Types of Non Verbal Communication and Their Use in Communication

TYPES OF NON VERBAL
COMMUNICATION AND THEIR

USE IN COMMUNICATION Lecturer: Yonis Abukar.
TYPES OF NON VERBAL
COMMUNICATION AND THEIR USE IN
COMMUNICATION
Non-verbal communication is sometimes referred to as body talk/language. This
means that someone can communicate without speaking or writing but by the
movement of the body.
Non-verbal communication is useful in a communication process because it

sometimes arguments or compliments oral communication. For example if someone
says yes while nodding the head, the nodding emphasizes the message being
transmitted.
The fact that a non-verbal sign can have different meaning can be a blessing and a
curse.
A blessing in that the speaker can easily hide meaning from those who are not
familiar with the gesture or body language and
Curse in the sense that difference meanings can lead to misinterpretation of the
message sent especially if the audience interprets the message differently from the
sender.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE WAYS
IN WHICH BODY LANGUAGE OF KINESICS
OF BODY COMMUNICATION WORKS .
One of the ways of how body language can be used in communication is facsics. This
called facial communication to whereby facial actions are coded into messages. For
example a gloomy face communicates anger, smiling face happiness, a frowning face
surprise or thinking to mention but a few.
Ocalics. This is communication using the eyes. The eyes can be used to send any message
to anyone watching the person. For example a twinkle of an eye would mean that someone
is planning something naughty, laughter in eyes could mean that someone is happy and so
on.
Gestics refers to the use of body movement to communicate. The movements of the
body can communicate a multitude of messages such as mood, status, affiliation,
ethnicity and identity. For example when someone kneels to greet, the kneeling
indicates respect, when someone embraces another person, it is a sign of affection
and if two people are walking, the one of a higher status walks ahead therefore a
demonstration of who is more important than the other.
Gestures are the other type o f body language Gestures are defined as the
movement of the hands and the head specifically to send a message.
The gestures are either speech independent in the sense that they can communicate
on their own for example a nod means agreement or speech related in the sense that
a gesture is accompanied by words. For example if someone says while nodding,
then the nod is a speech related gestures.
Gestures are divided into four sub groups
These are emblems the type of gestures that have direct verbal translations for example the
language of the deaf where each gesture has a corresponding meaning such as the circular
movement of the hand means all.
1. ILLUSTRATORS
The illustrators are those gestures that are used to aid verbal messages for example if
someone says bring it here while the hand is pointing where the item should be put, the
point is an illustrative gesture.
2. REGULATORS
The regulators is the gesture that is used by the audience to act as a feedback for example when one
listens while nodding the head, it means he/she is following, is impressed or agrees with the speaker
while the shaking of the head means the listener is not impressed.
3. ADAPTORS
The adaptors are the other aspect of gestures. This is a type of gesture which shows adaptation to the
communication situation. For example if someone has a blank expression on the face during a
speech, it will mean that he/she is not bored by the speech or can not follow what the speaking is
talking about.
4. AFFECTION
Affection displays are the other forms of gestures. This is where a movement
of the face communicates a message. For example is someone winks, the
person is attracting the attention of someone or indicating that he/she
understands what the other person is saying.
HAPTICS
Is defined as the use of touch to communicate a message. This is a type of body talk where
the contact between the sender of the message and the intended audience is physical.
For example hugging means affection, love, welcome or happiness and kissing means
greeting or love and a handshake means welcome. It should be noted that haptics is
culture and gender specific. This is because a hug may mean affection in one culture and
familiarity in the other.
PROXEMICS
Proxemics is another aspect of body language. It is defined as communication using

space. During a speaking occasion, people then to use space to supplement their
delivery. The space around the speaker expands and contracts according to ones
emotional state, cultural background and intentions. For example if a speaker moves
closer to the audience, it makes him closer to them. Therefore, the way the speaker
activities the aspects of social, physical, personal and intimate space can enhance his
effectiveness.
PARAVOCALICS
is the use of vocal effects to accompany the words in oral communication. It involves
the tone of voice, the speed of speaking, the volume, pitch, pause and stress in a
speech. These aspects have a way in which it reinforces the message of the speaker.
This is because they add meaning to the words of the speaker. For example when
someone speaks at a high speed, it shows that he/she is either excited or angry. On the
other hand people who are angry tend to be loud and a pause will indicate emphasis.
CHRONEMICS
is the use of time to communicate to ones self or others. Time is conceived as circular,
linear, formal or informal. Following circular time means that one is not under
pressure to stick to time. Time in this case depends on seasons, day and night. For
example at night people in Africa told stories because the stories did not competed
with other activities. Linear time is when each activity has got a specific time slot
and therefore the speaker ensures that he/she sticks to the time allocated to him/her.
OLFACTICS
is the use of smell as a means of communication. The way someone smells can affect
whether he/she communicates effective. For example imagine living at close quarters
with someone who has a bad body smell or breath.
ARTIACTICS
Refers to the ornaments that the speaker has on during the speech. Personal items
like clothing, jewelry and make up have an impact on the effectiveness of the
speaker. A well dressed speaker will most likely draw the audience’s attention than
one who is shabbily dressed.
FUNCTION OF
COMMUNICATION
As pointed out in the introduction, communication is the most important activity that
distinguishes human being from other beings. This is because communication plays
very many important functions in society. These functions could accrue to
individuals or to a group or to the entire human society. For example, when your
friend in another university or town writes you a letter, he/she is communicating and
in so doing is adding value to your life by telling you of what you do not know.
Like wise when you listen to a public service announcement on how to prevent
cholera on a radio, communication is saving your life and probably that of your
community. The following are some of the functions that communication plays in a
society.
a) The most important function of communication is Educational. This means that
communication is used to educate. For example when you watch a TV documentary on
wildlife or when you read a book from a library, you are qualitatively and quantitatively
improving your life. Through communication, people come to learn new things that
improve their lives for the better.
b) Communication also enables people to Search for and Receive information. This
could be facts, data or figures. Such information obtained gives satisfaction by creating
awareness of and understanding social, political and economical realities.
c) Entertainment.
Drama Dance Music
d) Giving and receive instructions.
The messages sent may give people tips on how to perform a certain task or achieve a
certain activity. For example when one reads a map on a journey to unknown place,
the map will give him/her the instructions of how to reach his/her destination.
Communication also plays a persuasive function in society. Thus persuasive communication
seeks to change behaviour without direct force. For example when someone listens to a radio
advertisement or attends a political rally, both forms of communication will attempt to influence
him/her to change his/her behaviour or attitude towards the objection of the communication
Communication is useful to an organisation because it is used to control the behaviour of

members in an organisation. The members are informed of their mistakes through
communication. At the same time they are praised for their good performance again through
communication.
CONTI..
At the same time they are praised for their good performance again through
communication. Those who do wrong when warned through a letter of warning for
example are likely to change and improve on their conduct while those who do well and
are complimented, are motivated to do even better through communication. This means
that the aims, goals and plans of the organisation will be achieved and efficiency will be
realised since feedback is important to the members of an organisation.
SOCIAL INTERACTION.

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TYPES OF NON VERBAL

COMMUNICATION AND THEIR

Non-verbal communication is useful in a communication process because it

Proxemics is another aspect of body language. It is defined as communication using

Communication is useful to an organisation because it is used to control the behaviour of

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