Non-Verbal Communication

Nonverbal communication (NVC) is the transmission of messages or signals through a nonverbal platform such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and the distance between two individuals. Nonverbal communication is stimuli produced by speaker and use of environment without the use of words or verbal codes. The speaker might be consciously or unconsciously doing it and accompanies all communication mostly in face to face communication. It is also called manual language.

The term nonverbal communication was introduced in 1956 by psychiatrist Jurgen Ruesch and author Weldon Kees in the book "Nonverbal Communication: Notes on the Visual Perception of Human Relations."

Both verbal and non-verbal communication are sent side by side on two levels or simultaneously. Non-verbal communication is used to express emotions, feelings and thoughts. It can be used to steer conversation to a particular direction as it generates powerful reactions.

Touch, eye contact, glance, vocal intonation, proximity, volume, gestures, facial expression, posture, smell, dress, sounds, silence, etc. are some forms of non-verbal communication. They play a vital part in setting the meaning and intention of message as communication is much more than meaning of words. It not only includes explicit meaning of words but also implicit meanings through non-verbal signs.

According to a research by Albert Mehrabian, words (what we say) constitutes of only 7% of our communication whereas 38% communication happens by para-verbal communication (how we say it i.e tone of voice, modulation, pauses, rhythm, etc.) and 55% is communicated by non-verbal ways (expressions, actions, body movements, etc.) 

Cultural context of non-verbal communication tells that people learn to decipher non-verbal cues as they grow up from other people and by trial and error method. It is a learnt behavior which is passed on through culture. So, non-verbal communication is cultural specific and can be different from one culture to another.

Examples: Expressions and actions says more about a person which includes smile, appearance, hands, etc. Dances like opera, ballet or salsa are used to express. Silent movies are other examples which show that non-verbal communications are better at communicating than movies with dialogs. Films like The Artist (2011), The Kid (1921), City Lights (1931), and Battleship Potemkin (1925) produce more emotions than movies that have dialogs and words. Signs and symbols used in games and military are also some examples of non-verbal communication.

Saying “I am alright” with sad expression had different implications than saying it with a smile. The first one contradicts what the person is saying in words while the second communication compliments it. Non-verbal communication is mostly true while verbal communication can be false. 

Types of non-verbal communication

Non-verbal communication can be basically divided into two types:

• Message produced by body
• Message produced by setting (environment)

Similarly, another set of types of non-verbal communication are:

• Kinesics (body movements)
• Proxemics (personal space, distance, closeness)
• Posture
• Eye contact
• Para-language
• Facial expressions
• Paralinguistic (Vocal intonations)
• Body movements
• Gestures
• Touch or haptic
• Silence
• Object Communication (First impression or appearance)
• Symbols and signs
• Adapters
• Sign language and codes (Morse)
• Dance and acting

Importance of non-verbal communication

Action always speaks louder than words as nonverbal communication constitutes about two-thirds of communication. Non-verbal communication is what people communicate through actions. Non-verbal cues are important in communication, sometimes more important than verbal as it can have impact and influence on the people who listens.

Communication is only effective when non-verbal communication compliments verbal communication and accentuates it. It is more important as people do not have control over their nonverbal in contrast to their verbal communication as non-verbal communication is more natural. Lack of body language shows speaking false and give wrong meaning to any message.  

Non-verbal communication reinforces meaning or modifies meaning of any message. It shows the emotional state of a person and relationship between people interacting (personal space). It also defines relationship between people like a couple kissing might show that they are in a relationship. Non-verbal cues provide instant feedback of message given by somebody else.

Importance of Non-verbal communication can be shown in the following points:

a. It conveys empathy and emotions.

Non-verbal communication is used to show emotions like happiness, anger, sadness, interest, curiosity, hurt, annoyance, anxiety, embarrassment, pleasure, hope, etc. People show these emotions unconsciously most of the times.They express their empathy through non-verbal communication too. People do not unconsciously fake non-verbal communication but only sometimes do it deliberately. When you communicate, you must compliment what you say with your gestures and body language. You should also work to notice the non-verbal cues of the people you are interacting with.

b. It helps in proper interpretation.

Interpretation of non-verbal signals us not very easy at all times as it differs from person to person and culture to culture as well as non-verbal communication does not have fixed meanings and is different according to contexts. But noticing and interpreting it properly gives us an advantage over the other person. We learn to do it since childhood and we try to interpret consciously when we need it. Misinterpretations can destroy relationships and creates problems.

c. It is instinctive in Nature.

As non-verbal communication is based on instinct mostly, people speak truth. We should believe non-verbal massages more than verbal messages if there is a conflict between two people. They show non-verbal cues as an instinct and accompany verbal communication.Non-verbal communications are mostly natural like crying or laughing or having a personal space. Not only humans, some animals also show this kind of behavior.

d. It increases workplace efficiency.

Non-verbal communication makes work in offices better. It can also help in interviews and businesses. Many other professions like teachers, journalists, lawyers, doctors, etc. need to communicate in regular basis. If their non-verbal communication is not up to the mark, then their work will suffer. For example, eye contact in interviews and meetings show confidence and interest. While eye contact shows those things, it can also show over confidence. It also shows trustworthiness and accuracy of intentions.

e. It helps in better understanding of messages.

Non-verbal communication increases understanding of messages. When verbal and nonverbal communication are similar, it establishes better perspective on the message being sent. The sender of message as well as receiver gets what is the intended meaning of the message and can act accordingly. Process of sending and receiving of message is successful and gets desired results.

Principles of Non-verbal Communication

• Supplements or replaces verbal communication
• Regulates interaction
• Establish relationship level meanings (responsiveness, liking, power)
• Reflects and expresses cultural values

Adopted from: 

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-nonverbal-communication-1691351

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication

https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/non-verbal-communication

Modes of Communication in the process of Human Communication

Over the years, scholars in communication have developed a number of models that reflect increasingly sophisticated understanding of the communication process.

1.     Linear Models

Hareld Laswell (1948) advanced an early model that described communication as a linear or one way process in which one person acts an another person. This is also called a transmission model because it assumes that communication is transmitted in a straightforward manner from a sender to receiver. The message signal is encoded and transmitted through channel in presence of noise. The sender is more prominent in linear model of communication. Clouds Shannon and Warren Weaver refined Laswell’s model by adding noise. Noise is anything that interferes with the intend meaning of communication. Noises may distort understanding.

Features of Linear Communication:

a.      It is one way communication.

b.     It is used for mass communication.

c.      The senders send message and receivers receive only message.

d.     It has no feedback.

e.      It has noise.

Components of Linear Communication

Linear model has defined set of components required for a communication to be established where

§  Sender is the person who sends a message after encoding.

§  Encoding is the process of converting the message into codes compatible with the channel and understandable for the receiver.

§  Decoding is the process of changing the encoded message into understandable language by the receiver.

§  Message is the information sent by the sender to the receiver.

§  Channel is the medium through which the message is sent.

§  Receiver is the person who gets the message after decoding.

§  Noise is the disruptions that are caused in the communication process in channel or in understandability of the message.

Types of Linear Communication:

a.      Aristotle Model

It  is a linear communication model which was made for public speaking. In Aristotle’s model, the speaker sent message and the audience receive it. The model was made to establish a propaganda.

b.     Shannon Weaver Model

It is a mathematical model used for technical communication or machine communication like telegraph and telephone. In Shannon Weaver’s model, if the channel does not have distorting elements or noise producing elements, the communication is successful.

c.      Berlor’s SMC Model

It was made to understand general human communication. In Berlo’s Model, communication depends on many factors: like communication skills, attitude, knowledge, socio-cultural systems, the way in which the message has been sent, the content of the message, senses of the receiver, etc.

Criticism of Linear Model:

§  The model assumes that communication has a particular beginning and an end, so it is not continuous.

§  There is no concept of feedback which makes it inapplicable to direct human communication and only applicable to mass communication like newspaper, television, etc. There is no way to know if the communication was effective or not.

§  Human communication is mostly circular rather than linear as audience is also an active participant.

§  Communication may not happen in turns and more than one message can be sent at the same time.

§  The sender must have the ability to encode and the receiver must have the ability to decode.

§  The model has become less relevant to electronic communication and internet where it’s not clear who is the sender and who is the receiver.

 

 

2.     Interactive Model of Communication

In the linear model, a sender sends message and receive message passively, communication is flowing in only one direction but this is not how communication occurs.

Wilbur Schramm (1955) adopted The Interactive Model of Communication. He described that listener also responds to the sender message which may be verbal or non-verbal and may be intentional or unintentional. Interactive model (also known as convergence model) deals with exchange of ideas and messages taking place both ways from sender to receiver and vice-versa. Communicators create and interpret messages within personal fields of experience. The more communicators fields of experience overlap, the better they understand each other.

Adding fields of experience to model clarifies why understanding sometimes occur. Adding fields of experiences and feedback allowed Schramm and other communications scholars to develop models that portray communication as interactive process in which both sender and receivers participate actively.

Components of Interactive Model

Interactive Model of Communication requires different following components for the communication process to work:

§  Encoder-Source-Decoder: The person who originates a message is the source. The encoder and decoder are the same person/source. The second source is also encoder as well as decoder. The source acts as an encoder while sending the message and as decoder while receiving the message.
The second source decodes the message, then originates another message, encodes it and sends it to the first source. The source is known to be encoder and decoder during the act of encoding and decoding.

§  Message: Message is the information sent during the interaction.

§  Feedback: The decoder forms a second message after receiving the first which is known as feedback.

§  Field of Experience: Field of experience is the experience and knowledge that the source possess which affects the message formation and interpretation. For example, the source’s culture, social behavior, etc.

Interactive Model Examples

Internet can be taken as the best way of interactive communication as receiver can give feedback even in newspapers and books. Internet has increased the opportunity of interactive communication and it is still evolving.

Human-computer interaction is also now considered as interactive communication as the model is circular where the senders interchange every time. Social media, interactive marketing and user generated contents, ATM machines, online shopping, chat rooms, etc are other examples of interactive communication model.

Criticisms of Interactive Communication

§  Feedback is not simultaneous and can take a long time as this model is mostly used for internet.

§  Communication is not taken as dynamic. It predicts communication to follow the same pattern always.

 

 

 

3.     Transactional Model of Communication

Although we found some improvements in interactive model over linear model but still didn’t capture the quality of human communication. In interactive model work as one person as a sender and another person as a receiver. In reality communicators both send and receive messages.

Communication occurs within systems that affect what and how people communicate and what meanings they create. Those systems include the shared systems of each communicator. In this model, both sender and receiver are communicators who participate equally and often simultaneously in the communication process. To understand communication as a transactional process is to recognize that self and others are involved in a shared process: Communication is we-oriented rather than me-oriented.

The most accurate model of communication represents it as a transactional process in which people interact with and through symbols over time to create meaning.

For example, the same message might not be perceived by a person the same way when it is send through a phone and when it is provided face to face. It is because of possible loss of message on a phone call or absence of gestures.

Factors Affecting Transactional Model

There are many factors directly or indirectly affecting the communication process in transaction model. These can be environmental noise or communication barriers. Environmental Noises can be Physical noise, physiological noise or psychological noise.

a.      Social Context

Social context in communication refers to the norms, values, laws and other restrictions of a society to communicate within a specific limit. It also includes rules that bind people’s ability to communicate. Society shapes the way a person communicates. Some of the examples are: greeting people when meeting, thanking, apologizing, etc.

People can also learn communication from trial and error method, and its consequences ranges from social exclusion to embarrassment. This model also adds that it’s not just social reality that help people in the communication process but communication also shapes self and social reality in return. Communication is not only for exchanging messages but also to create and establish relationship helping people in the formation of a community.

b.Cultural Context

Cultural context is the lifestyle and identity of a person. Caste, class, race, ethnicity, gender, etc are the contexts which promotes communication. If two people are from the same cultural group, they will have better communication with each other.

Cultural identities are made by communication. It changes the communication pattern of a person. Marginalization of cultural groups oppress their communication with the other parts of the society. People become unsure of themselves when they communicate with intercultural groups. Some people also take it as unacceptable.

People have a closed mindset about the other groups of people they communicate with displaying the trait of Ethnocentrism. Experiences, attitudes, moods, cultural beliefs, social up-bringing, mindset, their sense of reality and many other factors affect the responses and the message exchange.

c.Relational Context

Relational context of communication relates to relationship history and manners.

A person talks with an old friend differently than a stranger. Manners take the role of communication when it is with strangers. Manners come from pre-established norms and values, and are more scripted making interaction difficult. Type of relationship and the roles of people create differences in the way people communicate. Communication always occurs on the common systems of both the parties.

 

Criticisms of Transactional Model

§  Without verbal response, the sender can not be sure that the receiver got the message as intended. Feedback is an important component in the communication process, especially in interpersonal communication as it gives a space to clarify misunderstandings.

§  The transactional model gives the opportunity for a lot of noise because the communication is simultaneous. For example, when many people are talking at the same time in a meeting, the objective of the meeting will not be fulfilled.