Nonverbal

Nonverbal Communication
Body Language
Non-Verbal
Communication
 Non-verbal communication makes no
use of the words, sentences,
grammar and other structures that
we associate with spoken and written
language.
Non-Verbal
Communication
 Non-verbal communication includes
facial expressions, eye contact, tone
of voice, body posture and motions,
and positioning within groups.
 Verbal communication is organized by
language; non-verbal communication is
not.
Functions of NVC
Communicates feelings and attitudes
Represents one’s personality
Why focus on NVC?
• Critical to successful relationships
• Serves various functions for verbal
messages:
» Substitute
» Complement
» Contradict
» Repeat
» Regulate
Components of NVC
1. Oculesics
2. Proxemics
3. Haptics
4. Kinesics
5. Chronemics
6. Appearance
7. Facial Expressions
8. Artifacts
9. Silence
10. Colour
11. Smell
Eye Contact
• 2-4 seconds
• Involvement, Avoidance, Intimidation and Intimacy
Eye Contact
 Important way in which we
communicate our feelings towards
other people
 Staring – identified as threatening
form or behaviour
Eye Contact
 If we stare at someone, their
behaviour will change, often becoming
either defensive or at the other
extreme aggressive towards you
 Gazing – look steadily
 Eye contact – can be an index of the
closeness of a relationship that
people share
Poxemics – Space Zones
Proxemics
 The study of how we handle the space around
us, especially in relation to other people
 We create for ourselves spaces that belong to

us and to which we try carefully to control
access
 Example:
 Our homes
 Our spaces at universities or offices
Proxemics
 Determined by the situation and by the relationship we have,
or might like to have, with the person or people who are near to
us
 In crowded place such as a bus or train
 Cultural/religious differences in our attitudes to the
proximity, or nearness, of other people
 “Don’t touch” – touching things, other people, or even our own
bodies, is socially undesirable.
Touch - Haptics
• Ritualistic Touch
• Affectionate Touch
– Culture bound
1. Affection
2. Attention
3. Departure
4. Support
5. Interest
6. Greeting
7. Response
Touch - Haptics
Kinesics
Body Movement –Gestures and Posture
Types of Gestures
1. Emblems
2. Illustrators
3. Affect displays
4. Regulators
5. Adaptors
Emblems
• Thought of as sign language
• Equivalent of words
Illustrators
• Draw a clear picture f the linguistic reference
• Emphasise verbal messages
Regulators
• Actions that control the pace of a conversation
Affect Displays
• Indicate emotional states (anger, embarrassment)
• Usually occur in facial expressions
• Are uncontrollable
Adaptors
• Acts related to satisfying bodily needs
Example
Stifling a yawn, scratching, or clasping the hands to the face
in fear
Posture
• The way you sit, stand or lie in your bed. The way in
which we position our bodies
Examples
Leaning forward to the person you are speaking with
Posture
 Upright posture – people who are confident (police, army)
 Posture is another sign of the status and role within
society (army, police)
 Use posture as one means of indicating to another person
our feelings of friendship or hostility
 “hands on hips” – confrontational and hostile
 Cross legs, fold their arms
 Reinforce group identities
Appearance
Comb your hair and brush your teeth,
Shine those shoes that hide your feet,
Get dressed in a stylish sense,
‘Cuz you gotta look good for your audience
Appearance
• Height
• Weight
• Built
• Hairstyle
• Clothing
• Hygiene
• Grooming
Facial Expressions
1. Happiness 6. Disgust
2. Surprise 7. Contempt
3. Fear 8. Interest
4. Anger 9. Bewilderment
5. Sadness 10. Determination
Facial Expressions
 We face other people when we talk
 Facial expression is bound to be an
important indicator to other people
of our attitudes, state of mind and
relationships to them
Facial Expressions (cont)
 Human face has a complex
arrangement of muscles that allows
us to produce a whole range of
different expressions, most of which
are an index of our feelings (happy,
sad, pain, etc.)
 Smiling – important facial gesture
that indicate that we pleased to see
other people
Facial Expressions (cont)
 Smile vs Frown
 Smile in forced way
 A smiling television presenter
 A smiling receptionist
Silence
1. Agreement
2. Disagreement
3. Confusion
4. Respect
5. Sadness
6. Thoughtfulness, etc.
Color
• Red - exciting, stimulating, contrary, defiant, protective,
defending
• Blue - secure, comfortable, tender, soothing, peaceful,
serene
• Orange distressed, disturbed, upset
• Black powerful, strong, masterful, defiant, hostile,
melancholy, dejected
• Purple dignified, stately
• Yellow cheerful, jovial, joyful
Artifacts - Show status, interest and priorities
• Space Decoration
• Ornaments
• Jewellery
• Body Art
Review Questions
• In what way do dress and office
arrangement take part in nonverbal
communication?
• Think of ten ‘warm’ gestures that can
be employed before a small group.
Would they work as effectively
before a large group?
Application Questions
• What kind of office arrangements
would you adopt to conduct
interview? For negotiating contracts?
What ideas and feelings do these office arrangements convey?

Nonverbal

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Nonverbal Communication

 We create for ourselves spaces that belong to

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