LECTURE 4

Non verbal communication – definition and meaning – Proxemics, Chronemics, Movement

and body position, Posture, Facial Expression, Gestures and Eye Contact – importance of
non verbal communication

Meaning

A message can be sometimes expressed without the help of words. Nonverbal communication is
the process of communicating without the use of words.

Definition

It is defined as non-word human responses like facial expressions and gestures and the perceived
characteristics of the environment through which the human verbal and nonverbal messages are
transmitted. Nonverbal communication is also known as “silent language.” It involves the use of
cues, gestures, vocal characteristics, facial expressions, and spatial relationship between the
sender and the receiver to convey a message. For example, a smile, glance, stare or a frown
convey different meanings.

The components of Non Verbal Communication are:

1. Kinesics: is the interpretation of body language such as facial expressions and gestures —
or, more formally, non-verbal behavior related to movement, either of any part of the body
or the body as a whole.
Body Language is technically known as kinesics
Body language is the unconscious and conscious transmission and interpretation of feelings,
attitudes, and moods, through:
• body posture, movement, physical state, position and relationship to other bodies, objects
and surroundings, • facial expression and eye movement,
• and this transmission and interpretation can be quite different to the spoken words.
Body movements include gestures, facial expression 16 Body language coupled with verbal
communication gives more meaning to a message.

2. Proxemics: is the technical term for the personal space aspect of body language. Proxemics
is the study of measurable distance between people as they interact. 17 Body spacing and
posture are unintentional reactions to sensory fluctuations or shifts, such as subtle changes in
the sound and pitch of a person's voice. Social distance between people is reliably correlated
with physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance, according to the following
delineations:
 • Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering o Close phase – less than 6
inches (15 cm) o Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm) • Personal distance for interactions
among good friends or family members o Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm) o Far
phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 120 cm)

• Social distance for interactions among acquaintances o Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to
2.1 m) o Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)

• Public distance used for public speaking o Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m) o Far
phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.

3. Oculesics: It is the study of the role of eye contact in non verbal communication.
Our eyes are a very significant aspect of the non-verbal signals we send to others. Oculesics
is one form of nonverbal communication, which is the transmission and reception of
meaning between communicators without the use of words. It can include the environment
around the communicators, the physical attributes or characteristics of the communicators,
and the behavior of the communicators

4. Chronemics: is the study of the use of time in nonverbal Communication. The way we
perceive time, structure our time and react to time is a powerful communication tool, and
helps set the stage for the communication process. Across cultures, time perception plays a
large role in the nonverbal communication process. Time perceptions include punctuality,
willingness to wait, and interactions. The use of time can affect lifestyles, daily agendas,
speed of speech, movements and how long people are willing to listen.

5. Haptics: refers to the study of touching.

There is six different kinds of touch. These include: positive, playful, control, ritualistic,
task-related and unintentional. Managers should know the effectiveness of using touch while
communicating to subordinates, but need to be cautious and understand how touch can be
misunderstood. Working with others and using touch to communicate, a manager needs to be
aware of each person’s touch tolerance.

6. Paralinguistics: It is the study of variations in pitch, speed, volume, and pauses to convey
meaning. Interestingly, when the speaker is making a presentation and is looking for a response,
he will pause. However, when no response is desired, he will talk faster with minimal pause.

7.Paralanguage: refers to the non-verbal elements of communication used to modify meaning

and convey emotion. Paralanguage may be expressed consciously or unconsciously, and it
includes the pitch, volume, and, in some cases, intonation of speech. Sometimes the definition is
restricted to vocally produced sounds. The study is known as paralinguistics.

Paralanguage refers to voice quality, volume, pitch, speed and non-fluencies (like ‘ah,’ ‘um,’ or
‘uh.’) used to convey a message. It helps to convey information about the attitude of the speaker.
Sometimes there may be a contradiction between what a person says and what his actions
indicate. In such cases, the person’s actions can be regarded as a truer picture of his feelings and
ideas.

Physical Appearance: Physical appearance always contributes towards how people perceive
about individuals. Neatly combed hair, ironed clothes and a lively smile will always carry more
weight than words. It is believed that physical appearance determines the success a person will
attain at every stage of his life.

Importance of Non Verbal communication

The following guidelines can help individuals understand nonverbal communication better:

1. Observe keenly what is happening: When nonverbal behaviour involves an emotional

response (for example, tears rolling down the cheeks or eyes becoming red), it clearly
conveys the message to the other person.

2. Consider the differences between verbal statements and nonverbal behaviour: If there is a
discrepancy between what a person says and what his body language indicates, then the
situation should be studied closely. It is believed that actions are more accurate than words.

3. Look for subtleties in nonverbal behaviour: Through careful observation, one can
differentiate between a fake action and a genuine action. For instance, a sarcastic smile can
be differentiated from a genuine one.