NON-VERBAL

COMMUNICATION
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

●
The study of non-verbal communication
examines how messages are
communicated through physical
behavior, vocal cues and spatial
relationships.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
According to A. Barbour, the total
impact of a message breaks down like
this: Hello!!
●
7 percent verbal (words)
●
38 percent vocal (volume, pitch, rhythm,
etc)
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55 percent body movements
(mostly facial expressions)
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

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Effective communication is the
combined harmony of verbal and
nonverbal actions.
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Nonverbal communication consists of
body movement, facial expressions
and eye movement.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

It has many functions to perform:

●
It is used to repeat the verbal message.
E.g.- Showing nos. by fingers, while stating it.
●
It is often used to accent the verbal
message.
E.g. – Verbal tone indicates actual meaning
of words
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
●
It complements/ contradicts the verbal
message.
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E.g.- A nod would reinforce the positive
statement, while a wink at the end of a
serious note would mean the person was
joking.
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Regulates interactions-Nonverbal cues
prompt the person to speak or stay quiet.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
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It substitutes the verbal message.
E.g. A person may use just the finger to
call, rather than call out.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Major areas of nonverbal behaviors are:
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Eye contact

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Facial expressions

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Gestures
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
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Posture and body orientation

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Proximity

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Para linguistics
EYE CONTACT
 EYE CONTACT
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The eyes can give clues to a person’s
thoughts.

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When someone is excited, his pupils
dilate to four times the normal size.

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An angry or negative mood causes the
pupils to contract.
 EYE CONTACT

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Good eye contact helps the audience
develop the interest in the speaker.

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Eye-contact helps regulate the flow of
communication and reflects interest in
others.
 EYE CONTACT
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Direct eye-contact conveys interest,
warmth, credibility and concern.

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Shifty eyes suggest dishonesty.

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Downward gaze may be a sign of
submissiveness or inferiority.
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
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You have 80 muscles in the face that
can create more than 7,000 facial
expressions.
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

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The facial muscles produce the varying
facial expressions that convey
information about emotion, mood, and
ideas
●
Emotional expressions are one primary
result of activity by the facial muscles.
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
There are six categories of facial expressions:
• Happiness
• Sadness
• Anger
• Disgust
• Surprise
• Fear
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
HAPPINESS

“Whoever is happy will make others

happy too.”
-Mark Twain
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
SADNESS

“Sadness dulls the heart more than the

grossest sin”
-Author Unknown
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
ANGER

“Anger is one letter short of danger”

Author Unknown
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
DISGUST

A disgusting expression
on the face is considered
negative and should be
avoided in formal
gatherings.
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
SURPRISE

The eye-brows and the eyes

are most affected in an expression of
surprise.
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

FEAR

There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.

GESTURES
 GESTURES
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Gestures communicate as effectively
as words, sometimes even better.

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Gestures support the verbal
communication.

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They sometimes detract from what you
say.
 GESTURES
Some commonly used gestures are:
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Nodding the head

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Hand shake

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Good Bye
 GESTURES
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Pointing the finger

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Victory

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Well Done

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Clapping
 GESTURES
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Showing numbers

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Shoulder Shrug

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Eyebrow raise

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Greeting
 GESTURES
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Directing music
 GESTURES
There are some negative gestures
which should be avoided:
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Pointing at people- It is perceived as
accusatory.
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Fiddling with your items-It gives the
impression that you are nervous.
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Dragging the feet-It implies lethargy.
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Head Down- It suggests timidity.
 GESTURES
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Drooping shoulders- It implies
weariness and lethargy.
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Weak handshake-It implies meek and
ineffectual personality.
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Shifty eyes- It suggests nervousness.
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Arms crossed on the chest- It is a
defensive gesture.
 GESTURES
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Hands in pockets- Shows disrespect,
and that you have something to hide.
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Covering your mouth- It suggests you
are lying.
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Shaking feet or legs- It shows
indifference and disinterest.
 POSTURE AND
BODY ORIENTATION
 POSTURE
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Body posture can be open or closed.

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Interested people pay attention and
lean forward.

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Leaning backwards demonstrates
aloofness or rejection.
 POSTURE
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A head held straight up signals a
neutral attitude.

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A head down is negative and
judgmental.

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A head tilted to the side indicates
interest.
 POSTURE
Some negative postures should be
avoided:
●
Rigid Body Posture-Anxious/ Uptight
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Hunched Shoulders –Lacks interest/
Feeling inferior
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Crossed Arms-Protecting the body/
Negative Thoughts
PROXIMITY
 PROXIMITY

Proximity is the distance people

maintain between themselves while
talking.
 PROXIMITY
DISTANCE ZONES
●
Intimate Zone- No more than18 inches apart
(mother and baby)
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Personal Distance-18 inches to 4 feet.
(Casual and personal conversations).
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Social Distance-4-12 feet (impersonal,
business, social gatherings)
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Public Distance-More than 12 feet( Public
speaking)
 PROXIMITY
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Space/Distance as an indicator of
intimacy-The more we get to know each
other the more we are permitted into each
other's personal space
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Space/Distance as an indicator of
status- Executives, presidents of colleges,
government officials have large offices with
big space... secretaries have small space
PARALINGUISTICS
 PARALINGUISTICS
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Para linguistics are what accompany
your words to make up for its true
meaning.

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Paralanguage refers to the vocal
aspect of communication.
 PARALINGUISTICS
Components of Para linguistics are:
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Rate of speed- When a speaker
speaks too fast, he is seen as more
competent.

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Pitch-Pitch should be changed in
accordance with the context of spoken
words.
 PARALINGUISTICS
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Volume- It refers to loudly we speak.
Loud people are perceived as
aggressive or over-bearing. Soft-
spoken voices are perceived as timid
or polite.
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Fillers- Words like “umhh” “ah””aaa”
are used to gather thoughts.
 IN
A
NUT
SHELL
 SUMMARY
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Nonverbal communication is a very
integral part of our communication
process.
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What we say is not as important as
how we say it.
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The meaning / interpretation of
gestures varies from culture to culture.
 SUMMARY
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A non-verbal message functions in one
of these ways:
a) it replaces
b) it contradicts
c) it reinforces