Nonverbal

Communication
Identify types of nonverbal communication
and their effects. Recognize importance of
effective nonverbal strategies.

Vocabulary
Nonverbal communication- messages sent or received
without the use of words
Posture- the bodys position as one sits or stands
Gestures- movements of the hands and arms to help make
a point
Facial expressions- movements of the eyes, eyebrows, and
mouth that communicate ones attitudes and feelings to
others
Eye contact- the visual connection between people; the act
of looking someone in the eye.

Non Verbal Communication

Whats more believable: What someone says or
what someone does?
Why?

Non Verbal Communication

The first 30 seconds make or break

You never get a second chance to make a good

first impression.

Nonverbal communication
80% of all messages are nonverbal

Elements of Nonverbal
Communication
1.
2.
3.
4.

Body Language
Eye Contact & Facial Expressions
Vocal Cues
Spatial Use & Time

What is body language?

The way we use our bodies to send messages.

Body Language
Appearance

May indicate occupation, culture,

status, or group membership

Symbols (objects) a person chooses to

have, carry, or wear may also
nonverbally communicate something
about that person

Examples of symbols:
Jewelry (a diamond ring on the left
ring finger)
Clothing (athletic letter jacket)
Tattoos
Sports memorabilia

Posture
The way you hold your body when
you walk or the way you sit makes
a statement about you!
Can convey attitude

Body Language

Gestures
Can replace words in certain
messages
Can emphasize meaning of verbal
language
Can add to meaning during
descriptions

Touch
Varies by gender, status, age, culturecontact vs. noncontact
Can be situational (example- football
locker room)
Different for different cultures
Enjoy touching- Middle Eastern,
Latin, Italy and Greece, Russia
Middle Ground- France, China,
Ireland, India
Dont touch- Japan, US & Canada,
England, Australia
Used in many ways positive,
negative, influence, interaction
management, interpersonal
responsiveness, accidental, task-related,
healing

Universal Language
Hook em Horns

Italy- insult
Brazil- Good luck!
Hindus- cow

Positive Body Language

Relaxed Posture
Arms relaxed
Nod agreement
Smile at humor
Lean closer
Use gestures

Jennifer Aniston & Jack Black

What does
his body
language
say?

Negative Body Language

Body tension
Arms folded
Speaking hand to
mouth
Fidgeting
Yawning

What does their body language

tell you?

Facial Expressions
Can help to show a persons feelings (either for
reinforcement or as a substitute)
Can emphasize or contradict verbal language

Most obvious nonverbal cue is a smile

What is Jessica telling you?

Lets look at Hilary

What is Matthew saying about his arrest?

Is Amy Whinehouse happy to see us?

Is this why Joaquin Phoenix quit acting?

What is Antonio telling us?

Eye Contact
Can indicate honesty, sincerity
Can demonstrate the intensity of interest

Vocabulary
Spatial use- the manner in which space is used
between persons and how the arrangement and
design affects communication
Proximity- physical closeness or distance

Vocal Cues
Communication through voice (vocal cues other than words = paralanguage) such as

Pitch the highness or lowness of a voice

Rate the fastness or slowness of a voice
Volume the loudness or softness of a voice.
Vocal Quality
Pronunciation the correctness of sounds and accents
Examples
Often is ah-fun
Athlete is ath-leet
Articulation the shaping of sounds clearly and distinctly using your lips, tongue,
teeth, cheek, jaw, etc.
Examples
business instead of biness
wash instead of warsh

Spatial Use (Proxemics)

Intimate Space
Touching to 2 ft.

This distance is primarily for confidential exchanges and is almost always reserved for
close friends or parent & child.
It indicates closeness and trust.

Personal Space
2 ft to 4 ft.
This is the distance that is comfortable for conversations between friends.
This is the most comfortable for most business contact.

Social Space
4 ft to 12 ft.
This is the ordinary distance people maintain from one another for most social and
social exchanges.

Public Space
More than 12 ft.
At this distance, perhaps in a shopping mall or on the street, people barely acknowledge
each others presence. At most they give a nod or shake of the head.
At this distance communication is not as desirable or possible.

Time (Chronemics)
chrono means time.

The way we use and structure time can send intentional and unintentional
messages about what we value and consider important.

Ways that we use our time communicate information about ourselves and our
feelings

Ex. Showing up 20 min. late for an appointment sends the message that you do not
value the other persons time.
Interest & affection
Power & status
Activities

Can indicate other messages- appropriate times for phone calls (Call at 2 a.m.
usually indicates emergency)
Our society values time highly; we as Americans have an emphasis on
watching the clock and doing things on time- varies from culture to culture