Chapter 4 Nonverbal Communication The Great Dictator 1940

Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication

The Great Dictator (1940)

from “Three Valentines” (Frasier, 1999)

What is nonverbal communication? • Non-verbal communication is the process of using wordless messages to generate meaning. – May include nonword vocalizations (intonation, non-word sounds like “hmm” and “uh”) – 60% of communication is nonverbal – Difficult to convey in electronic communication; emojis assist with meaning

Verbal + Nonverbal Communication • Studies show that content (the verbal portion of speech) is most important. • HOWEVER, emphasis and gestures add to audience engagement and cause a speech to be viewed as “lively” and “powerful”. • Nonverbal communication works with the words we speak in 6 ways: repeating, emphasizing, complementing, contradicting, substituting, & regulating

Verbal + Nonverbal Communication • Repeating: when the same message is sent verbally and nonverbally (ex. frowning in confusing while asking someone to clarify; indicating direction and pointing) • Emphasizing: using nonverbal cues to strengthen the key part of a message (ex. hugging a friend and telling them you missed them) • Complementing: when verbal and non-verbal codes add meaning to each other and expand the meaning of either message more than by itself (ex. having a conversation about a death and having an appropriately sad facial expression and tone)

Verbal + Nonverbal Communication • Contradicting: when verbal and nonverbal messages conflict (ex. saying you’re fine while crying); may happen accidentally/unconsciously; can be used intentionally through sarcasm – Sarcasm at work • Substituting: when nonverbal cues are used in place of verbal codes (ex. rolling eyes, shrugging, etc. ); often used to answer simple questions • Regulating: when nonverbal codes are used to monitor and control interactions with others (ex. pausing for comments, walking away from someone to indicate anger); often used to control the flow of conversation

Nonverbal Codes • Nonverbal codes are codes of communication that consist of symbols other than words, including nonword vocalizations. – May include bodily movement, facial expressions, physical attraction, use of space, use of time, touch, vocal cues, and clothing and other artifacts • Bodily movement: “kinesics” = the study of bodily movements (incl. posture, gestures, and facial expressions); from the Greek “kinesis” (movement) – “Reading” another person’s body language is a process of observing, analyzing, and interpreting before assigning meaning

Bodily Movement (cont. ) • Liking: expressed by leaning forward, close proximity, increased touching, relaxed posture, open arms and body, positive facial expression, and direct eye contact • Status: high status = bigger/grander gestures, relaxed posture, less eye contact • Responsiveness: movement toward the other person, spontaneous gestures, shifts in posture and position, facial expressiveness; face and body provide positive feedback to speaker

Bodily Movement (cont. ) • Movements can be sorted into 5 categories based on functions, origins, and meanings: 1. Emblems: nonverbal movements that substitute for words and phrases (ex. open hand held up to mean “stop”) 2. Illustrators: nonverbal movements that accompany or reinforce verbal messages (ex. nodding and saying “yes”) 3. Affect displays: nonverbal movements of the face and body used to show emotion (ex. slamming a door when angry; posturing during a fight) 4. Regulators: nonverbal movements that control the flow or pace of communication (ex. checking your watch when you’re bored) 5. Adaptors: nonverbal movements performed in private but not fully in public (ex. scratching your nose vs. picking it)

Use of Space • Proxemics: the study of the human use of space and distance (Edward T. Hall) – Territoriality: the need to establish and maintain certain spaces as your own (marking parts of a shared desk as yours; fencing a yard) – Personal space: the personal “bubble” that moves around with you; distance you maintain between yourself and others; the amount of space you claim as “yours” – Men tend to take more space than women

Use of Space • Distance communicates everything from the size of your personal bubble to your relationship with the person you’re talking to. • Four distances people regularly use: – Intimate distance: 0 -18 inches; used by people relationally close to you; used more in private than in public; used to show affection, give comfort, and protect – Personal distance: 18 inches – 4 feet; distance used by most Americans for conversation and non-intimate exchanges – Social distance: 4 – 12 feet; used to carry out business in the workplace, especially in formal situations; higher status = greater distance – Public distance: 12+ feet; used in public speaking settings (large lecture halls, rallies, courtrooms, etc. )


Use of Space • Use of distance is a cultural practice: – “Americans overseas were confronted with a variety of difficulties because of cultural differences in the handling of space. People stood ‘too close’ during conversations, and when the Americans backed away to a comfortable conversational distance, this was taken to mean that Americans were cold, aloof, withdrawn, and disinterested. […] In England, Americans who were used to neighborliness were hurt when they discovered that their neighbors were no more accessible or friendly than other people, and in Latin America, exsuburbanites, accustomed to unfenced yards, found that the high walls there made them feels ‘shut out. ’” (Edward T. Hall) • Cultural background can result in great differences in use of space and the interpretation of that use.

Use of Space

Use of Time • Chronemics: the way people organize and use time and the messages that are created because of their organization and the use of it – Perceiving past/present/future: creating scrapbooks; looking toward future goals; “living for the moment” – Monochronic people view time very seriously and complete one task at a time; tend to be very job-oriented; work independently; value privacy; may appear isolated – Monochronic countries: USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland – Polychronic people work on several tasks at a time; time is important but not seen as critical; interpersonal relationships matter more than work – Polychronic countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Philippines – Delayed responses to electronic communication can lead to perceptions of decreased closeness. – Highest job satisfaction = work viewed as punctual and future-oriented

Use of Touch • Tactile communication: the use of touch in communication – Touch always involves invasion of personal space and therefore commands attention – Touch varies by gender (women value touch more than men; women touch female children more than male children; men and sons touch least; males may use touch to indicate power or dominance) – Workplace touching: higher-status individuals can initiate nonreciprocal touch (i. e. company president can pat you on the back, but you do not return the gesture) – Differences in culture: Puerto Rico (180 times per hour); France (110 times per hour); USA (2 times per hour); England (1 time per hour)

Vocal Cues • Paralinguistic features: nonword sounds and nonword characteristics of language 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Pitch: the highness of lowness of your voice Rate: how quickly or slowly you speak Inflection: variety or changes in pitch Volume: the loudness or softness of your voice Quality: the unique resonance of your voice (husky, nasal, raspy, whiny) Nonword sounds: “mm-hm, ” “uh, ” etc. ; pauses in speech used for effect when speaking 7. Pronunciation: whether or not you say a word correctly 8. Articulation: whether or not your mouth, tongue, and teeth coordinate to make a word understandable to others (lisping et al) 9. Enunciation: whether or not you combine pronunciation and articulation to produce a word with clarity and distinction so that it can be understood 10. Silence: lack of sound

Vocal Cues • Vocal cues are linked with our view of people’s physical characteristics, emotional state, personality characteristics, gender characteristics, and credibility – High-pitched voice = seen as female, younger, and smaller – Speaking slowly and deliberately = high status and credible • Pitch and inflection can make a speech sound aesthetically pleasing, provide subtle changes in meaning, and to tell an audience whether you’re making a statement or asking a question, being sincere or sarcastic, and/or being doubtful or assertive. • Maria Bamford, “Commanding Respect”

Clothing and Artifacts • Objectics: the study of the human use of clothing and other artifacts as nonverbal codes – Artifacts: ornaments or adornments that can communicate (clothing, jewelry, hairstyles, makeup, cars, mobility devices, shoes, glasses, tattoos, piercings, etc. ) – Artifacts can communicate age, gender, status, role, socioeconomic class, group memberships, personality, etc. – They also indicate historical time period, time of day, climate, and culture. – Clothing and artifacts are often personal expression and demonstrate/clarify the type of person you believe you are. – Clothing has the power to influence behavior.

Homework • Read pages 80 -83, “What Are Some Ways to Improve Nonverbal Communication? ” Of the seven suggestions listed, which do you think could be most useful to you in school? In the workplace? At home? • Describe a situation in which your use of nonverbal cues led to a misunderstanding. • Take the following quiz: http: //greatergood. berkeley. edu/ei_quiz Record your score and talk about which emotions you misread, and why you think you did. Minimum 200 words for EACH response. Must be typed to receive credit. Due Monday, 6/27.
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