Communication

between cultures 8TH EDITION

Chapter 9
Nonverbal Communication:
The Messages of Action,
Time, and Silence

Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space 1
 Key Ideas
Functions of nonverbal communication
Defining nonverbal communication
Studying nonverbal communication
Classification of nonverbal communication
Improving nonverbal communication skills

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Functions of nonverbal communication

Expressing internal states

Important judgments and decisions based on
observations of nonverbal behavior
Emotions reflected in posture, face, eyes, tone of
voice, proximity, and touch
Creating identity
Variety of non-verbal messages help people make
judgments about others
Things such as skin color, use of makeup, facial
expressions, dress, etc.

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Functions of nonverbal communication

Regulating interaction
Repeating the message
Substituting for words

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Defining nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication involves all those

nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting
that are generated by both the source and his
or her use of the environment and that have
potential message value for the source and/or
receiver.

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Defining nonverbal communication
Messages may be intentional or unintentional
Verbal and nonverbal messages
Difficult to separate verbal and nonverbal
messages
Often use nonverbal message to repeat a point

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 Studying nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication can be ambiguous

Multiple factors influence nonverbal
communication
It includes cultural universals
Nonverbal communication is learned in the
process of socialization
Different cultures have their own rules for
nonverbal communication such as the use of facial
expression

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Messages of the body
Appearance
Judgment of beauty
Skin color
Attire
Body movement Kinesics
Posture
Gestures
Facial expressions
Eye contact and gaze
Touch

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Body movement Kinesics
Vocal qualities (pitch, rate, pitch, tempo, resonance,
pronunciation, tone)
Vocal characteristics (laughing, crying, moaning,
whining, yawning)
Vocal segrates (uh-huh, shh,, uh, ooh, um,
mmmh, hmmm

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Space and distance
Personal space
Intimate distance
Personal distance
Social distance
Public distance
Seating
Furniture and arrangement
Time

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Time
Informal time
Punctuality
Pace
Monrchromatic (M-Time) and Polychromatic (P-
Time)
M-time: time is linear, sequential, and segmented
P-Time: For P-time cultures, time is less tangible and
people are usually not in a hurry to finish an
assignment or chore

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Silence
Periods of provide an interval in an ongoing
interaction during which the participants have
time to think, check or suppress an emotion,
encode a lengthy response, or inaugurate another
line of thought
Silence also provides feedback, informing both
sender and receiver about the clarity of an idea or
its significance in the overall interpersonal
exchange

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Silence
In most Western cultures, talk is highly valued,
and it is often difficult to determine the meaning
behind someones silence, because it can be
interpreted as an indication of agreement, anger,
lack of interest, injured feelings, or contempt
Silence can be interpreted as an indication of
agreement, anger, lack of interest, injured
feelings, or contempt

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Silence
Intercultural implications of silence as a means of
interpreting ongoing verbal interactions are as
diverse as those of other nonverbal cues
Knowing how various cultures use silence is
essential
Buddhism - many people feel comfortable with the
absence of noise or talk and actually believe that
words can contaminate an experience

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 Classification of nonverbal
communication
Silence
Japanese silence is important and complex
People are expected to know what another person is
thinking and feeling without anything being said
Silence is linked to credibility
Hindu
Self-realization, salvation, truth, wisdom, peace, and
bliss are all achieved in a state of meditation and
introspection when the individual is communicating
with himself or herself in silence

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Improving nonverbal communication
skills
Monitor your nonverbal actions
Is my behavior making people feel comfortable or
uncomfortable?
Am I am adjusting my nonverbal messages to the
feedback I am receiving from my communication
partner?
How are people reacting to my use of space, touch,
paralanguage, time, and the like?
If my messages are being misinterpreted is it because
my unintentional messages, rather than my
intentional messages, are impacting my
communication partner?

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Improving nonverbal communication
skills
Monitor feedback
Be sensitive to the context
Be aware of nonverbal ambiguity
Know your culture

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Communication
between cultures 8TH EDITION

Chapter 9
Nonverbal Communication:
The Messages of Action,
Time, and Silence

Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space 18