HUMAN

COMMUNICATION &
INTERPERSONAL
SKILL
Nonverbal Communication
Session-3
 What Is Nonverbal Communication?

Nonverbal communication: The process of relaying messages and meanings

without the use of words.
Example:
When you’re in class and falling asleep in the back row, your nodding off
communicates something to your professor. Sleeping in class may mean that
you’re bored, tired, sick, or simply didn’t sleep well the previous night. But one
thing is sure—you’re not listening, and that message is clear. Even when you
think you’re not saying anything, you are actually expressing quite a bit. From
hairstyles to clothing, to gestures, to home décor, nonverbal communication is
constant and complex. It is important to remember that “the ability to
understand and use nonverbal communication . . . is a powerful tool that helps
you connect with others, express what you reallymean, navigate challenging
situations, and build better relationships” (Segal, Smith, and Jaffe, 2012)
• The differences and similarities between verbal and nonverbal
communication might seem obvious.
• The most obvious difference, as we’ve already pointed out, is that
verbal communication involves saying words, and nonverbal
communication does not.
• Similarities to Verbal Communication
Table 3.1: Comparing Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
NONVERBAL
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
Similarities Guided by rules, conventions
Symbolic
Influenced by culture
Intentional or unintentional
Differences Less honest More honest
Involves seeing and hearing Uses all senses
Begins and ends Flows continuously
Looking first at similarities, both verbal and nonverbal forms of
communication are influenced by rules.
In the case of verbal communication, factors such as grammar, syntax,
formal and informal language, and conventional greetings shape what
we say and how we say it.
Similarly, how close we stand to people when we talk with them, the
style of clothing we wear, and whether we shake a person’s hand are all
examples of cultural rules we follow when communicating nonverbally.
Another similarity between verbal and nonverbal communication is
that both are symbolic. Both are composed of arbitrary symbols to
which we give meaning, and we, in turn, behave according to those
meanings. For example, who says ♥ or
• Since we decide as a society on shared interpretations of these
symbols, cultural influence is another commonality between verbal
and nonverbal communication.
• What we do and do not verbalize are dictated in large part by the
culture in which the communication occurs. American English
speakers might get to a task “right away,” whereas British English
speakers would get to theirs “straight away.”
• As for nonverbal communication, how and when we dress a certain
way, how much eye contact we make when we talk, and what foods
we eat and when we eat them are also indicative of cultural influence
on communication.
• The final similarity has to do with intentionality, or whether what we
communicate is intended; in both verbal and nonverbal
communication, we communicate much that we do not intend. For
one thing, we make mistakes.
• We may have a specific meaning or outcome in mind, but that
outcome or meaning may not necessarily follow. Verbally, we may
want to sound smart by using a few big words in conversation with
friends, but using them incorrectly may make us sound not so smart.
Nonverbally, we may want to dress in our best outfit to impress our
date’s parents, but all they see is someone trying just a little too hard.
Differences from Verbal Communication
• Verbal communication involves hearing and seeing, whereas
nonverbal involves all five senses—taste, touch, smell, hearing, and
seeing. Of course you see facial expressions, and you hear the silence
when you ask your date if you can go out again. Consider, too, the
smells of Thanksgiving dinner that convey traditions, caring, and
devotion, and the touch of a hug that communicates love or concern.
Tastes and textures of food identify specific cultures and even
geography; think of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cumin in a Moroccan
salad, for example
• A final difference between nonverbal and verbal communication is
that nonverbal communication never stops; it continues to flow,
while verbal communication begins and ends. In other words, we all
stop talking at some point, but our demeanors, accessories, facial
expressions, and other nonverbal indicators continue to carry
meaning long after our conversations have cease.
 Theory of Nonverbal Coding Systems

One prominent example is communication scholar Judee Burgoon’s

work on nonverbal coding systems (1994), which sees nonverbal
coding systems as groups or clusters of behaviors that convey meaning,
for example body movements, gesticulations, and facial expressions.
These clusters, or systems, share several properties:
• They are analogic rather than digital. That is, they are continuous,
rather than discrete like numbers, and flow along a range or
continuum. We can’t classify smiles, for example, into discrete
categories. Smiles, like voice volume, have gradations.
• They can be iconic; that is, they objectively represent the thing being
represented. The symbol for “OK,” for example, is the touching of the
thumb and forefinger into the shape of an “O.” And have you ever used
your hands to outline the shape of something as you were trying to explain
what you were looking for?
• Many, but not all, possess universal meaning. Some universally understood
codes are automatic: laughing, crying, and smiling, for example. Some are
less so, for example a clenched fist showing anger.
• They permit the simultaneous transmission of many messages. Your joy can
be seen in your wide eyes, broad smile, nervous hopping, and loud voice. In
this case, your different nonverbal expressions all reinforce a single
meaning. But as we saw above in our discussion of nonverbal
communication’s honesty, they can send different or conflicting meanings—
your smile and attentive eyes say you’re happy to be on the date, but your
sweaty forehead and cracking voice say you’re terrified to be on the date.
• They can generate or evoke an automatic response. What do you do
when someone offers her or his hand? What do you do when
someone smiles at you?
• They are often spontaneous. Are you a pacer? Do you twirl your hair
or shift from foot to foot when nervous?
We use nonverbal coding systems to frame the verbal messages we
deliver to others. Framing is how we structure a message by using
nonverbal communication to repeat, complement, contradict,
substitute for, and regulate what we say.
• Nonverbal codes can repeat verbal communication or vice versa. A child asks for a
cookie and mom first nods her head, and then says “Yes.” Her answer is the same—
relayed first through nonverbal and then verbal communication.
• Nonverbal codes can also complement verbal communication. When a student goes
home for the weekend and a younger sibling says, “I’m so glad you came home” while
flashing a wide smile, the message is clearly being complemented through emphasis.
• A message can also be contradicted. When we ask a seemingly stressed-out friend,
“What’s wrong?” and she replies, “Nothing!” with an angry tone, she is verbalizing one
thing, but her inflection expresses the opposite.
• Nonverbal codes can also substitute for verbal communication; for example, when we
don’t want to dignify someone’s ridiculous question with a response, we simply roll our
eyes.
• The last function of nonverbal coding systems is that it can regulate verbal
communication. Such is the case when a public speaker pauses between comments or
transitions, indicating to the audience that it can clap or briefly ponder the point. We all
use eye contact and slight turns of our head to tell our conversational partners that it is
their turn to speak.
 Types of Nonverbal Coding Systems

Below we look at 11 types of nonverbal coding systems. You probably

think about some of these quite often, while others might surprise you.
• Proxemics
Our use of space and distance to make meaning.
Your decision of where to sit in the classroom or how close to stand to
an acquaintance both have to do with proximity and what you want to
communicate in making that choice. For example, you may sit in the
front row to communicate that you are a diligent student.
• Territory
The space people consider theirs.
Part of your decision may have to do with territory, the space you
consider as yours. Your territory can be either temporary or permanent.

You may routinely sit in the same seat for each class because you see
it as your place in the room and, in turn, feel invaded when someone
else sits there. You may also throw your sweater over a seat at the
movies to keep others from sitting next to you.
When we think about the use of space in communication, there are
four specific distance zones to consider: intimate distance, personal
distance, social distance, and public distance.

As people move from one zone to another, the degrees of intimacy

change, which also determines the formality of the communication.
And, depending on the culture, the interpretations of these zones and
the appropriateness of language use can differ greatly. Nonetheless, in
all cultures, when people communicate with one another, they use
distance zones to identify the closeness and context of their
relationships (Hall, 1966).
Intimate space 0–18 inches;
distance zone that implies an extremely personal connection.
• Examples of intimate distance include a mother tending to her baby,
two lovers talking and walking hand-in-hand in the park, or a father
giving sensitive advice to his son. In each of these cases, being
physically close is considered normal in American culture. But
consider a different situation: think how you feel on a crowded bus,
shoulder-to-shoulder with a stranger. It’s usually pretty awkward; you
would most definitely consider this an invasion of your intimate
space. However, in India, where pushing and shoving are
commonplace and culturally accepted, it’s not so awkward.
Personal space 18 inches to 4 feet;
distance zone that implies a close, but not intimate relationship.
Sitting with a close friend at lunch, having a casual conversation with your
roommate, or reviewing business proposals with your work partner may all
involve the use of personal space. Your language is informal, signifying
familiarity, if not some intimacy.

Social space 4 to 12 feet apart;

distance zone suggesting little, if any, intimacy.
Cocktail parties, job interviews, and wedding showers are all settings in which
we would typically demonstrate social distance. In each of these cases, we are
likely to be with some people with whom we are close, others who are mere
acquaintances, and many we don’t even know. Our talk is an appropriate mix
of formal and informal language.
Public space More than 12 feet apart;
distance zone implying little intimacy and indicating a more formal
language environment.
Shopping at the grocery store, attending a concert in a park, or going to
a flea market are all examples of settings in which we would utilize our
public zones. Table 4.2 summarizes the characteristics of each zone.
• Haptics
Communicating through touch.
Consider all the different types of physical contact we routinely enact:
hugs, kisses, back slaps, handshakes, punches, massages, cheek
pinches, kicks under the table, sexual intimacy, hand-holding, and
tickles, for example. Certainly you can come up with several more.
• Nonverbal immediacy
The use of nonverbal cues to indicate closeness.
While we all use touch to indicate different degrees of closeness, we have to
consider that our nonverbal cues may be misrepresented, unintended, or
simply inappropriate. Moreover, different people have different levels of
tolerance for physical contact—some may consider a pat on the back
harmless, while others feel threatened. As a result, there are many factors to
consider in determining whether and when touch is appropriate. Setting is
important; for example, is an arm squeeze given at work or home? Gender is
important; for example, that heart-felt hug you gave your classmate could
mean many things, especially if one of you is female and the other male.
Relationship is important; for example, your sarcastic tone with your friends is
funny, but with your parents maybe not so funny. The consequences of
miscommunication in each of these scenarios could be dramatic, but they are
not always detrimental to the relationship of the communicators.
• Expectancy Violation Theory
This theory suggests that when interpersonal communication
expectations are violated, we pay heightened attention to nonverbal
communication in order to interpret the unexpected behavior.

To take an extreme example, a kiss on a successful second date,

although possibly unexpected, will be judged much more favorably
than a kiss from a stranger on the bus. But what if the violation is
ambiguous? Here your already held evaluation of the other person
becomes important. If you value the other person—for example, you
envision starting a serious relationship with him or her—you will
interpret the violation positively; if you do not, you will interpret it
negatively
• Chronemics
The use of time to communicate.
Even our days provide us with a guide of how to interpret and utilize
our time. Sunday, for example, may be football day to you, but for some
it may be a day to rest after a long work week, and for others a day of
celebrating religion or spirituality. And then there are time rules we
follow, depending on our culture; for example, Americans kiss romantic
partners at midnight on New Year’s Eve; dress up in costumes on
October 31; profess affection on February 14; eat cake and ice cream
on birthdays; and generally see a work day as about 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.
Different cultures use time quite differently. In Europe, employees may
take two to three hours for a break in the middle of the day, and
families may dedicate long periods to dining. Americans, by contrast,
generally rush to tasks, as reflected in phrases such as “fast food” and
“time is money.” Thanks in part to media technologies, Americans tend
to use time polychronically: they multitask. This wasn’t always the
case, however. Historically, Americans were long considered to be
monochronic, focusing on one task or activity at a time. You can read
more about Americans’ use of time in the box “How We Spend Our
Time.”
• Kinesics
The use of body motions in communication.
Some of those motions include hand gestures, posture, facial
expressions, leg movements, pacing, and even individual habits like hair
twirling or clenching fists. Kinesics are intriguing partly because body
motions make up a large percentage of body language, and of all the
different types of nonverbal communication, body language is arguably
the most honest. How many times have you been told that your words
are saying one thing but your body is telling a different story?
Example: Your roommate asks why you seem to be feeling down. You
assure him you are fine, but you’re not smiling and your head is down.
• Nonetheless, we often intentionally use specific movements of our
hands and arms to communicate. These are gesticulations. There are
five types of gesticulations or hand/arm gestures: emblems,
adaptors, illustrators, affect displays, and regulators.
Table 3.3 Five Types of Gesticulations
DEFINITION EXAMPLE
Emblems Gestures that can be translated into
Shaking
wordsyour head “no”
Adaptors Gestures used to fulfill a need Pushing hair out of your face
Gestures that emphasize a Using your hand to illustrate the
Illustrators
verbal message height of a child
Affect Displays Emotional gestures Shaking when you are anxious
Gestures to help the flow of
Regulators Raising your hand in class
speech
• Vocalics (also paralanguage)
Sounds and rhythms other than actual words which come out of one’s
mouth.
Examples include tone, inflection, laughter, crying, articulation, pitch,
coughing, shouting, whistling, and sounds made to communicate direct
messages, for example when a librarian says “Shhhhh!” or when people
clear their throats to get attention. The voice is able to communicate a
lot of emotion; sometimes we can hear that something is wrong—or
that something great has happened—just from the sound of someone’s
voice. And consider what vocalics do for us emotionally, mentally, and
even physically. A sick child in the hospital who hears a parent’s voice is
comforted, and a newborn’s first cry brings relief and joy to new
parents.
• Oculesics
The use of pupil dilation, eye movement, and eye contact in meaning
making.
Example: Gazing and staring are associated with showing interest;
increased blinking may equate to stress; squinting may be a sign of
uncertainty; and looking down could create a sense of submission or
guilt (perhaps the person is lying). As with vocalics, eye movements are
directly tied to emotions. We speak about smiling with our eyes or
notice that someone has dark or sad eyes.
• Facial expressions
The use of the face’s mobility in communication, are an important form
of nonverbal communication.
Some of the ways we make meaning from facial expressions are in our
reading of smiles (expressing joy), frowns (showing sadness or dismay),
crinkled foreheads (suggesting wonder or confusion), and puckered or
licked lips (indicating disgust, fear, or anger). These examples represent
only a few of the many dimensions of the face. Even when we attempt
to hide our emotions, we use facial expressions. For instance, you may
put on a “brave face” to deliver bad news. Another emotion clearly
communicated through facial expressions is embarrassment
• Physical Appearance
We also communicate nonverbally through physical appearance. Clothing, height, weight,
body adornments (tattoos, piercings, and accessories), skin color, ethnicity, hairstyle and
color, shape, attractiveness, and hygiene are all examples of physical attributes that
communicate meaning to others.

Consider the following questions as you examine how physical appearance creates meaning:
➙ What is likely to happen if you wear jeans to a job interview at the top law firm in the city?
➙ Do we label models on the cover of fashion magazines as attractive or unattractive? Why?
➙ How might a Little League team react differently to a 5-foot-tall coach versus a 6-foot-tall
coach?
➙ What would a patient say if a doctor with dirty hands walked into the examining room?
➙ How does your grandmother feel about your piercings and tattoos? ➙ Are you likely to hire
an obese dietician to help you manage your health
• Artifacts
Objects we use to identify ourselves are also a type of nonverbal
communication.
Artifacts help define us and our environments and, in turn, tell others how to
behave accordingly. What does a wedding ring communicate, for example?
Artifacts can also indicate whether others share our values.
Artifacts can inform us about people’s jobs, interests, or hobbies.
Artifacts can also be a powerful force in allowing us to shape our own
identities, as well as announce our membership in a specific culture. For
instance, many young people define themselves according to objects marked
with popular brand names like Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sony, Alex and
Ani, Apple, Under Armour, and North Face, to name a few. For them it may
be less about materialism and more about announcing who they are and
how they fit into the culture.
• Environmental factors
such as temperature, weather, smells, lighting, and designs can also be
a form of nonverbal communication.
Have you ever noticed that many shopping malls are now designed to
resemble quaint villages? The intention is to communicate security and
community, making the shopping experience more inviting, which
should result in more spending. Similarly, when planning a special date
at your place, you might light some candles, dim the lights, and
carefully choose music to set the mood.
Because environmental factors can be visually effective in
communicating messages, media content often makes use of them.
Film directors may use architectural differences to distinguish a
European city from an American city; for example, lighting to set the
scene for a romantic encounter, or weather conditions to portray a
tropical paradise or a night bound to end in disaster.
• Silence
A final type of nonverbal communication is silence. It’s not a code
usually considered when addressing the different types of nonverbal
communication, but it is extremely powerful in relaying messages. Have
you ever observed a moment of silence for a fallen soldier, or have you
engaged in silent prayer during a religious ceremony? Have you ever
given or received the “silent treatment”? People who cannot answer a
question are “struck by silence.” Ignoring or refusing to acknowledge
the achievements or even presence of others, intentionally or
otherwise, is a use of silence that can be detrimental to the self-esteem
and confidence of those being shunned
 The Role of Nonverbal Communication in Creating Meaning
and Identity

It is important to realize the critical role of nonverbal communication in

the development of self, first by knowing what codes exist. Next, we must
understand the direct and indirect meaning made from those systems.
Finally, we must know how those codes affect not only the way we see
ourselves but also how others perceive us.

For example, the amount of time we give to our loved ones reflects the
value we place on relational bonds; the uniform we wear to work informs
people of our professional identity; the posture and arm movements we
use in delivering a wedding toast illustrate our confidence (or lack of it) as
a public speaker.
 Review of Learning Objectives

• 3.1 Define nonverbal communication, identifying examples.

Nonverbal communication occurs when we relay messages and create
meaning without words; it is communication that is not verbalized. For
example, sleeping in class communicates that you are not listening, and
sweating can indicate that you are nervous.
• 3.2 Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication.
Verbal and nonverbal communication are similar in that they are
influenced by rules, and are symbolic, culture-bound, and subject to
varying degrees of intentionality. Beyond the absence of spoken words in
nonverbal communication, they are different in that nonverbal is more
honest, involves all five senses, and never stops.
• 3.3 Describe the operation of nonverbal communication and coding
systems.
Nonverbal communication relies on codes, clusters of behaviors that
convey meaning. These codes are analogic rather than digital, and they
are iconic. They possess universal meaning, permit the simultaneous
transmission of many messages, can generate an automatic response,
and are often spontaneous. We frame, or structure, a message using
nonverbal coding systems to repeat, complement, contradict,
substitute for, and regulate what we say.
• 3.4 Describe several types of nonverbal coding systems.
Types of nonverbal coding systems include
• Proxemics, the use of space and distance to make meaning.
• Haptics, communicating through touch.
• Chronemics, using time to communicate.
• Kinesics, expressing meaning through body motion.
• Vocalics, the sounds and rhythms, other than words, that come out of
our mouths.
• Oculesics, the use of pupil dilation, eye movement, and eye contact in
communication.
• Facial expressions, the use of the face’s mobility to make meaning.
• Physical appearance, including clothing choices as well as observable
physical characteristics.
• Artifacts, objects we use to identify ourselves.
• Environmental factors, which often cue meaning.
• Silence, which may be just the absence of sound, not the absence of
meaning.
• 4.5 Explain the role of nonverbal communication in creating meaning
and identity.
Who we are and how we fit into the culture develop through the
meanings we give to signs and symbols and how we behave according
to those meanings. This is as true for nonverbal as it is for verbal
communication.
THANK YOU