Non-verbal Communication

1. Non-verbal
communication
Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman
Dept. of Language and Communication

2. Non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication is often referred to as
body language because here communication is
transmitted by the sender of the message to the
recipient through various movements and positions of
the body or its parts.

4. Non-verbal communication
Backgrounds:
According to experts, a substantial portion of our communication is
nonverbal. Every day, we respond to thousands on
nonverbal cues and behaviors including postures, facial
expression, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our
handshakes to our hairstyles, nonverbal details reveal who we are and
impact how we relate to other people.
Scientific research on nonverbal communication and behavior began with
the 1872 publication of Charles Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in
Man and Animals. Since that time, there has been an abundance of
research on the types, effects and expressions of unspoken communication
and behavior. While these signals are often so subtle that we are not
consciously aware of them, research has identified several different types
of nonverbal communication.
In many cases, we communicate information in nonverbal ways using
groups of behaviors. For example, we might combine a frown with crossed
arms and unblinking eye gaze to indicate disapproval.

5. Posture:
The way people stand or sit is the posture. For example, if you
are nervous, then while in an oral conversation you may tap
your feet, or fidget with your hands. Again, if you are
depressed, then you may show a gloomy expression with your
head down.
 Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on
information. Research on body language has grown
significantly since the 1970's, but popular media have focused
on the over-interpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing,
and leg-crossing, especially after the publication of Julius
Fast's book Body Language. While these nonverbal behaviors
can indicate feelings and attitudes, research suggests that
body language is far more subtle and less definitive that
previously believed.

6. THE FIRST ONE IS THE CORRECT POSTURE, AND THE THIRD ONE IS THE MILITARY STANCE.
MOST PEOPLE ARE MISTAKEN FOR THAT TO BE THE CORRECT POSTURE. THEY DO SO
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE ASKED TO STAND UP STRAIGHT.

7. Gestures:
Gestures are body movements that indicate some
meaning. For example, if you are excited you may
sweep your arms, or if you agree to something you
may nod your head, or if you are considering
something then you may put your hand to your chin
and etc.
 Deliberate movements and signals are an
important way to communicate meaning
without words. Common gestures include
waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate
numeric amounts. Other gestures are
arbitrary and related to culture.

8. GESTURE
Hand with fingers crossed luck lucky gesture Hand with OK symbol good

9. Facial expression
The human face itself is capable of
communicating many expressions and emotions.
For example, you can smile if you are sending a
happy news, or you can show anger if you hear
an annoying news.
 Facial expressions are responsible for a huge
proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how
much information can be conveyed with a smile or a
frown. While nonverbal communication and behavior
can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial
expressions for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are
similar throughout the world.

10. Facial expression

11. Eye contact / Eye Gaze
Whenever you communicate face-to-face
look in the eye of the speaker or listener. If
there is more than one person to listen then
let your eyes roam regularly so that everyone
feels they are involved and paid attention
 Looking, staring and blinking can also be
important nonverbal behaviors. When people
encounter people or things that they like, the
rate of blinking increases and pupils dilate.
Looking at another person can indicate a
range of emotions, including hostility, interest
and attraction.

12. Eye contact
Good eye contact helps your audience develop trust in you, thereby
helping you and your message appear credible. Poor eye contact does
exactly the opposite.
So what IS 'good' eye contact?
People rely on visual clues to help them decide on whether to attend to a
message or not. If they find that someone isn't 'looking' at them when they
are being spoken to, they feel uneasy.
So it is a wise business communicator that makes a point of attempting to
engage every member of the audience by looking at them.
Now, this is of course easy if the audience is just a handful of people, but
in an auditorium it can be a much harder task. So balance your time
between these three areas:
slowly scanning the entire audience,focusing on particular areas of your
audience (perhaps looking at the wall between two heads if you are still
intimidated by public speaking), andlooking at individual members of the
audience for about five seconds per person.Looking at individual members
of a large group can be 'tricky' to get right at first.

13. Eye contact / Eye Gaze

14. Proxemics
The study of spatial distances between individuals in different cultures and situations
People often refer to their need for "personal space,"
which is also an important type of nonverbal
communication. The amount of distance we need and
the amount of space we perceive as belonging to us
is influenced by a number of factors including social
norms, situational factors, personality characteristics
and level of familiarity. For example, the amount of
personal space needed when having a casual
conversation with another person usually varies
between 18 inches to four feet. On the other hand,
the personal distance needed when speaking to a
crowd of people is around 10 to 12 feet.

15. Haptics
Of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
Communicating through touch is another
important nonverbal behavior. There has been
a substantial amount of research on the
importance of touch in infancy and early
childhood. Touch can be used to communicate
affection, familiarity, sympathy and other
emotions.

16. Appearance
Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other
factors affecting appearance are also considered a
means of nonverbal communication. Research
on color psychology has demonstrated that different
colors can evoke different moods. Appearance can
also alter physiological reactions, judgments and
interpretations. Just think of all the subtle judgments
you quickly make about someone based on his or her
appearance. These first impressions are important,
which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress
appropriately for interviews with potential employers.

17. Kinesics
The term kinesics was first used (in 1952) by Birdwhistell, an
anthropologist who wished to study how people communicate
through posture, gesture, stance, and movement. Part of
Birdwhistell's work involved making films of people in social
situations and analyzing them to show different levels of
communication not clearly seen otherwise. Several other
anthropologists, including Margaret Mead and Gregory
Bateson, also studied 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.

18. What is Kinesics Communication?
Kinesics is the broad field of nonverbal
communication solely concerned with the
interpretation of nonverbal behaviors that
are associated with body
movement, gestures, posture, facial
expression and eye contact.
Kinesics is most closely connected with
what is popularly referred to as body
language. Kinesics, is in fact, a scientific
study of body language.

20. Components of Kinesics Messages
While words generally transmit facts and
information-
kinesics communication involves transference
of nonverbal messages, such as
feelings, emotions, and attitude through the
use of body
movement, gestures, posture, facial and eye
contact.

21. Emotions
In simple words, emotions refer to such
states as happiness, depression, anxiety,
and milder ‘moods’ such as feelings of
pleasure and displeasure, different
degrees of excitement or drowsiness, and
the arousal and satisfaction of hunger,
sex, and other drives. Although the
emotion system itself is located within the
person, it is stimulated by changes in
environmental circumstances.

22. Emotions involve conscious and non-
conscious processes that combine to
form the experience of an emotion. To
understand emotions, scientists
examine self-reports about how people
experience emotion and assess
neurological and physiological arousal,
facial displays, vocalizations (e.g.,
speech), and gestures in circumstances
in which people experience emotion.

23. Body Movement
• Body Movement is the voluntary or
involuntary movement of parts of the body
such as hands, feet, legs, and shoulders,
which may either reinforce or contradicts
what is communicated verbally.
• Body movements are strong indicators of
how you feel—they indicate feelings such
as nervousness, excitement, and anxiety.

24. The following are the most common body
movements humans convey during a
communicative encounter:
1. Shoulder shrug
The most common shoulder movement is the shrug. It
consists of an up-and-down movement of both
shoulders and may be accompanied by appropriate
facial expressions and head movements, often
conveying the messages ‘I don’t know’, ‘I don’t care’, ‘I
am doubtful’, or ‘What can you do?’ A single shoulder
being shrugged usually means ‘take your hand off my
arm (or shoulder)’ or ‘leave me alone’.

26. 2. Palm rub
• As a people, we nonverbally communicate pleasurable
anticipation by rubbing palms together. The speed at
which a person rubs his palms together indicates a
positive outcome of a situation, and who it might benefit.
For example, you are interested in buying a home and
you contacted a real estate agent.
• After describing the property you are seeking, the agent
rubs his palms together quickly and says, ‘I’ve got just the
right place for you!’ The agent has signaled that he
expects the results to be to your benefit. However, if he
rubbed his palms together very slowly as he told you that
he had the ideal property, he would appear to be crafty or
devious; thus, giving you the feeling that the ensuing
outcome would be to his advantage rather than yours.

28. 3. Thumb display
Thumb displays are positive signals, often used in
the typical pose of the ‘cool manager’ who uses
them in the presence of team members.
Thumbs often protrude from people’s pockets,
sometimes from the back pockets in a secretive
manner in order to try and hide the person’s
dominating attitude. Dominant or aggressive women
also use this gesture.
An arm folded with the thumb pointing upwards is
another common thumb gesture position. This gives
a double signal: (a) a defensive or negative attitude
(folded arms); and (b) a superior attitude.

29. Thumb display

31. 4. Mouth guard
The mouth guard is one of the few adult
gestures that is very obvious. The hand covers
the mouth and the thumb is pressed against the
cheek as the brain subconsciously instructs it to
try and suppress the words that are being said.
Sometimes this gesture may only comprise
putting several fingers over the mouth or even
putting a closed fist there, but its meaning
remains the same—lying or discomfort with
what is being said.

32. Mouth guard

33. Eye, Nose, Ear, Neck rub

36. Extreme Sorrow

37. Extreme Anger

38. Extreme Relaxation

39. Extreme Pleasure

40. Curiosity

41. Voice
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. When we
speak, other people “read” our voices in addition to
listening to our words. Things they pay attention to
include your timing and pace, how loud you speak,
your tone and inflection, and sounds that convey
understanding, such as “ahh” and “uh-huh.” Think
about how someone's tone of voice, for example, can
indicate sarcasm, anger, affection, or confidence.

43. Verbal Communication
Guidelines for you to be an effective
listener:
 Clear your mind first so that you are prepared
to give attention to listening
 Avoid having pre-judgments about the
speaker or what he/she might say.
 Be open-minded and appreciate the speaker’s
point of view.
 Establish eye contact with the speaker.

44.  Watch for signals, such as,
gestures, postures etc
 Extract the main points the
speaker’s speech.
 Give feedback verbally or non-
verbally.
 Make notes by recording
important points of the conversation
so that they can help you remember
thing later on.

45. Oral or Verbal Communication
Merits-
 Saves Time
 Saves money
 More Forceful
 Conveys shades of
meaning
 Immediate feedback
 Immediate clarification
 Can be informal
 More effective with
groups
Demerits
 Not possible for distant
people without channel
 Unsuitable for lengthy
messages
 Messages cannot be
retained for long
 No legal validity
 Greater chance of
misunderstanding
 Not easy to fix
responsibility in case of
misunderstanding

46. Interview
The interview can be of various kinds, such
as:
Selection interview
Promotion interview
Appraisal interview
Counseling interview
Disciplinary interview
Grievance interview

47. Interview
• Life is a series of
interview
• “From birth to death
man has to put up with
infinite tests and
endless trials”- Mathew
Arnold
• In every walk of life,
man should be well
prepared for interview
• Don’t fight the
battle half-
heartedly

48. Before the interview starts you have to:
In an interview the interviewer has certain
responsibilities to ensure to make the interview
successful. If you are an interviewer you have to do
these:
Aim the purpose of the interview
Collect and familiarize yourself with relevant
information about the interviewee and the purpose of
the interview
Set a suitable time and place to conduct the
interview session
Structure some questions or points of discussion for
the interview in a logical sequence

49. During the interview you have to:
Keep the interviewer at ease by being
friendly and reassuring.
Allow the interviewee talk by asking
more open-ended questions.
 Give attention to your interviewee and
listen carefully to what he/she says
Close the interview on a friendly note
or by stating what you or the interviewer
will have to do next

50. Before the interview you have to:
If you are in the position of the interviewee
then there are certain responsibilities for
you too.
Try to find out information about the organization
in which you have applied.
Make sure where and when you will be
interviewed.
Make sure you are well dressed and officially
clothed for the interview.
Plan your time to reach the interview session at
least 10 – 15 minutes earlier so that you are relaxed
and you can gather your thoughts for the interview.

51. During the interview you have to:
Listen to each question of the
interviewer carefully so that you can
answer accurately and to the point.
Use formal language and speak
clearly.
Be honest and do not be
discourteous.
Ask questions which are appropriate.

52. Secrets behind the art of Interview
• Be natural
• Get comfortable
• Don’t wisecrack
• Don’t exaggerate your
experience or abilities
• If you know a member
of a board, don’t
make a point of it.
• Don’t dominate the
board
• Be attentive
• Don’t interrupt
• Make sure you
understand the
question
• Reply promptly but
not hastily
• Don’t be afraid to
admit an error in
judgment if you are
shown to be wrong
• Don’t be technical
• Leave your exhibits at
home
• Don’t be ingratiating

53. Practical Suggestions
• Basic Principles of
etiquette
• Dress (apparel often proclaims the man)
• Gait
• How to be seated
• How to talk
• How to leave
 Etiquette:
 You must say “ thanks
Sir or Sirs” to express
your sense of gratitude
 The word “Sir” should be used
he while giving replies to the
queries.
 The word “Please” should be
used in an appropriate manner.
 There must be a light courteous
something while the candidate
occupies the seat.
 He should not stare at the face of
the member while putting
question
 A candidate should be free from
the inferiority complex or habit of
hesitation or unnatural
stammering.
 Remember always- “Courtesy
does not cost anything but pays
a lot”.

54. Telephone Conversation
If you are making a call over the telephone you
have to ensure the following:
Before the call you have to:
• Choose the right time to call both for you and the
recipient of information, especially if it is an overseas
call.
• Make sure you dial correctly.
• Plan your call and make sure you list the important
points to be told.
• Be prepared with information that may be required
during the call.

55. Telephone Conversation
During the call you have
to:
• Be courteous and establish
rapport.
• Talk in a voice that sounds
confident, decisive, helpful
and interested.
• Check your notes to see all
the points that should have
been said are addressed.
• Obtain feedback from
recipient.
• End the conversation with a
friendly note.
After the call you have
to:
• Make notes of
anything that is
important and would
be required in future.
• Take action if you are
required to do so
according to the
telephone
conversation.

56. Thank You