Communication

Communication is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual, process in which people create shared meanings that does not have to be intentional.

Includes such things as:

Eye contact

Posture

Appearance

Touching

Gestures

Voice tone

Nonverbal Communication

All aspects of communication other than the

words themselves.

(Birdwhistell ’70)

Like verbal communication, the way we use and

interpret nonverbal communication is culturally

specific.

Like verbal communication nonverbal communication is:

Arbitrary and ambiguous

In the United States

language code

nonverbal &paralanguage codes

31%

69%

5 Ways in Which Nonverbal Behaviors Interact With Verbal

Communication1. Accent

2. Complement

3. Contradict

4. Regulate

5. Substitute

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

1. Body Movement (kinesics)

Emblems

Illustrators

Affect Displays

Regulators

Adaptors

Name the Kinesics

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

2. Space (proxemics)

Intimate distance

Personal distance

Social distance

Public distance

Proxemics also deals with:

Territory

Protect

Mark

Degree

Places

Reactions

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

3. Touch (haptics)

Task Related

Social Related

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

4. Time (chronemics)

How we perceive and use time

Past oriented

Present oriented

Future oriented

Past Oriented

Regard past events as important.

Emphasis is placed on tradition.

Show great respect for elders.

Present Oriented

Spontaneity

Future Oriented

Live for tomorrow

How Cultures Arrange Their Time Differently

3 Different time systems

1. Technical

2. Formal

3. Informal

a) Monochronic

b) Polychronic

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

5. Voice (Paralanguage)

Paralanguage

How something is said

(silence, pitch, tone, volume)

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

Arabs: Loudly --- strength and sincerity

Israelis: Increased volume --- strong belief about topic

Asian: Gentle soft voice --- good manners and education

Mā mother

má hemp

mă horse

Mà scold

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

6. Environmental and Physical Appearance

“We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

Winston Churchill

Environment and Physical Appearance

Red

Chinese – good luck

Koreans – bad luck

Ghana – sorrow

Russians - fertility