Nonverbal communication conveys meaning through visual cues without using words. It includes gestures, body language, proximity, touch, eye contact, vocal tones, timing of interactions, and other visible behaviors. Nonverbal cues can reinforce, replace, or contradict spoken communication. Proper interpretation requires consideration of cultural norms and potential multiple meanings, as unintentional signals may be sent and received. Awareness of nonverbal communication is important for understanding and being understood.

1. Nonverbal Communication- Visible Code
A. Nonverbal Codes involve meanings derived from others and "coded" without
words. [usually not symbolic]
1. Nonverbal communication can be deliberate or unintentional.
2. Nonverbal cues are culture-bound.
3. Nonverbal messages are often trusted more than the verbal when they
conflict.
4. Nonverbal messages are inherently ambiguous.
B. Functions of nonverbal messages: - examples
1. reinforce the verbal message - nodding your head while saying "yes"
2. contradict the verbal message - a tone of voice that sounds angry when you say you
aren't angry
3. regulate the conversation - raising your hand when you want to speak in class
4. substitute or replace the verbal message - football referee's penalty hand signals
5. establish relationships - hugging a loved one
6. deceive - hiding feelings
7. managing identity - trying to look confident
C. Types of Nonverbal Codes:
1. Paralanguage (vocal cues) - vocal qualities and “extra-symbolic” codes
2.Proxemics (space) - territoriality (markers), spatial arrangement, touch (haptics), and
personal space
(1) Intimate distance = 0 - 12"
(2) Personal distance = 12" - 2 or 3 ft.
(3) Social distance = 3 ft. - 5 to12 ft.
(4) Public distance = 5-12 ft - 30/40 ft. (Mediated communication is typically used
beyond 30/40 feet.)
3. Appearance and body type, clothing, artifacts (objects), environment (colors,

2. architecture, temperature, etc.)
4. Kinesics (movement, gesture, posture, facial expression and eyes)
5. Haptics (touch)
6. Time (chronemics)
D. Kenesic codes - types of movements/gestures
1. emblems - NV gesture symbols - the peace sign
2. illustrators- NV gestureindexesoricons - pointing at something you're discussing
3. regulators - controls interaction (e.g. turn-taking) - raising your hand to ask for
recognition to speak
4. affect display - emotions-a frown
5. adaptors - unintentional, functional movements - scratching your head while thinking
E. Keys to decoding nonverbal communication.
1. Be tentative in interpreting nonverbal cues. There are ---
a. multiple meanings for a single cue and
b. multiple cues for a single meaning.
2. Nonverbal communication may or may not be intentional
3. You can't read a person like a book.
4. Nonverbal interacts with the verbal. (It’s immediate.)
5. Monitor your NV impressions. They matter to others.
Adaptor: gesture used to satisfy a personal need. Touching gesture, often
unconsciously made, that serves a physical or psychological purpose. For example,
twirling hair while reading, jingling pocket change, and fingering jewelry may be
gestures that provide comfort, signal anxiety, or are simply unconscious habits.
Affect Display: gesture that communications emotion. Intentional or unintentional
nonverbal behavior that reveals real or pretended emotion, such as a frown, a choked

3. sob, or a smile intended to disguise fear.
Artifact: a personal object that we use to announce our identity and personalize our
environment.Object or visual feature of an environment with communicative value. A
nonverbal code that represents the way we use what we possess to express ourselves or
influence how others view us. Jewelry, for instance, can indicate economic means,
marital status, religious affiliation, style preferences, and taste. Chronemics: use of
time. A nonverbal code that represents the way you use time to communicate in
interpersonal encounters. The aspect of nonverbal communication that involves our
"perceptions" and use of time to define identities and interaction.
Emblem: gesture that symbolizes a specific verbal meaning within a given culture,
such as the “thumbs up” or the “V for victory” signGesture with a direct verbal
translation.
Eye Contact: visual contact with another person’s eyes. Ordinarily we avert our eyes
downward with sadness; away with disgust; and down or away while feeling guilt or
shame.
Gestures: movements, usually of the hands but sometimes of the full body, that
express meaning and emotion or offer clarity to a message. Use of arm and hand
movements to communicate. Noun - 'gesticulation.'
Haptics: the sense of touch and what it means. Study of how we use touch to
communicate. A nonverbal code that represents messages conveyed through touch.
Friendship-Warmth Touch: a touch used to express liking for another person,
such as an arm across another’s shoulders, a victory slap between teammates, or
playful jostling between friends.
Social-Polite Touch: a touch, such as a handshake, used to demonstrate social
norms or culturally expected behaviors.
Illustrator: gesture used to accent or illustrate a verbal message. For example, a
fisherman holds his hands apart to show the size of his catch, or someone points
emphatically at a door while saying, “Leave!”
Kinesics: body position and body motions, including those of the face. Study of
movementA nonverbal code that represents messages communicated in visible body
movements, such as facial expressions, posture, gestures, and eye contact) The
systematic use of facial expression and bodily gestures/movements to communicate
meaning. Lying: facial expression is the best clue to determine if someone is lying.
Physical Appearance: the way speakers dress, groom, and present themselves
physically. A complex combination of social norms, cultures and generational

4. influences, and personal style. A code that represents visual attributes such as body
type, clothing, hair, and other physical features.
Proxemics: the study of the communicative function of body distance, posture, etc.
Use of space during communication. The farther away you are, the stronger the idea of
separation. The higher up you are, the more the idea of “power” is communicated. An
aspect of nonverbal communication that includes space and our uses of it
Regulator: gesture that controls the flow of conversation. Gesture used to control the
exchange of conversational turns during interpersonal encounters—for example,
averting eye contact to avoid someone or zipping up book bags as a class to signal to a
professor that the lecture should end.
Territoriality: the tendency to claim personal spaces as our own and define certain
locations as areas we don’t want others to invade, such as spreading personal stuff to
claim the entire library table.
Vocalics: characteristics of the voice.Changes in the volume, rate, and pitch of a
speaker’s voice that affect the meaning of the words delivered. Vocal characteristics
we use to communicate nonverbal messages, such as "volume," "pitch," rate, voice
quality, vocalized sounds, and silence. For instance, a pause might signal discomfort,
create tension, or be used to heighten drama.