1. Nonverbal
Communication

2. • Nonverbal communication is
all nonword messages. It is
the most basic, and often
most believed, form of
communication

3. • Ray Birdwhistle (1970), one of the
foremost authorities on non-verbal
behaviour, says that no more than
30 - 35% of the social meaning
derived from a conversation is
carried by words alone.
• Other empirical studies also
confirm Birdwhistle’s findings that
non-verbal signals are important
• for determining meaning in
• interpersonal communication.

4. Kendon (1983) makes the following
observation on the relationship of
verbal and non-verbal systems in
everyday interaction:
It is a common observation that
when a person speaks, muscular
systems besides those of the lips,
tongue and jaws become active……..
gesticulation is organized as part
of the same overall unit of action
by which speech is organized. (p17)

5. • What Kendon is simply saying
is that non-verbal signals
operate in conjunction with
verbal signals to communicate
who we are, how we feel, how
we feel about others, and how
we get others to understand
and do what we want.

6. Interaction of verbal and
nonverbal communication
When communicating,
nonverbal messages can
interact with verbal messages
in six ways: repeating,
conflicting, complementing,
substituting, regulating and
accenting/moderating.

7. Repeating
• "Repeating" consists of using
gestures to strengthen a verbal
message, such as pointing to the
object of discussion.

8. Conflicting
• Verbal and nonverbal messages within the
same interaction can sometimes send
opposing or conflicting messages.
• A person verbally expressing a
statement of truth while simultaneously
fidgeting or avoiding eye contact may
convey a mixed message to the receiver
in the interaction.
• Conflicting messages may occur for a
variety of reasons often stemming from
• feelings of uncertainty, ambivalence,
o or frustration.

9. • When mixed messages occur,
nonverbal communication
becomes the primary tool people
use to attain additional
information to clarify the
situation; great attention is
placed on bodily movements and
positioning when people perceive
mixed messages during
interactions.

10. Complementing
Accurate interpretation of messages is
made easier when nonverbal and verbal
communication complement each other.
• Nonverbal cues can be used to
elaborate on verbal messages to
reinforce the information sent when
trying to achieve communicative goals;
messages have been shown to be
remembered better when nonverbal
signal signals affirm the verbal
• ex exchange

11. Substituting
• Nonverbal behavior is sometimes
used as the sole channel for
communication of a message.
• People learn to identify facial
expressions, body movements, and
body positioning as corresponding
with specific feelings and
intentions.

12. • Nonverbal signals can be used
without verbal communication to
convey messages; when nonverbal
behavior does not effectively
communicate a message, verbal
methods are used to enhance
understanding.

13. Regulating
• Nonverbal behavior also
regulates our conversations. For
example, touching someone's arm
can signal that you want to talk
next or interrupt.

14. Accenting/Moderating
• Nonverbal signals are used to alter the
interpretation of verbal messages.
• Touch, voice pitch, and gestures are
some of the tools people use to accent
or amplify the message that is sent.
• nonverbal behavior can also be used to
moderate or tone down aspects of
verbal messages as well. For example, a
person who is verbally expressing anger
may may accent the verbal message by
s shaking a fist.

15. CATEGORIES OF
NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION

16. KINESICS
• Definition:
• Kinesics is an important category
of non verbal communication.
Kinesics, or body language,
refers to the subconscious
gestures and body movements we
make, that is, posture,
movement, gestures, and facial
expressions

17. • They indicate what a person
is feeling and thinking. Since
these gestures are made
subconsciously, it is difficult
to fake your body language.

18. • Kinesics is the study of the potential
have for communication purposes.
Ekman and Friesen categorized body
movements into five types.

19. • Emblems are substitutes for
words.
• Adaptors reveal an individual's
internal states.
• Regulators control
communication.
• Affect displays are movements
of the body and face to show
emotion.
• Illustrators help to reinforce
verbal messages.

20. Kinesics can be broken down
into four smaller categories:
• Facial expressions
• Body posture
• Eye movement/gaze
• Appearance

21. Facial Expressions
• More of the principal messages
of non-verbal communication are
conveyed by the face than by any
other means.
• Facial expressions – reflect
attitudes and emotions, e.g.
happiness, warmth, hatred.
• A close look at your colleague’s
face will allow you to identify the
---difference between true
emotions and pretence.

22. Body Posture
• The movements of your body
symbolise your attitudes and
feelings. We use body language along
with verbal communication to
reinforce and add clarity and meaning
to the message being conveyed.
• Body language involves gestures with
hands and arms, facial expressions,
eye contact and much more.
• Posture – can be used to more
effectively communicate your
information.

23. • Body language, and
particularly facial
expressions, can provide
important information that
may not be contained in the
verbal portion of the
communication..

24. • Facial expressions are
especially helpful as they may
show hidden emotions that
contradict verbal statements.
For example, an employee may
deny having knowledge of a
problem, but also have a
fearful expression and glance
around guiltily

25. • Other forms of body language
that may provide communication
clues include posture and
gestures. For example, a manager
who puts his feet up on the desk
may convey an impression of
status and confidence, while an
employee who leans forward to
listen may convey interest.

26. • Gestures can add emphasis
and improve understanding
when used sparingly, but the
continual use of gestures can
distract listeners and convey
nervousness.

27. Eye Movement
• important in sending and receiving
messages
• It regulates the coherence of
communication and indicates the
degree of enthusiasm with which
the verbal message is being
received.

28. • Whether a person is looking you
in the eyes or away from you
changes the whole meaning of
their message. Eye contact can
convey attraction, as from across
a crowded room, or it can convey
revulsion, disgust and disbelief.
The absence of eye contact
communicates as much, such as
when a person is lying or when
avoiding discomfort in a crowded
elevator.

29. • In most cultures, people who use
eye contact are viewed as
confident.
• In Australia listeners are taught
to focus on the speaker’s eyes
for effective communication
whilst in India this will be
determined by the genders
involved: there it is not
considered appropriate for a man
to focus on the eyes of a female
c colleague during
• a conversation.

30. Appearance
• Communication is also affected by a
variety of aspects related to
appearance such as clothes and
accessories.
• your dress will show respect for
the values and conventions of your
organization

31. • These convey signals relating to
the context including formal and
informal, status and individuality.
• In Islam, Muslim women are
expected to covered in their
entirety including the face, except
for their eyes, while in Western
countries most women, even in a
business context, will wear
somewhat more revealing attire.

32. According to Murphy and Hildebrandt.
For example, a speaker's clothing,
hairstyle, use of cosmetics, neatness,
and stature may cause a listener to
form impressions about her
occupation, socioeconomic level,
competence, etc. Similarly, such
details of the surroundings as room
size, furnishings, decorations,
lighting, and windows can affect a
listener's attitudes toward the
speaker and the message being
presented

33. Proxemic rules
• Proxemics cover the way in which
people position themselves in
relation to another person during a
discussion.
• Proxemics is important in business
communication: people express
their level of intimacy and trust
towards a person through the
distance that is chosen.

34. Hall (1969) categorized four types of distance.
• Intimate space (0-18 inches) is reserved
for only those individuals who are
relationally close such as family.
• Personal space (18 inches - 4 feet) is used
for conversation and nonintimate
communication.
• Social space (4-12 feet) is used in more
formal situations.
• Public space (over 12 feet) occurs in larger
communication contexts, such as a courtroom or
class.

35. • The average personal distance
varies from one culture to
another. Americans tend to
require more personal space: if
you try to get too close to an
American during a conversation,
they tend to back away.
• Latin Americans, in contrast,
demonstrate greater physical
closeness during communication