COMMUNICATION DOES NOT

VERBAL
Did you know...?
When non-verbal communication began to be studied, its focus was
aimed only at salespeople, managers and executives.
 1. Non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication is made up of gestures, postures, the looks... that we use
consciously and unconsciously to express moods or feelings in a habitual way: non-verbal
communication.
Its importance is such that it is considered that, in face-to-face communication, the verbal
component is approximately 35% compared to the 65% that corresponds to non-verbal
communication (gestures, movements, signals, etc.). Therefore, it is the one that transmits the most
information.
It is important not to confuse non-verbal communication with communication that is not spoken (oral).
The proof is that there are non-verbal forms of communication, such as written or sign languages, that
are not oral:
VERBAL NON
VERBAL
ORAL SPOKEN LANGUAGE PARALINGUISTICS

NOT WRITTEN KINESIA AND

ORAL LANGUAGE PROXEMICS
On many occasions, non-verbal communication manages to communicate on its own.
1.1. Parts in non-verbal
communication
There are three parts that we can clearly distinguish in this type of
communication:
a) The one formed by gestures, hands, postures, looks, etc.
b) The tone of voice, speed of speaking, etc.
c) Personal distance that we need to feel safe. It will depend on the interlocutors and the
circumstances in which we operate.
1.2. Non-verbal acts
The signs or signals that form communication
verbal vary depending on the context in which we move. Ekman and Friesen, scholars of non-verbal
communication (s. xx), established three variables that influence non-verbal acts: origin, uses and
codification.

A. Origin: The origin of non-verbal acts can be physiological, that is, imposed by our
nervous system or be the result of our environment:
culture, beliefs or social habits (for example, putting your hands in your mouth is related to being
hungry).
Practical Case 1. Different meaning of gestures
depending on the cultural environment.
In our culture, putting your feet on the table is considered rude behavior.
Do you know how this gesture is interpreted in other cultures such as North America or Muslim
countries?
Solution:
For Americans, putting your feet on the table is normal
and inherent to their culture, especially among the
male population.
In Muslim countries, on the other hand, this gesture is
considered an insult.

B. Uses: Nonverbal acts

can be used to enhance,
repeat, or illustrate a verbal
message. But, sometimes, it
 may be unrelated to the oral message or even contradict
it. For example, when talking on the phone it is common
to make gestures, unconsciously, even if our interlocutor
is not seeing us. On the contrary, if we cross our arms in
a conversation it may be because we are cold and may
not have anything to do with the conversation we are
having at that moment.
C. Coding: The coding (relationship between the sign and its meaning) of non-verbal acts
can be:
1) . Arbitrary: when the non-verbal act is nothing like what that act means. For example: cross
your index and middle fingers to wish luck.
2) . Iconic: when the non-verbal act is related to its meaning. For example: make a fist and raise
it
violently to threaten to hit a person.
1.3. Types of non-verbal acts
Nonverbal acts can be classified into four categories: emblems, illustrators, regulators, and adapters.
A. Emblems: An emblem is equivalent to a word or short phrase accepted by all members of a
community. Emblems are usually made mainly through the hands and face.
B. Illustrators: Illustrators are those gestures that are linked to verbal communication and
their function is to reinforce the meaning of the information that we are expressing verbally. For
example, placing the palm of the hand up and facing forward, which shows offering

C. Regulators: Regulators are the non-verbal acts that have the function of organizing
or directing the conversation that is taking place between the interlocutors. For example, those gestures
or expressions with which we indicate to our interlocutor that it is his turn, to continue or advance with
the conversation; that repeats something that we have not understood; let him speak more slowly; to pay
attention to us, etc.
The most common regulators are the settling or denial gestures that we make with
the head and which are equivalent to yes and non-verbal, respectively.
Using sliders correctly in conversation is essential to creating a positive impression.
Furthermore, the proper use of regulators will allow us to have control over any type of negotiation,
debate, speech, etc.
D. Adapters: They are the last of the categories within non-verbal acts and consist of those
movements, gestures or actions that we use unconsciously to guide our feelings or control our
responses, that is, with adaptive orientation. The adapters can be:
• Social adapters: which are those that originate in relationships between people. For
example, shaking hands or bowing.
• Instrumental adapters: they are learned acts to perform some task. For example, the
gesture of rolling up our sleeves can mean that "we are ready to do something or start some task."
• Subsistence adapters: their origin is related to the existence of organic needs such
as feeding, resting, gestures related with
circumstances of tension, doubt, etc.
2.Factors associated with language
non verbal

Within non-verbal communication, in addition to the gestures that we have classified and analyzed so
far, there are certain factors that, in turn, are included in three disciplines that we will learn about below
and which are: paralinguistics , kinesia and proxemics. . These factors can be,
in turn, factors associated with verbal language and factors associated with behavior, as we can see in
the following diagram:
When talking about non-verbal communication, we have to refer to three fundamental areas of
study, which are:
• Paralinguistics: studies the non-semantic aspects of language, such as the tones
used, the rhythm with which one speaks, the volume of the voice, silences and timbres (high,
low...).
• Kinesia: is dedicated to studying the meaning of
human movements (crossing legs, frowning, clasping hands, etc.).
• Proxemics: expression proposed by the English anthropologist Edward T. Hall to refer
to the analysis of personal space or the space that surrounds us

2 .1. paralinguistics
When we communicate verbally, we use a certain tone
and timbre of voice, a higher or lower volume, we
speak quickly or slowly, we pause, etc. These are
characteristics that cannot be considered verbal, since
they depend on the circumstances of the sender such
as his emotions or his intentions when issuing the
message and that make up the so-called paralinguistic
behavior. Below we are going to analyze each of these
aspects:
A. Voice tone: The tone of the voice, which can
modulated through the tension of the vocal cords, it is a factor that relates the feeling and the
expression we use, that is, what we feel and what we verbalize.
Using it well is essential to convey to our interlocutor exactly what we want, since using an
inappropriate tone of voice can distort the meaning of the message we transmit. We distinguish
three tones when speaking:
• Ascendant: expresses doubt, indecision or question.
• Falling: conveys firmness, determination and
trust.
• Mixed: suggests irony and sarcasm.
B. Rhythm: Rhythm is the verbal fluency with
which a person expresses themselves or, in other
words, the number of words per minute they say.
For our message to be understandable, we must use a
pace of between 100 and 150 words per minute.
Above 200, a person is said to be tachylalic (they
speak very quickly and therefore we may have
problems understanding them), while below 100 they
are bradylalic (their pace is very slow and can be
boring).
C. Volume: The volume of the voice is related to the intensity with which we speak.
We use it to emphasize, regulate and even alter a communication process. Generally, a low
volume will indicate shyness, submission or sadness. On the contrary, a high volume conveys
authority, self-confidence or mastery of a situation.
D. Silences: Silences are pauses made in verbal
communication. There are times when it is necessary
not to say things in order to express others. Silences
can be interpreted positively or negatively. Pauses are
different from silences: these are stops that we make in
verbal communication through which we can invite our
interlocutor to speak or emphasize what we are
communicating. On the contrary, sighs (which
constitute a special form of silence) are deep
inspirations followed by an audible expiration that
expresses sorrow, relief, fatigue, desire, etc.
E. The timbre: The timbre of the voice is the register that allows us to
distinguish a person immediately. For example, if we know the timbre of the voice of a person
close to us, the moment we hear it, even without seeing it, we will think "This is where (that
person) comes." Four degrees of timbre are usually distinguished: very low, medium-low, high or
very high.
2.2. kinesis
Kinesia, also known as kinesis, is the discipline that analyzes the postures, gestures and
movements of the human body. Some of the gestures and body expressions analyzed by
Birdwhistell (father of modern kinesis) are the following:
Its meaning corresponds, respectively, to:
1. High!
2. It is not heard.
3. Silence!
4. Don't know.
5. Be careful!
6. Take me in your vehicle.
 When studying these factors associated with behavior, kinesia
classifies them into:
a) Gestures and postures . Gestures analyze the movements
of the face, hands, arms and legs, head and body as a whole.
Gestures transmit information about our state of mind or express
an assessment about something or someone. For example, in our
daily relationships, we make many gestures with our eyebrows that
express various types of emotions. For their part, postures are
behaviors that are usually more stable than gestures and can last
from minutes to several hours. When studying them, the ways we
stand, how we sit, and even our way of walking are analyzed. They
usually communicate emotional intensities or express what our
emotional state is at a given moment. For example, when we cross
our arms, we are indicating that we are not very inclined to do
something or that we are simply cold.
b) Eyes. With our looks we make our presence known to others. That is why we usually
talk about ocular behavior.
Through our eyes we transmit what our emotional state is or the intentions we have. For example:
keeping your gaze fixed and sustained is a sign of threat to the other interlocutor.
c) Body contact . Body contact involves the establishment of a physical relationship
between two or more people. A strong emotional charge is transmitted through it. In the following
sections we are going to analyze in more depth the main non-verbal acts that are studied in kinesia.
 A. facial expression
Through the face, and more specifically the gestures we make with it, we transmit a large amount of
information, especially through the eyes and mouth, which express the sender's feelings or attitudes.
The research carried out by Ekman concluded that there are seven basic human emotions that we
transmit through facial expression:
• Happiness • Fear
• Disgust • Anger
• Sadness • Surprise
• Contempt
Within facial expressions, the analysis of the smile is especially important. It is one of the gestures that we
can express through the mouth, which provides information about a person's emotional state. Thus,
there are two types of smiles :
a) The simple smile (in which the teeth are not visible). In turn, it can be of two types:
• Low intensity: it is common during adolescence. They transmit insecurity.
• High intensity: they are used to greet unknown people. They transmit confidence.
b) The superior smile in which the upper teeth are visible They transmit joy. They are
used with trusted people or if you are an extrovert. Through this smile we reach laughter which, depending
on the companies or work situations, is not well regarded.
B. The looks
Through our eyes we transmit a lot of information. The look is an indicator that we are listening to our
interlocutor: without looking at the other person it is very difficult to establish a conversation fluently. If
we stare at a person for a certain period of time, we are transmitting a signal of hostility towards them
(and even more so if we do not know them). On the contrary, if we lower our gaze, we transmit a
signal of insecurity or submission.
Three kinds of looks can be distinguished:
a) Work look:
It occurs in work environments. In them, we must ensure that our gaze does not fall below the level
of our interlocutor's eyes.
b) Social look:
our gaze falls below the eyes of our interlocutor.
 c) Intimate look:
The sender's eyes run up and down the body of his interlocutor.
C. The posture
Posture is the way the body is held when we stand, walk, sit or lie down. It accompanies verbal
communication in the same way that gestures can. For example, if you observe a conversation
carefully, you will be able to perceive how changes in topic, or when taking or giving up the floor, are
accompanied by postural changes. It reflects the emotional state of people, especially whether they
are tense or relaxed. Anxiety, for example, may not be detected in the face or voice, but it can be
detected in the posture, since that person surely maintains a rigid posture. On the other hand, if it
appears shrunken, it will mean despondency and sadness.
Special attention deserves the analysis of leg postures and expression through body
movements.
a) The legs
There are many postures related to the legs that transmit different feelings, emotions or moods. In
summary, they are:
• Crossed legs :
They show insecurity or shyness.
• Semi open legs :
insecurity (for example, when we are sitting in a chair and we curl our feet around the legs of the chair).
• Stretched legs :
arrogance posture.
• One leg in front and one behind :
demonstrates a stressful situation.
Prepotends Timdez ftgutity