Unit 3:

Non – Verbal Communication

 Introduction
Non-verbal communication is the information that is communicated without the of words. It
includes apparent behaviours such as, facial expressions, eyes, touch, tone of voice, as well
as less obvious messages such as dress, posture spatial distance between two or more people.
Commonly, non-verbal communication is learnt after birth & practiced and refined through a
person's lifetime.

Researchers say that only 7%of message is sent through words, with remaining 93% sent
through non-verbal expressions.

 Non verbal communication is use because

1. Words have limitations

2. Non-verbal signals are powerful

3. Non-verbal messages are likely to be more genuine

4. Non-verbal signals can express feelings in appropriate to state

5. A separate communication channel is necessary to help Send complex messages

 Importance of Nonverbal Communication

(i) Well Expression of the Speaker’s Attitude
Various non-verbal cues of the speaker like physical movements, facial expression, a way of
expression, etc. play important role in expressing the inner meaning of the messages in face-
to-face conversation and interview.
For example, the facial expression of the speaker indicates his attitude, determination depth
of knowledge etc.
(ii) Providing Information Regarding the Sender of The Written Message
The format, neatness, language and the appearance of the envelope used in a written message
send a non-verbal message regarding the writer’s tests, choice, level of education etc.

(iii) Expressing the Attitude of the Listener and Receiver

Sometimes the appearance of the listeners and receivers conveys their attitudes, feelings, and
thoughts regarding the messages they have read or heard.
(iv)Gaining Knowledge about a Class of People
Clothing, hairstyle, neatness, jewelry, cosmetics, and stature of people convey impressions
regarding their occupation, age, nationality, social or economic level, job status etc.
For example; students, policemen, nurses etc. can easily be identified through their dresses.
(v) Gaining Knowledge about the Status of a Person
Non-verbal cues also help to determine the relative status of persons working in an
organization. For example, room size, location, furnishings, decorations, lightings, etc.
indicate the position of a person in the organization.
(vi)Communicating Common Message to All People
In some cases, non-verbal cues can effectively express many true messages more accurately
than those of any other method of communication.
For example; use of red, yellow and green lights and use of various signs in controlling
vehicles on the roads.
(vii) Communicating with the Handicapped People
Non- verbal cues of communication greatly help in communicating with the handicapped
people.
For example; the language of communication with the deaf depends on the movements of the
hands, fingers, and eyeball.
(viii) Conveying Message to the Illiterate People
Communication with illiterate people through written media is impossible. There may also be
some situations that do not allow the use of oral media to communicate with them.
In such situations, non-verbal methods like pictures, colors, graphs, signs, and symbols are
used as the media of communication.
For example; to indicate danger we use red sign and to mean dangerous we use a skull placed
between two pieces of bone put in a crosswise fashion.
(ix) Quick Expression of Message
Non-verbal cues like sign and symbol can also communicate some messages very quickly
than written or oral media.
For example; when drivers of a running vehicle are to be communicated that the road ahead
is narrow or there is a turn in the road ahead, we generally use signs or symbols rather than
using any written or oral message.
(x) Presenting Information Precisely
Sometimes quantitative information on any issue may require a lengthy written message. But
this quantitative information can be presented easily and precisely through tables, graphs,
charts etc.

 Medias or Ways or Methods or Kinds or Types of Non-verbal

Communication

Non-verbal communication is the expression or exchange of information or messages

through without using any spoken or written word. Several symbols can be used in non-
verbal communication. We will discuss here only the following types of communication that
occur without words.

A. BODY LANGUAGE

Some parts of our body can express many indications without any sound. Message can be
transmitted with the help of our body movements which is called body language. Body
language is a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of posture, gestures, facial
expressions, eye movements etc.

(i) Facial expression: A facial expression is one or more motions or positions of the
muscles in the skin of face. These movements convey the emotional state of the
individual to observers. Facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are
similar throughout the world.A proverb say, “Face is the index of mind.”
(ii) Gestures: Gestures refers to visible bodily actions communicate particular messages
which include movement of the hands, face, eyes, head or other parts of the body.
Common gestures include waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate numeric
amounts. Culture-specific gestures that can be used as replacement for words, such as
the hand wave used in western cultures for “hello” and “goodbye”.
Example: By waving our hands we express ‘good-bye’; by shaking our head from
side to side we express “we do not know”.
(iii) Posture: Posture indicates the position in which we hold the body when standing or
sitting. It can help to communicate non-verbally. Consider the following actions and
note cultural differences:
 Bowing not done criticized or affected in US; shows rank in Japan.
 Slouching rude in most Northern European areas.
 Hands in pocket-disrespectful in Turkey.
 Sitting with legs crossed-offensive in Ghana, Turkey.
 Showing soles of feet-offensive in Thailand, Saudi Arabia.
(iv) Eye contact: Eye contact indicates looking, staring and blinking etc. which is
important in nonverbal behaviors. Looking at another person can indicate a range of
emotions, including hostility, attention, interest, and attraction, defines power and
status and has a central role in managing impressions of others.
(v) Appearance and dress: External appearances also play a vital role to communicate
others. Our clothes dress provide a good visual signal to our interest, age, personality,
taste, and sex. Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other factors affecting
appearance are also considered a means of nonverbal can evoke different moods.
Consider differing cultural standards on what is attractive in dress and on what
constitutes modesty. For example, seeing the dress of army officers, we can easily
determine the job status.
(vi) Touch: Touch is culturally determined. But each culture has a clear concept of what
parts of the body one may not touch. Basic message of touch is to affect or control-
protect, support and disapprove (i.e. hug, kiss, hit, kick)
 USA-Handshake is common (even for strangers), hugs and kisses for those of
opposite gender or of family (usually) on an increasingly more intimate basis.
  Islamic and Hindu- Typically don’t touch with the left hand. Left hand is for toilet
functions.
 Islamic cultures generally don’t approve of any touching to opposite genders (even
handshakes). But consider such touching (including hand holding, hugs) between
same sexes to be appropriate.

(vii) Silence: Silence is another form of non-verbal communication which expresses the
positive or negative meanings of particular messages. In a classroom, silence indicates
that students are listening carefully and attentively.

B. SPACE OR PROXIMITY

People often refer to their need for “personal space”, which are also important types of non-
verbal communication. The physical distance between you and others signals your level of
intimacy and comfort. If someone you don’t know stand too close or touches too often, you will
probably begin to feel uncomfortable.

C. TIME

Another type of non-verbal communication involves time. Thant is how we give meaning to time
communicates to other. For example, begin late in work everybody a worker can be considered
as a man of carelessness but if a manager does it; we say it is a symbol of power. We know, time
can play a vital role to reduce tension, conflict among groups. It is said that- “Kill the time to
delay the justice”.

D. PARALANGUAGE (TONE AND VOLUME OF VOICE)

Paralinguistic refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. Paralanguage
also includes such vocal characteristics as rate (speed of speaking), pitch (highness or lowness of
tone), inflection, volume (loudness) and quality (pleasing or unpleasant sound).

 Vocal characterizers (laugh, cry, yell, moan, whine, belch and yawn). These send
different message in different cultures (Japan- giggling indicates embarrassment; India-
belch indicates satisfaction)
  Vocal qualifiers (volume, pitch, rhythm, tempo, and tone). Loudness indicates strength in
Arabic cultures and softness indicates weakness; indicates confidence and authority to the
Germans; indicates impoliteness to the Thai; indicates loss of control to the Japanese.
(Generally, one learns not to “shout” in Asia for nearly any reason). Gender-based as well
women tend to speak higher and more softly than men.
 Vocal segregates (UN-huh, shh, uh, ooh, mmmh, hummm, eh mah, lah). Segretates
indicate formality, acceptance, assent, uncertainty.

E. Non-verbal aspects of Written Communication

Non-verbal Aspects of Written Communication A document has an appearance which is the

consequence of font size and style, margins, spacing, quality of paper. The appearance and the
feel of a document convey impressions about the status of the sender and also make it more
readable and attractive to the receiver.

(a) Colour: It has psychology effect; it is associated with diff. moods and feelings. It is an
important means of communication; used for classification and identification of different
products; make products attractive; different colored papers are used for different
departments to distinguish the copies; used in uniforms of the members; gives an added
dimension to maps, chart, graphs etc; used in clothing design and decoration
(b) Pictures: It can be tackled in any order these are used in brochures, posters and
exclusively in advertising because they can attract the eye and convey instantly even
when the reader just glances at them.
(c) Diagram: A diagram is a figure consisting of simple line drawing made to accompany
and illustrate the parts and the operation of something. The different types of diagrams
are: Graphs and charts: The different graphs and charts are bar graphs, line graph
(Compares two variables), pie chart (Displays percentage), flow chart (Indicates the
procedures).
(d) Maps: These are representations of territory and are said for conveying the space
relationship between places. Conveys geographical information, transport routes, climatic
conditions, distribution of population, crops, animal life and vegetation, sociological
factors etc.
(e) Signs and Signals: It is used to represent something. It has a fixed meaning. Signs may
be made with hands, lights, cloth, smoke, drums, whistles or anything that can be heard
or seen at a distance.
(f) Auditory symbols: Sirens, whistles, bells and buzzers, beeps, tunes are used as auditory
symbols.