Non –verbal communication

Non -Verbal Communication is the message or response not expressed or sent in words -hints,
suggestions, and indications. There is a distinction between the meanings we ‘give’ in words and
the meanings we ‘give –off’ in non verbal signals.

Nonverbal communication plays a central role in human behavior and it is important to

recognize that communication frequently involves more than a verbal message. Effective
communication requires that we understand the role of nonverbal behavior as one
dimension of communication competence.

It is recognized as the route to discover what the other side wants, without then ever saying it
like a secret way into their soul. Communication researcher Mehrabian found that only 7% of a
message’s effect is carried by words; listeners receive the other 93% through non verbal
communication. Birdwhistell suggested that spoken words account for not more than 30-
35%of all our social interactions. Over 65%of the social meanings of messages we send to others
are communicated non – verbally.

Non-verbal communication relates to the non-verbal aspect of personal interactions. It can be

divided into four areas:
(a) Physical appearance;
(b) Paralinguistic (tone and speed of voice);
(c) Kinesics (movements, gestures, facial expression and eye contact);
(d) Proxemic (body proximity, orientation and posture).

Each of these areas can reinforce the message being passed, so long as they are appropriate to
the verbal communication. If they are inappropriate, the message may be confused or
ambiguous. Non-verbal communication is considered to be the aspect of communication over
which an individual has least control; however, it is possible to become aware of the meaning of
certain gestures etc. By doing so, verbal communication skills can be reinforced and so
understanding can be enhanced.

Non-verbal communication has a strong cultural aspect to it. Certain bodily movements in
particular are unacceptable in various parts of the world. For example, it is considered a gross
insult to give the thumbs up sign in South America, and in Arab countries it is unacceptable to
point the soles of your feet in another person's direction. What we consider usual may not be
acceptable elsewhere; many a business has run into difficulties as a result of lack of preparation
before venturing abroad.

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Advantages
Being aware of non-verbal communication brings the following advantage.

Competitive advantage
Understanding and being aware of the non-verbal signals being communicated from another
person can help you ask the right questions or give the correct responses. The use of your own
body language can reinforce the message you want to convey, and this can be used by adopting a
'listening' pose. All good sales people know that customers buy from individuals they like or
identify with; this fact can be “used to advantage by those in control of their own body language.

Disadvantages
There are two main disadvantages associated with non-verbal communication.

(a) Concentration
Just a control of own body language, and an understanding of the body language of others, is an
advantage, it requires a high degree of concentration and training. A lapse in concentration
during an important meeting could be unfortunate, if one is using controlled body language to
reinforce a point that is not genuine.

(b) Ambiguity
By looking the photographs of celebrities, where the caption has been added by the publication
editor. Usually designed to be amusing, the captions fit woods to the body postures of the
celebrity. No-one expects the caption to reflect exactly what was said, but the results are often
believable. This illustrates the possible ambiguity that can be attributed to non-verbal
communication.

• PHYSICAL APPREANCE

It includes the use of personal adornments such as clothing, jewellery, make up, hair styles, and
beards. People are apt to make inferences about us based on the way we dress.
Physical Contact Shaking hands, touching, holding, embracing, pushing, or patting on the back
all convey messages. They reflect an element of intimacy or a feeling of (or lack of) attraction

• PAPALINGUSTIC

This facet of nonverbal communication includes such vocal elements as:

• Tone
• Pitch
• Rhythm
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 • Timbre
• Loudness
• Inflection

For maximum teaching effectiveness, learn to vary these six elements of our voice. One of the
major criticisms is of instructors who speak in a monotone. Listeners perceive these instructors
as boring and dull. Students report that they learn less and lose interest more quickly when
listening to teachers who have not learned to modulate their voices.

Is the content of your message contradicted by the attitude with which you are communicating
it? Researchers have found that the tone, pitch, quality of voice, and rate of speaking convey
emotions that can be accurately judged regardless of the content of the message. The important
thing to gain from this is that the voice is important, not just as the conveyor of the message, but
as a complement to the message. As a communicator you should be sensitive to the influence of
tone, pitch, and quality of your voice on the interpretation of your message by the receiver.

• KISNESICS

• Posture

• Gesture

• Facial expressions

• Gaze / Eye Contact

Posture

When people's verbal self-presentation contradicts their behavior, their words are ignored in
favor of the deeds. The old saw that "actions speak louder than words" is valid. Be cautious that
your own body language does not provoke an undesirable response.

The body has a lower sending capacity than the face, making body cues more likely to leak
deceptive information than facial cues. Research is mixed on the relevance of this tendency.
Stiff, restrained trunk and limb positions indicate tension. Deceivers also swivel more in their
chairs and tend to restrict their facial movements.

Non-language is more easily processed. We communicate numerous messages by the way we

walk, talk, stand and sit. Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward
communicates to students that we are approachable, receptive and friendly. Furthermore,

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interpersonal closeness results when we and our students face each other. Speaking with our
back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates disinterest to
our class.Than language.

Gesture

Some people who are engaged in cognitive tasks will be immune to aspects of linguistic
behaviors and will rely on non-linguistic cues in making their determinations (Gilbert and Jones,
1986).

Interactive hand gestures assist dialogue in that they serve the special conversational demands of
talking in dialogue.

Gestures are invaluable to a speaker; they include the listener so that the speaker can be sure
he/she is being heard and understood. Open-handed gestures metaphorically hand over the
information.

Rotation of the hand with fingers uncurling implies shared information or "as you already
knew." The rotating hand with fingers uncurling off to the side implies a digression from the
main point. The importance of gesturing lies more in the function that the gesture serves in the
juncture of information sharing than in the actual form that the gesture takes. If we fail to gesture
while speaking, we may be perceived as boring, stiff and unanimated. A lively and animated
teaching style captures students' attention, makes the material more interesting, facilitates
learning and provides a bit of entertainment. Head nods, a form of gestures, communicate
positive reinforcement to students and indicate that we are listening.

Facial Expression

One determination of emotional experience is the interplay between an emotional stimulus and
the innate response, such as a smile. The reaction toward the emotional stimulus is intensified
when the facial expression is facilitated but softened when the expression is inhibited (Strack,
Martin and Sterrer, 1988).

When people are trying to mask negative emotions by putting on a "happy face," their smiles
will tend to include traces of muscular actions that normally are associated with disgust, fear,
contempt, or sadness (Ekma, Friesen and O'Sullivan, 1988). .

Facial expressions can be helpful in effective management of affect. Nonverbal warmth,

conveyed in the form of increased smiling, can reinforce specific desirable categories of
behavior. It also will signal acceptance and approval to the jurors. This will increase the jurors’
motivation to perform as desired.

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Jurors will tend to judge a witness less harshly if the witness exhibits a smile at appropriate
times. The person is viewed as being more likable and consequently more physically attractive,
sincere, sociable and competent. If a person smiles, he is perceived to be more trustworthy and a
better person.

The face easily conveys factual lies, those that might occur in a courtroom when dealing with
impressions of others. Deception produces a reduction in smiling and positive head nods.
However, body language is more likely to betray deception when the lie is about an emotional
state.

Also, verbal channels are highly controllable and more indicative of one's demeanor than
expressive or spontaneous changes in emotional states. Senders are better able to control,
express, and exaggerate facial expressions than their voices when that is the intent. However,
liars are more successful when using verbal means to deceive than when using nonverbal means.

When a speaker intends to deceive, unintentional leakage may be produced by nervousness and
arousal. The voice may have a higher pitch or be perceptually nervous, and speech will contain
more errors and hesitations. The speaker also may use halting, brief messages.

Few examples of Facial Expressions:-

The picture is that of an air hostess. One

look at her and we would think that she is
happy but in reality she is feeling irritated
because of the behavior of a passenger.

In India such a gesture would mean that

the person is making fun of someone but
in reality such a sign in Japan means that
the person is very angry.

In India, Thumbs Sign means that the

person is motivating some one but in Iran
such gesture means a very vulgar
meaning.

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Gaze /Eye Contact

A major feature of social communication is eye contact. It can convey emotion, signal when to
talk or finish, or aversion. The frequency of contact may suggest either interest or boredom.
Tortoriello, Blott, and DeWine have defined non-verbal communication as:
Eye contact is a direct and powerful form of non-verbal communication. The superior in the
organization generally maintains eye contact longer than the subordinate. The direct stare of the
sender of the message conveys candor and openness. It elicits a feeling of trust. Downward
glances are generally associated with modesty. Eyes rolled upward are associated with fatigue.
Example of few Gazes:-

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