nonverbal communication
Functions of non verbal communication
Nonverbal signals are extremely important in our life and everyday communication. Nonvernal means "messages expressed by non-linguistic means. This rules out sing language and written words, but it includes messages transmitted by vocal means (..), non-linguistic dimension of the spoken words - volume, rate, pitch (...), body language, gestures, facial expressions" (Adler & Proctor 200 -201).
One of the most frequently quoted statistics on nonverbal communication is that 93% of all daily communication is nonverbal. As Adler continues, “It is hard to overemphasize the importance of effective nonverbal expression and ability to read and respond to others’ nonverbal behavior" (201).
Non-verbal way of communication is much older than any language. After millions of years of evolution we have an innate ability to understand and correctly interpret not only human nonverbal signals, but other species' nonverbal signals as well (mostly of these species are highly organized mammals). Nonverbal communications has its own peculiar properties in different cultures, but its core meaning and overall significance for communication process is universal. We can't perform any nonverbal signals without expressing who we are; no matter what we do, we expose some information about us and send some messages to another person. This message can be true or faked, but there is no way to completely avoid sending something. Nonverbal communication serves many needs, including the closest interaction with the speech. Nonverbal signals may relate to the words in many dimensions and have several distinctive functions.
As presented by Hunter, Ph,D, there are 6 functions of nonverbal communication.
One of the most frequently quoted statistics on nonverbal communication is that 93% of all daily communication is nonverbal. As Adler continues, “It is hard to overemphasize the importance of effective nonverbal expression and ability to read and respond to others’ nonverbal behavior" (201).
Non-verbal way of communication is much older than any language. After millions of years of evolution we have an innate ability to understand and correctly interpret not only human nonverbal signals, but other species' nonverbal signals as well (mostly of these species are highly organized mammals). Nonverbal communications has its own peculiar properties in different cultures, but its core meaning and overall significance for communication process is universal. We can't perform any nonverbal signals without expressing who we are; no matter what we do, we expose some information about us and send some messages to another person. This message can be true or faked, but there is no way to completely avoid sending something. Nonverbal communication serves many needs, including the closest interaction with the speech. Nonverbal signals may relate to the words in many dimensions and have several distinctive functions.
As presented by Hunter, Ph,D, there are 6 functions of nonverbal communication.
- Repeating (gestures repeat words).
- Complimenting (gesture is a compliment of words ).
- Substituting (gesture is used instead of words).
- Accenting (gesture used to make words stronger). (See fig.1).
- Regulating (influencing the flow of the verbal communication).
- Contradicting - sending mixed messages (Hunter, 23 June 2014).
What exactly we may do to perform nonverbal signals? Franky, everything. All varyety of possible nonverbal signals may be classified in several major groups.
1. Body movement.
This is wise to start with a body orientation in space which means "The degree to which we face towards or away from someone with our body, feet and head" (Adler & Proctor 213). This degree directly correlates with our interest in this person. People tend to turn the whole body to important person, they may turn only head if this interest is not that great, and they would turn the body away from unwanted person.
Posture is a very important clue to someone's feelings. Posture is probably one of the most precise clues to someone's true feelings in terms of tension and relaxation. Rigid posture are associated with a higher level of tension, whereas non-rigid postures are correlated with relaxation.
Gestures are extremely important part of our non-verbal communication.
Several types of gestures exist.
a. Illustrators - gestures which are illustrating speech but when taken out of the contest they give no useful information. For example, answering the question "Where is my wallet?" one may say "In the drawer", and show where, using a finger; but without this gesture it will not easy to find a key.
Another type of gestures are:
b.emblems. Gestures-cliche, extremely widely used and known to everybody in a country or culture. Examples are: head nod ("yes"), rubbing fingertips of one hand ("money), showing a fist ("threat") etc. (See fig. 2)
c. Adaptors are gestures used to comfort the body (and mind). For example, scratching the head, shaking the leg, picking the nose, clearing the throat and so on. Self-touching gestures are called manipulators. People do more adaptors when they are alone.
The unusually high or low rate of gestures may be a signal of some tension or lack of interest. This is not easy to interpret this correctly. One requires the information about rate of gestures in usual environment and the particular situation.
This video by CNN illustrates politicians' body language. Romny send conflicting messages through his contradicting body language: he shake hands, but he is not willing to step a little bit closer to people. Instead of that, he bends his body from a far distance that is interpreted as him not being sincere with voters. Obama and Clinton acted differently. They almost embraced people during handshake. Their non-conflicting signals made a difference on elections.
3. Face and eyes. The most noticed part of the body involved into a nonverbal communication; and one of the most difficult to read. There are 36 muscles involved in mimics; the number of mimics combinations possible is huge.
Adler says, "there are eight positions for eyebrows, eight of the eyes and lids and ten for the lower face" (qtd. in Adler & Proctor 217).
2. Voice. The term para-language is used to refer to the nonverbal messages. It covers the voice pitch, rate, the way the person speaks, how the speech flows, pauses in between the words, voice's tone, does one feels well or sick, is it shivering or not - all those parameters reflect who the person is, what s/he feels, what is their message and attitude towards others etc. Accent and the style of speaking may reveal also a lot of information about the persons background, origin and education.
3. Appearance. Includes physical attractiveness and clothing. More attractive people are treated better, as proven by many researches. "Physical attractiveness is also an asset in the professional world, affecting hiring, promotion, and performance evaluation decisions" (qtd. in Adler & Proctor 225). Clothing is closely related to attractiveness and is especially important during at the first communication. Later its significance goes down as people used to know each other better. Clothing may tell a lot about social and economic background, education, and many more.
Adler says, "there are eight positions for eyebrows, eight of the eyes and lids and ten for the lower face" (qtd. in Adler & Proctor 217).
2. Voice. The term para-language is used to refer to the nonverbal messages. It covers the voice pitch, rate, the way the person speaks, how the speech flows, pauses in between the words, voice's tone, does one feels well or sick, is it shivering or not - all those parameters reflect who the person is, what s/he feels, what is their message and attitude towards others etc. Accent and the style of speaking may reveal also a lot of information about the persons background, origin and education.
3. Appearance. Includes physical attractiveness and clothing. More attractive people are treated better, as proven by many researches. "Physical attractiveness is also an asset in the professional world, affecting hiring, promotion, and performance evaluation decisions" (qtd. in Adler & Proctor 225). Clothing is closely related to attractiveness and is especially important during at the first communication. Later its significance goes down as people used to know each other better. Clothing may tell a lot about social and economic background, education, and many more.
types of nonverbal communication
In this comic picture by H. Bidstrup, titled "Eyes are mirrors to the soul", I'd like ti introduce an outstanding example of nonverbal signals, used instead of words - substituting, and the richness and importance of the face mimics. We see a man who looks at an approaching woman. We can see all his thoughts - and words he'd like to say. We see an indifference first, then we follow him glancing down at her legs, we see his mouth rounding as he wants to say "Wow!", we see his growing interest, he smiles, gives her a winks, saying without words, "Hey, you are so pretty, I like you, I am interested, please look at me". But she walks away without looking at him; interest turns into a hopeless frustration and he is back in his sleepy state like he was before. The whole story is told without saying a word. Paraphrasing, we may say that nonverbal signals, face and its mimics are all mirrors to the soul.
influences on nonverbal communication
GENDER.
There are recognizable and confirmed differences in males' and females' non verbal communication. Adler & Proctor comment, "Some of the most obvious differences are physiological: height, depth and volume of the voice, and so on. Other differences are rooted more in socialization. In general, females are are usually more nonverbally expressive, they are better in recognizing others' nonverbal behavior" (210). Men are more likely to use nonverbal signals of doninance. In Crazy Stupid Love Robbie made his chair higher so he could sit higher than David Lindhagen and feel dominant. Men used to spread their legs in public transportation to take more space to show their dominance. Females don't do that. We can see how males literally push females off the seats.
There are recognizable and confirmed differences in males' and females' non verbal communication. Adler & Proctor comment, "Some of the most obvious differences are physiological: height, depth and volume of the voice, and so on. Other differences are rooted more in socialization. In general, females are are usually more nonverbally expressive, they are better in recognizing others' nonverbal behavior" (210). Men are more likely to use nonverbal signals of doninance. In Crazy Stupid Love Robbie made his chair higher so he could sit higher than David Lindhagen and feel dominant. Men used to spread their legs in public transportation to take more space to show their dominance. Females don't do that. We can see how males literally push females off the seats.
Culture.
The difference in gestures' meaning exists among different cultures. This fact is widely known. This differences may hurt relationships, as gestures may be misinterpreted in cross cultural interaction.
Some examples as follows from Fatma Özuorgun:
Handshakes are common all over the world but people, especially males should be careful when tending to shake a woman’s hand as in many cultures it is a serious disapproved action to touch a woman, even for a handshake. It is especially important in the Islamic culture. Shaking hands is not common in the Japanese culture so people should not misunderstand when they do not do it; instead they use the bow to greet people.
Head movements.
The same body movement may reveal entirely opposite meanings in cross-cultural communications. For example, in the whole world a person would nod their head up and down to say yes. On the other hand, the people in Turkey, North Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Syria, and Sicily nod their head up to express “no”. Shaking their heads back and forth means “yes” in these countries (MEGEP, 2008). Cangil (2004) also indicates that Turkish people nod their head up and down when approving a verbal message but they also use the same gesture to represent disapproval sometimes. This gesture would definitely be very confusing for people who are not Turkish, Greek or Syrian, as the people who belong to other cultures nod their head right and left to show that they disagree or disapprove something. Blowing your nose It is extremely rude to blow your nose in public in Japan (Coshkun, 2010). An English or American person will feel free to blow their noses anywhere. An American can get into serious trouble in such a case without even knowing or understanding why such a problem occurred as they do not have it in their own culture. Feet or shoes It is stated in MEGEP (2008) that a person can understand the real intention of another person by looking at their feet. If one person’s feet ate turned to the door when speaking to someone else, then this communicates that they are not really happy speaking and that they want to end the conversation. Coshkun (2010) indicates that American businessmen put their feet on the table especially when speaking on the phone but a Japanese person would perceive this action as very bad manners because it is not accepted to show the soles of your feet to anybody. Victory or Peace sign The victory sign or peace sign is perceived OK when the palm is facing
outward in America, whereas when the palm is facing towards the performer it is accepted as very offensive to the society’s moral in England. Finally all the examples above reveal that, in order to communicate well it is a must to understand that every culture is unique and has its own values, customs, and characteristics other than treating them as inappropriate behavior ( Özuorgun).
The difference in gestures' meaning exists among different cultures. This fact is widely known. This differences may hurt relationships, as gestures may be misinterpreted in cross cultural interaction.
Some examples as follows from Fatma Özuorgun:
Handshakes are common all over the world but people, especially males should be careful when tending to shake a woman’s hand as in many cultures it is a serious disapproved action to touch a woman, even for a handshake. It is especially important in the Islamic culture. Shaking hands is not common in the Japanese culture so people should not misunderstand when they do not do it; instead they use the bow to greet people.
Head movements.
The same body movement may reveal entirely opposite meanings in cross-cultural communications. For example, in the whole world a person would nod their head up and down to say yes. On the other hand, the people in Turkey, North Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Syria, and Sicily nod their head up to express “no”. Shaking their heads back and forth means “yes” in these countries (MEGEP, 2008). Cangil (2004) also indicates that Turkish people nod their head up and down when approving a verbal message but they also use the same gesture to represent disapproval sometimes. This gesture would definitely be very confusing for people who are not Turkish, Greek or Syrian, as the people who belong to other cultures nod their head right and left to show that they disagree or disapprove something. Blowing your nose It is extremely rude to blow your nose in public in Japan (Coshkun, 2010). An English or American person will feel free to blow their noses anywhere. An American can get into serious trouble in such a case without even knowing or understanding why such a problem occurred as they do not have it in their own culture. Feet or shoes It is stated in MEGEP (2008) that a person can understand the real intention of another person by looking at their feet. If one person’s feet ate turned to the door when speaking to someone else, then this communicates that they are not really happy speaking and that they want to end the conversation. Coshkun (2010) indicates that American businessmen put their feet on the table especially when speaking on the phone but a Japanese person would perceive this action as very bad manners because it is not accepted to show the soles of your feet to anybody. Victory or Peace sign The victory sign or peace sign is perceived OK when the palm is facing
outward in America, whereas when the palm is facing towards the performer it is accepted as very offensive to the society’s moral in England. Finally all the examples above reveal that, in order to communicate well it is a must to understand that every culture is unique and has its own values, customs, and characteristics other than treating them as inappropriate behavior ( Özuorgun).
In the following video we can see a conflict. A lady slapped a man because she misinterpret his innocent gesture which has different meaning in their culture.
It is important to understand that all communications fuse together as one process; still, an ability to identify the different components of this process one by one is important as much as an ability to perceive all the components as a whole. Without knowing what a particular component might be the observer will miss it; without taking all the parts as a whole, s/he won’t get all the information about the communication act, because the whole it always bigger than simple sum of its parts. In order to be able to evaluate the communication we need to analyze not only the speaker or a person who sends a message, but also a recipient, because communication is two-directional. Listening is a process of accepting information. What happens in this channel is not functioning properly? The communication will not be productive. This is called ineffective listening.