Non-Verbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is a very powerful tool in understanding others and ourselves if one knows how to use it well. We often use the word of body language as a synonym to Non-verbal communication, which is not same. Body language is only one part of non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication does what words cannot do for us. This is depicted in our recent very high use of text messaging for conversation and communication. Usually, it is very normal to confuse the message or meaning of the message intended behind the words that non-verbal in the messages because of the lack of the use of the non-verbal communication along with it. This shows what role non-verbal communication plays in the overall communication of a message.
The types of nonverbal communication:
As like the verbal language, non-verbal language is also divided into categories. It is important to note, however, that all these types of the non-verbal language work in different combinations with each other changing, repeating, or contradicting the verbal message being sent along with it (Key, 2011).
There are usually six categories in which the nonverbal communications are divided into. These include Kinesis, Haptics, Vocalics, Proxemics, Chronemics, and Personal environment and presentation.
Kinesis refers to the movements of the body, the postures and gestures. These include the gestures or hand movements, e.g., the clicking of a pen, using hands along with speaking, etc. Along with gestures, the head movements like nodding, or tilting head and posture like the use of coming forward in position to show interest are also included in this category. Furthermore, eye contact is another category which includes the example of a pattern of looking back, eye-rolling. Facial expressions are also included in this category as it also represents body movement. An example of facial expressions is the use of brows and facial muscles to show surprise, anger, or happiness.
Haptics refers to the touching behaviour during the conversations for showing the meaning. It has various levels in terms of functional or professional level, social or polite level, friendship or warmth level, and love and intimacy level. The part of hand on the back of the colleague to show appreciation is an example.
Vocalics is the use of vocalized yet non-verbal aspects of nonverbal communication (Esposito et al., 2011). The high or low or changing pitch, tone and volume of the voice while saying something are examples. Using high volume to show assertiveness of a message is an example.
Proxemics refers to use of the space between individuals to communicate. For example, the use of the four zones of the space, the public zone, the social zone, the personal zone and the intimate zone during the conversation communicate the non-verbal message. A person coming too close to another gives the non-verbal message of desire for intimacy, this is an example of this type of non-verbal communication.
Chronemics is the type of communication in which time has an impact on communication. This could be withered biological, cultural, physical, or personal time. For example, the amount of time that is acceptable for being late among peers, or for social celebrities or professionals varies, giving a non-verbal message of the social status of the person.
Personal Environment and Presentation refers to the artifacts surrounding us or that we surround ourselves with that gives meaning to our conversations with other people. This is similar for the personal presentation in terms of the seating positions, dressing, styles, and room layouts. Changing of the room decor or layouts or dressing style in order to give a different message to the people is one example (Poyatos, 2002).
The role nonverbal communication plays in communication
Non-verbal communication aids the communication process by replacing verbal communication in places where it is nearly impossible to communicate verbally. Other than this, nonverbal communication helps in complementing verbal communication by enhancing the message. It also aids in modifying the meaning of the spoken words. Moreover, it can also aid in contradicting the meaning of the message either intentionally, or unintentionally. The non-verbal communication also plays a role in conveying the speech turns and aiding in the regulating of the conversations. The interpersonal attitudes and the emotions are better expressed with the use of the nonverbal communications (Sooriya, 2017). nonverbal communication also helps in the negotiation of the relationships by showing dominance, liking or control. The contextualization of the interactions by showing the specific social setting also is achieved through the use of the non-verbal communication. Personal and social identities are also conveyed with the help of non-verbal communication by using dressing style.
Three aspects of non-verbal communication
For effective communication, all aspects of non-verbal communication need to be effectively utilized and understood to convey better and understand the message. The three aspects of the non-verbal communication selected are facial expressions, body movements, and eye contact (Kendon et al., 2010).
Facial Expressions:
This is the most commonly used non-verbal tool which allows the communicators to convey their liking, disliking, interest or disinterest or any other emotion within a blink of an eye. The human face is able to make 10,000 different expressions which can all be easily used in communication. The most used ones of eye-rolling, blinking, frowning, smiling, winking, are the most relatable expressions which can easily repeat, assert, modify or contradict the meaning of the message.
Body Movements:
The use of the body movements to convey the message is a very commonly used method as well. People use gestures, and move their hands, body, feet, or fingers to show excitement, nervousness, agreement, appreciation, or anxiety. This could be in the form of drumming fingers, clicking with teeth, patting thighs, nodding, clearing throats, using hands while speaking, etc.
Eye Contact:
Eyes show interest, involvement, attention, or lack of eye contact shows, lack of interest, rudeness, disinterest, or lack of trust. The use of eye contact to show the assertiveness of the message or the lack of interest in the conveyed message is a very old practice.
The relationship between nonverbal communication, speaking and listening skills
Imagine that two friends have gone to see a play in the theatre, and after watching it, one friend says to another that she is really impressed while rolling her eyes. Even though the words used convey a different message, the sarcastic tone and the rolling of the eyes conveys the actual message the friend wants to convey. This example shows the relationship between non-verbal and verbal communication. Verbal communication in the form of speaking and non-verbal communication in the form of gesture, eye roll, and sighs are relevant here. Any conversation is based on effective dialogue, and this is consequently based on listening, speaking and using the non-verbal tools of communication effectively.
How nonverbal communication can affect speaking and listening skills:
Listening is the one ability which we are using every day on a usual basis. However, there is a difference between listening and hearing. Effective listening not only involves only hearing the sounds but also understanding the message as well. This is not achievable without understanding the non-verbal communicated message. Therefore, it shows that nonverbal communication plays a huge impact on the spoken and listened message. It shows that it is important to understand the nonverbal message as well along with the spoken words.
References
Esposito, A. et al., 2011. Analysis of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication and Enactment.The Processing Issues. Springer.
Kendon, A., Sebeok, T.A. & Umiker-Sebeok, J., 2010. Non-Verbal Communication, Interaction, and Gesture. Walter de Gruyter.
Key, M.R., 2011. The Relationship of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication. Walter de Gruyter.
Poyatos, F., 2002. Nonverbal Communication Across Disciplines: Paralanguage, kinesics, silence, personal and environmental interaction. John Benjamins Publishing.
Sooriya, P., 2017. Non-Verbal Communication. Lulu.com.
