NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

2. 1. Non-verbal communication using body
language
2. Non-verbal communication through para-
language
3. Non-verbal communication through object
language
4. Other modes of non-verbal communication

3. Sending messages via body language may be
intentional or unintentional.
It can be of the following forms
1.The way people use space to position themselves
while communicating – eg. How close people
stand to each other while communicating
2.The way people position their body and arrange
their limbs ( posture )
3.Body movements, gestures and facial
expressions
4.The way people touch each other during
communication or whether they touch at all

4.  Paralinguistics is the study of voice and how
words are spoken
 Voice possesses inherent properties like tone,
inflection, loudness, pitch etc. and variations
in these send messages to listeners
1.Pitch means the highness and lowness of
voice. Pitch reflects emotional state.
Generally , low pitch represents strength and
maturity, while high pitch represents
nervousness and helplessness

5. 2.Volume or loudness affects the impact of the
message. Generally, soft-spoken people are
considered timid while very loud people are
considered as aggressive
3.Rate of speaking should be in the range of
120-160 words per minute. People who
speak very slowly are considered as lacking in
confidence and those who speak very fast
tend to lose control of the message

6. 4.Pronunciation is very important for the
correct understanding of the message. Using
the right words and proper pronunciation
help establish credibility in communication
5.Pauses and silence : Pausing at the right
movement to drive home a point and
meaningful silences are effective
communication tools. Sometimes silence
speaks louder than words

7. Material possessions, display of artefacts and
physical appearance of people all make silent
statements about their lifestyle. Object language
refers to the following
1.The clothes worn by a person and how they wear
them are frequently used assess people’s
personality and whether they belong to some
exclusive class of people
2.Gadgets, cars , houses etc are objects that
communicates one’s social status non-verbally

8.  Emoticons frequently used in messages,
emails and social media constitute a form of
non-verbal communication
 Arriving late or failing to turn up for a
meeting, ignoring the presence of somebody,
remembering someone or an important date
etc. are silent yet powerful communicators
regarding one’s attitude and priorities.

9.  Kinesics is the study of how body movements,
gestures and expressions serve as a form of non-
verbal communication
 There are five types of kinesics
1.Emblems are substitutes for words or phrases
Eg. Raising a thumb when standing on roadside means
asking for a lift
2.Illustrations are gestures that illustrates or reinforces
what has been said
Eg. Nodding your head for saying yes

10. 3.Affective displays are body or facial movements that
display emotion or an affective state
Eg. An angry person slamming the door
4.Regulators are non-verbal signs used to regulate flow
of speech
Eg. When we want someone to respond to what we
have spoken, we pause and look at them
5.Adapters are non-verbal communication that occur
often without us being aware of.
Eg. tapping fingers reveal impatience, biting nails
reveal nervousness

11.  Proxemics is the study of how people use
space while communicating.
 How close people stand, how they arrange
themselves in space, whether they touch each
other etc constitute non-verbal
communication
 For example you can tell two friends talking
form two strangers talking by how close they
stand to each other

12.  The space we need around us and perceive as
personal is called personal space
 The magnitude of this space varies form
person to person depending on culture,
tradition, social norms, gender, situational
factors, extent of familiarity, personality traits
etc.
 It is part of good etiquette that you do not
breach another’s personal space

13.  Chronemics is the study of the role of time in
communications
 The perception, use and valuing of time differ in
different cultures
 The impact on work ethics, technology and time
management also varies accordingly
 Western cultures generally tend to hold a
monochronic view of time- highly conscious of time
giving importance to punctuality, schedules and
appointments
 Asian and Latin American societies are considered
polychronic – they have a much more fluid attitude
towards time. They behave as if they have all the
time in the world

14. Body language can be used in the following ways
1.To feel confident and exude confidence –
Relaxed posture, straight back , shoulders relaxed, good eye
contact, open arms, firm hand shake etc. are some of the
markers for a confident appearance
If you are standing, keep legs slightly apart.
If you are sitting, do not sit on the edge of the chair
2.To get collaboration-
Let the speaker know that you are listening intently by- facing
him/her, making eye contact, leaning slightly towards them,
nodding your head at regular intervals, etc.
Open arms indicate receptiveness
Avoid doing other things while someone is talking to you
Remove any barriers between you and the speaker like laptops,
coffee cups etc.

15. 3.To think on our feet –
The area of the brain which is active while we talk is also
active when we wave our hands.
Emphasizing what you say with hand gestures not only
makes you appear more assured and credible , it also
boosts your thinking .
However, do not overdo it
4.To influence people –
Genuine big smiles make you appear warm, trustworthy and
approachable and stimulates good feelings
Matching other peoples movement or mirroring their
postures cause them to connect to you and be influenced
by you on a subconscious level
When you talk to someone while standing, your feet should
be pointed in their direction – this shows interest in them

16. Here are some cues to interpret body language
1.Straight back, erect spine - confidence
2.Arms crossed in front of the chest – defensiveness
3.Shifty eyes – hiding something
4.Consistent eye contact – interest in speaker
5.Look up – trying to remember something
6.Look down – guilty, shy or trying to lie
7.Look elsewhere/ check time – distracted/ bored
8.Open palms – receptiveness and openness
9.Biting nails – nervousness / stress
10.Spread legs with hands on hips – dominance
11.Chin up – pride and confidence
12.Standing in attention - respectful