction. The seriousness of the positive

message is diminished by the play signal. These touches indicate teasing and are
usually mutual.
Ex. Saying, “how about a kiss?” in a joking way to an opposite-sex friend, followed
by a quick kiss on the forehead.
Playful aggression: Like playful affection these touches are used to serve to
lighten interaction, however, the play signal indicates aggression. These touches
are initiated, rather than mutual.
Ex. An aggressive comment to a waitress (“No, we don’t want the check—tear it
up”) with a smile and light touch to her arm.
• Control
These touches serve to direct the behavior, attitude, or feeling state of the recipient.
The key feature of these touches is that almost all of the touches are initiated by the
person who attempts influence. These touches can be further classified as
compliance, attention-getting, and announcing a response.
Compliance: Attempts to direct behavior of another person, and often, by
implication, to influence attitudes or feelings.
Attention-getting: Serve to direct the touch recipient's perceptual focus
toward something.
Announcing a response: Call attention to and emphasize a feeling state of
initiator; implicitly requests affect response from another.
• Ritualistic
These touches consist of greeting and departure touches. They
serve no other function than to help make transitions in and out
of focused interaction.
Greeting: Serve as part of the act of acknowledging another
at the opening of an encounter.
Departure: Serve as a part of the act of closing an
encounter.
• Hybrid
These touches involve two or more of the meanings described
above. These touches can be further classified as
greeting/affection and departure/affection.
Greeting/affection: Express affection and acknowledgement
of the initiation of an encounter
Departure/affection: Express affection and serve to close
an encounter.
• Task-related
These touches are directly associated with the performance of a
task.

• Accidental
These touches are perceived as unintentional and have no meaning.
They consist mainly of brushes.
6. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

• Physical appearance always contributes towards how people

perceive about individuals. Neatly combed hair, ironed clothes
and a lively smile will always carry more weight than words.
It is believed that physical appearance determines the success
a person will attain at every stage of his life.
• Ex. If someone wears black, this might indicate mourning or
gloomy feelings.
7. CHROMATICS

• It refers to how colors communicate.

Ex. Traffic or signal lights which signals the people when to and
when not to cross the streets and the vehicles when to go or
when to stop.