Non verbalMost nonverbal communication is unconscious or subconsciousOccurs mostly face-to-faceThree factors in message interpretation: Verbal Impact, 7 percentVocal Impact, 38 percentFacial Impact, 55 percent

Functions Replacing spokenmessages. Sending uncomfortablemessages.Reinforcing and modifyingverbal messages

Types of Non-verbal CommunicationKinesics Paralanguage or Para LinguisticsProxemics HapticsOculesicsChronemicsArtifacts

Kinesics(the study of body movements, gestures, facial expressions, etc., as a means of communication)

Kinesics: facial expressionBirdwhistle (1970): the face is capable of conveying 250,000 expressions

1 The Face

The face is an important source of information.Since the face cannot be easily hidden, it is an important source of nonverbal information and communicates a variety of emotions.In addition, eye contact, pupil size, and the smile provide additional cues to informed observers.

Facial Expression(s )

ForeheadWrinkles Anger

Eyebrows Outer edges upAnger

NoseUpwardContempt

Lips

Arms

Hands

Fingers

We categorize kinesics into 3 different kinds

1.Emblems2.Illustrator3.Adaptors

1. EmblemsSubstitutions for wordsSpecific verbal translationEX: OK, peace, be quiet

3. IllustratorsAccompany and literally illustrate the verbal messageEX: Saying, Lets go while motioning with your hands for them to go, it was this big while showing how big, making a circular motion while talking about a circle

3. AdaptorsSatisfy a need & are usually unconscious3 types:Self-adaptorsAlter-adaptorsObject-adaptors

AdaptersSelf-adaptors: satisfy a physical needEX: scratching your head, pushing your hair out of your face2. Alter-adaptors: body movements you make in response to your current interactions EX: crossing your arms when someone unpleasant approaches3. Object-adaptors: manipulation of objects; often happen when feeling hostileEX: clicking pen, chewing pencil

Eye ContactEye contacts shrinking eyes, eye ball movement, broadening of eyes etc.,

OculesicsStudy of eye-contact as a form of non-verbal communication. Eye contact is the most important cueAvoiding eye contact considered as insecure, untrustworthyDirect eye contact may be misinterpreted as hostility, aggressivenessLowering eyes in China and Indonesia-sign of respect. They prefer indirect eye contact, prolonged eye contact is seen as sign of bad manners

Eyes

CenteredFocused

Gazing UpThinking

Gazing DownShame

Gaze on the Side

WanderingGuilty

Disinterested, Bored

Gaze/Eye ContactAlthough people in the U.S. favor direct eye contact, in other cultures, such as the Japanese, the reverse is true; they direct their gaze below the chin. In the Middle East, on the other hand, the eye contact is more intense than U.S. people are comfortable with.A prolonged gaze or stare in the U.S. is considered rude.

Vocal Cues

Paralinguistic features - no word sounds & non word characteristics of language..

Paralanguage or Para Linguistics ( systematic study of how a speaker verbalizes)

VoicePitch variationThose who speak in monotones fail to keep listeners attentionPeople in authority or When excited speak in high pitched voiceSpeaking SpeedFluency in language is not the same thing as the speed of speakingWe should present easy parts of message at a brisk pace and difficult, complicated parts at slower pace.In state of anxiety, urgency we speak fast and when relaxed at a comfortable speed.

Non fluencies

Pauses often inserted with sounds like ah, oh, uh, um, you know, OK, yawning, laughing, chucklingCarefully and sparingly used they add fluency to speaker, give them time to breathe/ relax, make listener more alertToo frequent insertions may irritate listener

Volume Variation

Loudness of our voice should be adjusted according to size of audienceSome speakers believe only way to sound convincing is to speak louderProper word stressEg: Have we met before?

Proxemics-Space Language (study of distance individuals maintain between each other while interacting and its significance)

Proxemics-Space LanguageIntimate-Physical contact/touch to 1.5 feet eg with our family members, closest friends and selected peoplePersonal-18 inches to 4 feet eg normal conversations with close friends, colleagues, associates and visitorsSocial-4 to 12 feet. Used mostly for formal purposesPublic-12 feet to as far as we can see and hear

Space (Proxemics)People in the U.S. tend to need more space than do persons of other cultures. U.S. persons back away when people stand too close. Standing too close is interpreted as being pushy or overbearing

U.S. people need more space than do Greeks, Latin Americans, or Arabs. The Japanese stand even farther away than do U.S. persons.

Touch (Tactilics) Touch, when used properly, may create feelings of warmth and trust; when used improperly, touch may cause annoyance and betray trust.Hierarchy is a consideration when using touch in the U.S.: people who are older or higher rank may touch those who are younger or of lower rank; equals may touch each other.

Several years ago, when President Carter was mediating peace talks between Egypt and Israel, Anwar Sadat frequently placed his hand on President Carters knee. While this subtextual message was intended as a gesture of warm friendship, the subtler message Sadat was conveying to the world was that he was President Carters equal.

Handshakes

Dead fishThe knuckle Grinder

Cultural Differences in Attitudes Toward Time U.S. persons are very time conscious and value punctuality. Being late for meetings is viewed as rude and insensitive behavior; tardiness also conveys that the person is not well organized. Germans and Swiss people are even more time conscious; people of Singapore and Hong Kong also value punctuality.In Algeria, on the other hand, punctuality is not widely regarded. Latin American countries have a moderate attitude; people in Arab cultures have a casual attitude toward time.

Time (Chronemics) Attitudes toward time vary from culture to culture.Countries that follow monochronic time perform only one major activity at a time (U.S., England, Switzerland, Germany).Countries that follow polychronic time work on several activities simultaneously (Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Arabs).

NONVERBAL POSTULATE Nonverbal gives emotional content What you say is/is not as important as how you say itNonverbal is culturally determined, yet universalWe send multiple nonverbal cues which can result in mixed messages

Tips of effective use of non verbal communicationObserve and understand the non verbal signals being sent your way on a moment to moment basis

Use eye contactUnderstand the cultural nuances of the various forms of non verbal communication.When there is a contradiction between the verbal and non verbal messages of the persons you are listening to try to assess the situation with the help of non verbal cues

Check context: Don't try to interpret cues isolated from other such cues, from the verbal communication, or from the physical or emotional context.

Look for clusters: This is the nonverbal context itself. See if a resistance accompanies the arms being crossed to eye contact and a flat tone of voice.

Consider past experience: We can more accurately interpret the behavior of people we know. For e.g. Your mother may always hugs when you come home from school and so you learn that this represent happiness in that particular situation.

Practice perception checking: Recognize that you are interpreting observed behavior, not reading a mind, and check out your observation.