Non-verbal communication is a system consisting of a range of features often used together to aid expression.
The combination of these features is often a subconscious choice made by native speakers or even sub-groups/sub-cultures within a language group. The main components of the system are:
Kinesics (body language) includes body motions such as shrugs, foot tapping, drumming fingers, eye movements like winking, facial expressions, and gestures.
Haptics refers to touch.
Oculesics is the study of eye contact.
Olfactics is the study of smell.
Chronemics is the study of the use of time.
Proxemics is the study of the use of space to signal privacy or attraction.
Paravocalics or Vocalics refers to the tone of voice, timbre, volume, speed.
Sound symbols include grunting, mmm, er, ah, uh-huh, mumbling.
Silence can refer to pausing, waiting, or secrecy.
Posture refers to the position of the body or stance.
Adornment includes clothing, jewelry, and hairstyle.
Locomotion can refer to walking, running, staggering, or limping.
Kinesics (body language) includes body motions such as shrugs, foot tapping, drumming fingers, eye movements like winking, facial expressions, and gestures.
Haptics refers to touch.
Oculesics is the study of eye contact.
Olfactics is the study of smell.
Chronemics is the study of the use of time.
Proxemics (proximity) is the study of the use of space to signal privacy or attraction.
Paravocalics/Vocalics refers to the tone of voice, timbre, volume, speed.
Sound symbols include grunting, mmm, er, ah, uh-huh, mumbling.
Silence can refer to pausing, waiting, or secrecy.
Posture refers to the position of the body and stance.
Adornment includes clothing, jewelry, and hairstyle.
Locomotion can refer to walking, running, staggering, or limping.
Emotional awareness strengthens nonverbal communication by enabling us to accurately read other people, recognize their emotions, and understand the true feelings behind the cues they are sending.
Emotional awareness helps create trust in relationships by sending nonverbal signals that match up with your words.
Emotional awareness allows us to respond in ways that show others that we understand, notice, and care.
Emotional awareness helps us know if the relationship is meeting our emotional needs, giving us the option to either repair the relationship or move on.