verbal and nonverbal communication

• Communication


  The transfer of information from one person to another
• Verbal communication


  That type of communication that is spoken or written
• Non-verbal communication


  Includes facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body posture and motions, and positioning within groups. It may also include the way we wear our clothes or the silence we keep
• If the nonverbal cues and the spoken message are incongruous, the flow of communication is hindered
• The receiver of the communication tends to base the intentions of the sender on the non-verbal cues they receive
• Denotative meaning


  The words' restrictive or literal meaning (dictionary meaning)
• Connotative meaning


  The words' personal and subjective meaning, conveying feelings
• Words


  • Arbitrary - no logical connection between the word and what it represents
  • Context bound - derive meaning from the situation in which they are used
  • Culturally bound - meaning can change from culture to culture
  • Have denotative and connotative meanings
• Concrete words


  Can be experienced with the senses (touch, see, smell, etc.)
• Abstract words


  Cannot be experienced with the senses
• Words


  • Have power to create, affect thoughts and actions, and affect and reflect culture
• Functions of words


  • Symbols - make associations with them
  • Arbitrary - randomly chosen
  • Context bound - derive meaning from the situation
  • Culturally bound - meaning can change across cultures
• Word barriers


  • Bypassing - one word with two thoughts
  • Bafflegap/Highfaultin' - unnecessary use of abstract words
  • Lack of clarity/precision - words used inappropriately
  • Static evaluation/stereotyping - labeling without considering change
  • Biased language - reflects gender, racial or ethnic biases
• Nonverbal communication


  Behaviour other than written or spoken language that creates meaning
• Types of nonverbal communication


  • Kinesic behaviours - movements used to communicate
  • Eye behaviour - emotions, facilitating/regulating conversation, monitoring reactions
  • Paralanguage - vocal sounds other than words (pitch, speech rate, volume, rhythm)
  • Body language - movements and gestures
  • Oculesics - role of eyes in communication (eye gaze, pupil dilation)
  • Chronemics - use and perception of time
  • Proxemics - use of space and distance
  • Haptics - touching behaviour
• Elements of nonverbal communication


  • Volume - loudness/softness of voice
  • Pitch/Intonation - highness/lowness of voice
  • Enunciation - clearness of syllables
  • Fluency - smoothness of speech
  • Pauses - timing of speech
  • Facial expressions - convey emotions
  • Eye contact - facilitates conversation, signals interest
  • Gestures - illustrate verbal points, regulate conversation
  • Posture - signals confidence, interest, boredom
  • Proximity - closeness indicates relationship
• Principle of distance


  Explains why subordinates rarely question the boss's right to drop in to their work area without invitation but are reluctant to approach their superior's office even when told the door is always open
• Haptics


  Nonverbal touching behaviour
• Types of business touching

  • Formal handshakes
  • Informal pats on the back
  • Occasional arm touch when addressing a co-worker in conversation
• Elements of Non Verbal Communication

  • Volume
  • Pitch/Intonation
  • Enunciation
  • Pace
  • Stress
  • Tone
• Volume


  The loudness/softness of voice
• Pitch/Intonation


  The highness/loudness of voice (projection)
• Enunciation


  The clearness with which syllables are spoken
• Pace


  The speed at which something is said
• Stress


  The emphasis given to syllables, words or phrases
• Tone


  The emotional quality of speech
• Functions of nonverbal communication


  • Complementing
  • Accenting
  • Contradicting
  • Repeating
  • Regulating
  • Substituting
• Complementing


  Nonverbal signals that complement the verbal message and repeat it
• Accenting


  Nonverbal signals that accent and call attention to a matter being discussed
• Contradicting


  Nonverbal signs that contradict the verbal message, often sent unintentionally by the subconscious
• Repeating


  Occurs when a message is sent using one form of communication and then emphasised with another
• Regulating


  Occurs during conversations to signal to a partner to slow, stop, wait their turn, or indicate readiness to listen or speak
• Substituting


  When verbal cues cannot be used, nonverbal cues are used to get the point across
• Differences between verbal and nonverbal communication

  • Environment
  • Feedback
  • Continuity
  • Channel
  • Control
  • Senses
  • Structure
  • Acquisition
• Environment


  Nonverbal communication can take place when you are not around people, and the environment you choose can also tell something about you
• Feedback


  Nonverbal communication provides a lot of emotional feedback through facial expressions and body positioning
• Continuity


  Nonverbal communication is continuous, unlike verbal communication which begins and ends with words
• Channel


  Nonverbal communication uses more than one channel
• Control


  You do not always have control over your nonverbal communication, especially your emotional responses, which are mostly spontaneous
• Senses


  Nonverbal communication uses the senses, unlike verbal communication which is mostly conveyed through words