Nonverbal Communication
Uploaded by student on Feb 04, 2006
Let Me Hear Your Body Talk
Nonverbal Dictionary. Com defines nonverbal communication as
communication behavior that is expressed in any other means besides “words”.
Research suggests that nonverbal communication is more important in understanding
human behavior than words alone--the nonverbal "channels" seem to be more powerful
than what people say. Zig Ziglar is quoted in saying “nonverbal communication can also
be described as dynamic process that engages body, mind and society” . Presenting
You need to be aware of your nonverbal communication from the moment you stand up until your presentation is completed. The importance of positive eye contact and the correct use of posture and hand movement or any nonverbal cue to accompany your presentation cannot be overstated.
Nonverbal cues are symbols with meaning interpretations. In general, nonverbal
symbols perform five functions in communication.
1. Accenting-calling attention to the message source using some device (hitting the table for example)
2. Complimenting-using nonverbal cues to enhance the meaning of verbal symbols,
3. Substituting-a nonverbal symbol replaces a verbal symbol (holding up hand to indicate “stop”)
4. Contradicting-the nonverbal symbol sends a message different from the verbal symbols. (agreeing to a subject with your arms folded)
5. Regulating-While engaged in a conversation, you would most likely use nonverbal communication as an indicator of the flow of conversation. (when speaking you may wait a moment for a pause to interject an opinion.
Nonverbal symbols can be arranged among three general categories:
1. Paralanguage--nonverbal enhancements to language symbols
2. Kinesics--nonverbal symbols of body movement (gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, appearance)
3. Proxemics--nonverbal symbols of distance, space, and time
The inflection, tempo, emphasis, or tone adds meaning to oral presentations. Paralanguage includes any device that can be used to modify the meaning interpretation of a verbal symbol. These devices include inflection or emphasis added to spoken symbols or highlighting, bolding, or all capital letters added to written symbols. For example, look at the following sentence and read it while emphasizing each word in sequence.
I didn't say she stole the money.
When emphasizing the word "I," the sentence takes on a shaded meaning from its non-emphasized state. Emphasizing the word "didn't" changes the meaning of the sentence, as does emphasizing the word "say." Depending on which word is emphasized (paralanguage), the sentence carries a different meaning interpretation.
...