gestures also play important role

1. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

2. INTRODUCTION-
Nonverbal communication is the process of communication
through sending and receiving wordless (mostly visual) cues
between people. It is also seen as the nonlinguistic
transmission of information through visual, auditory, tactile,
and kinesthetic channels. Mistakenly referred to as body
language (kinesthetic), nonverbal communication
encompasses much more, such as use of voice
(paralanguage), gaze (oculesics), touch (haptics), distance
(proxemics), time (chronemics), and physical
environments/appearance . Only a small percentage of our
total brain processes verbal communication, as an infant we
learn nonverbal communication from our social-emotional
communication, making our face, not our words the major
organ of communication.

3. Gestures-
Gestures may be made with the hands, arms or body, and
also include movements of the head, face and eyes, such as
winking, nodding, or rolling one's eyes. Although the study of
gesture is still in its infancy, some broad categories of gestures
have been identified by researchers. The most familiar are the
so-called emblems or quotable gestures. These are
conventional, culture-specific gestures that can be used as
replacement for words, such as the hand wave used in
western cultures for "hello" and "goodbye." A single
emblematic gesture can have a very different significance in
different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to
highly offensive. For a list of emblematic gestures, see List of
gestures. There are some universal gestures like the shoulder
shrug.

4. Nonverbal actions-
According to Matsumoto and Juang, the nonverbal motions
that different people indicate important channels of
communication. The author states that nonverbal
communication is very important to be aware of, especially if
comparing gestures, gaze, and tone of voice amongst
different cultures. As Latin American cultures embrace big
speech gestures, Middle Eastern cultures are relatively more
modest in public and are not expressive. Within cultures,
different rules are made about staring or gazing. In some
cultures, gaze can be seen as a sign of respect. Voice is a
category that changes within cultures. Depending on whether
or not the cultures is expressive or non expressive, many
variants of the voice can depict different reactions.

5. Genetics-
"In the study of nonverbal communications, the limbic brain is
where the action is...because it is the part of the brain that
reacts to the world around us reflexively and instantaneously,
in real time, and without thought." There is evidence that the
nonverbal cues made from person-to-person do not entirely
have something to do with environment.

6. Proxemics-
Proxemics is the study of how people use and perceive the
physical space around them. The space between the sender
and the receiver of a message influences the way the
message is interpreted. In addition, the perception and use of
space varies significantly across cultures and different settings
within cultures. Space in nonverbal communication may be
divided into four main categories: intimate, social, personal,
and public space.

7. Movements and Body Position-
• Kinesics
• Haptics: touching in communication

8. Kinesics-
Kinesics messages are more subtle than gestures. Kinesics
messages comprise the posture, gaze, and facial movements.[
American looks are short enough just to see if there is
recognition of the other person, Arabs look at each other in
the eye intensely, and many Africans avert the gaze as a sign
of respect to superiors. There are also many postures for
people in the Congo; they stretch their hands and put them
together in the direction of the other person.

9. Haptics: touching in communication-
Haptics is the study of touching as nonverbal communication,
and haptic communication refers to how people and other
animals communicate via touching. Touches among humans
that can be defined as communication include handshakes,
holding hands, kissing (cheek, lips, hand), back slapping, high
fives, a pat on the shoulder, and brushing an arm. Touching of
oneself may include licking, picking, holding, and scratching.
These behaviors are referred to as "adapters" or "tells" and
may send messages that reveal the intentions or feelings of a
communicator and a listener. The meaning conveyed from
touch is highly dependent upon the culture, the context of
the situation, the relationship between communicators, and
the manner of touch.

10. Functions of nonverbal communication-
• Express emotions.
• Express interpersonal attitudes.
• To accompany speech in managing the cues of interaction
between speakers and listeners.
• Self-presentation of one's personality.
• Rituals (greetings).
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