Nonverbal Communication (Body Language)

Nonverbal Communication (Body Language)

Nonverbal Communication (Body Language)

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

Ø  body posture, movement, physical state, position and relationship to other bodies, objects and surroundings,

Ø  facial expression and eye movement, and

Ø   this transmission and interpretation can be quite different to the spoken words.

Body movements include gestures, facial expressions and other physical movements. Every body movement conveys a certain meaning. For example, raising an eyebrow conveys disbelief, rubbing the nose indicates puzzlement and shrugging shoulders shows indifference. When a person is eager to hear something, he sits with his feet under the chair, toes pressed to the ground, and leans forward on the desk. When a person is listening carefully, he maintains eye contact and frequently nods his head. 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.

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

·         Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm)

·         Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)

• Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family members

·         Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm)

·         Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 120 cm)

• Work /Social distance for interactions among acquaintances

·         Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)

·         Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)

• Public distance used for public speaking

·         Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m)

·         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.

Understanding nonverbal 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.