NONVERBAL

COMMUNICATION
Body language refers to the nonverbal signals
that we use to communicate. According to
experts, these nonverbal signals make up a huge
part of daily communication. (50 to 70 percent of
all communication) From our facial expressions
to our body movements, the things we don't say
can still convey volumes of information.

Every day, we respond to thousands on

nonverbal cues and behaviors including
postures, facial expression, eye gaze, gestures,
and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our
hairstyles, nonverbal details reveal who we are
and impact how we relate to other people.
 Innate-Acquired Body
Language
Some nonverbal clues such as
crying, laughing, frowning,
blushing, and smiling, are innate.
A baby, trying to find the breast of
his/her mother. This is innate,
coming from our nature. On the
other hand, some gestures are
acquired like turning our head left
and right when we do not want
something. When a baby does not
want to do something, he just
pushes his head behind.
People used to communicate with each
other before they invented the language.
That means the body language was the
first communication tool of humanity.

After the invention of language, they

started sharing their ideas, thoughts,
feelings and needs.
In daily life, we use
approximately 1000
words but except
those words, we
communicate
through…
OUR HANDS
OUR ARMS
OUR BODY POSTURE
OUR CLOTHES
THE COLOR OF OUR HAIR
OUR SMELL
 During face-to face communication we
transmit our message through our voice,
speed, power of voice, also through our
body language, appearance, facial
expression, our smell.
We express our feelings
through…

Body language (%55)

The tone of our voice (%38)

Words (%7)
 That means

Human communication consists of 93%

body language and while only 7% of
communication consists of words
themselves.
 Personal Space/Distance

The notion of personal space was introduced in

1966 by anthropologist Edward T. Hall.
Personal space is the region surrounding a
person which they regard as psychologically
theirs. Most people value their personal space
and feel discomfort, anger, or anxiety when
their personal space is encroached. Permitting
a person to enter personal space and entering
somebody else's personal space are indicators
of perception of those people's relationship.
Personal Spaces in Turkey
 Intimate Distance

Intimate space is reserved for lovers,

children, close family members, friends,
and pet animals.
 Personal Distance

This space is used in conversations with

friends, to chat with associates, and in
group discussions
 Social Distance

is reserved for strangers, newly formed

groups.
 Public Distance

is used for speeches, lectures, and theater.

Of course these distances may be changed
from one country to another.

In rural areas, people need more space for

themselves when compared with the
people who live in cities.
In city
In a rural area
In an isolated area
Gestures
Gestures are expression which send
signals to other people
 Primary Gestures

support our thoughts and feelings.

Blinking an eye, shaking the head,
opening the arms.
 Secondary Gestures

are about physical needs such as sneezing,

itching.
Facial Expressions and
ve Eyes
6 basic emotions
 EYES

Eyes are the most important channel in

nonverbal communication.
Pupils are an important part of an eye. If a person
does not like something, the pupils become bigger..

The duration of eye contact is also important for

communication. It depends from one country to
another.

For example, Arabian people do not like eye

contact.

In Japan, eye contact for a long time is rude.

In America and most parts of Europe, the duration

of eye contact is longer.
 Formal Look

If you are looking into

this area, that means you
are not very close with
the person you are
talking to.
 Communication Look

If you are looking into

this area (from the eyes
until the lips), that
means you are open to
communication.
 Flirt Look

When you are looking

into this area (from the
lips until the chest), it
shows emotional
interest. The look
focuses on the lips and
the neck.
The movements of the
Head
 Neuter Position of the
Head

If the head is still,

without any movement,
that means you are
impartial.
Head Positon that shows
you are interested

If your head ,s
rightwards or leftwards,
that means you are
interested.
 “I do not approve!”

If the head is towards

the ground, that means
you do not approve and
you are ready to judge.
“Everything is under my
control”

The hands are at the

back side of the head.
People sho feel secure
and dominantuse this
gesture. “I have all the
answers”, “everything is
under my control”.
Hands, Arms, Legs
 Power and Trust

Holding hands behind,

represents the authority.
Police, army officers,
teachers make this most
of the times. The
weakest points are free,
that means the person
who makes this gestures
feels very powerful and
secure. It also shows
that you trust yourself.
 Palms / Open palm

Shows that the person does not have

anything to hide. It is a recommended
gesture for effective communication.
 Closed palm

It represents the authority. Dog trainers give

order with their hands which are looking
down. In history this gesture is used most
effectively by Hitler.

Someone who wants to end the conversation,

a police who wants to stop a car, a party
leader who wants to create an authority on
parliament members use this gesture.
 Thread

When your manager says “we will work

happily together”, if his/her body language
says another thing, the words are not
important. The content is not important,
the clues of body language is important.
Our position of our hands show our
determination, rejection or domination.
For example:
 Two fingers together

Shows the importance of

the subject
 Holding the air

Shows how determined

you are about the
subject you are talking
 Hitting the air

It shows also
determination
 Scissors

It shows that you reject

 Arms

The weakest point of the

body is the chest area.
When people feel
insecure, they twist their
arms. We make this
gesture also when we
are not agree with the
person we are listening.
Shaking Hands
 Stable

Two hands holding each other. Both

people want to show their existance to
each other. It is a stable hand shaking
position.
 Hand shaking which
shows superiority
The palm is towards the floor. It means “I
am more powerful than you are”. Most of
the directors, governers, manager shake
hands like this.
 Shaking hands in a
friendly way

When we want to
establish trust
about our honesty
and true feelings,
we use both hands.
We want to show
we are sincere and
trustable.
Shaking hand with a body
touch

When we are shaking hands, if we also

touch the arm of the other person, it creates
an emotional tie. This emotional tie becomes
stronger, if we touch upper side of the arm.
Sitting Positions
One leg on another
The position of our legs gives important
messages.
 Trust

The person sees himself

powerful and secure.
 Challenging

He is ready to challenge
and to argue. He does
not want to change his
idea in any condition.
 Worried

Holding the arms of the

chair shows that the
person is worried about
something or bored.
Self-confident
 Anxious

Sitting on the edge of

the chair shows that you
are anxious.
Cultural differences
The body language changes from one
culture to another..

There are also similar body gestures. For

example wherever you go, you will
understand that a person is sad if she/he is
crying.
If you move your head up and down, that
means “yes” all over the world. Moving
the head left and right means “no”. Only in
Turkey, Greece, Syria and Sicily, moving
your head backwards means “no”.
 Victory-Peace

It means victory-peace in
all over the world
 Success

It means success except

in Iran and Nigeria.
 To Greet

To greet somebody by
bending front, can only
be seen in Far East
countries.
 Crossing Legs

In Europe and America it

is a normal posture, on
the other hand in Turkey
it can be misperceived in
front of older people.

.
 Money

What do we make when

we want to mention the
money?
 Spain

Hitting the left knee with a right hand

means “you are penny-pincher”.
Also the climate has an effect on body
language.In North Europe, people do not
move very much while talking. In South
Europe, Mediterranean countries, Turkey
and Arabia, people use body language
more.
English people are the ones who use the
least body language in all over the world.
Advantages of using and
knowing the body
language
We can easily express ourselves.

Our self-confidence can be increased.

Our speech can be more effective.

We can understand the inner world of the

other person.

Understanding the feelings of the other

person gives us a chance to help her/him.
Lie, insincerity, hesitation

We we lie we sweat or become red. When

children lie, they close their mouth with both
their hands. When older children (13-18) lie,
they close their mouths only with one hand.
When adults lie they touch their faces or mouth.
When we lie;

More body gestures

Less hand gestures

Smaller pupils

Hands touch the face

No eye contact

Palms hidden
What we have to do is
To look into the eyes of the other
To show that we listen
To be carefull about the
tone of our voice
To be centle
To care ourselves
Not to forget to smile
 And not to be afraid of
the power of «TOUCH»