nonverbal communication

Nonverbal Communication

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.
According to experts, a substantial portion of our communication is nonverbal. Every day we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors, including postures,  facial expressions, 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, abundant 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.

what is nonverbal communication?

Nonverbal communication, also called manual language, is the process of sending and receiving messages without using words, either spoken or written. Similar to the way that italicizing emphasizes written language, nonverbal behavior may emphasize parts of a verbal message.

What percentage of communication is nonverbal?

There have been a number of studies on the complex topic of nonverbal communication with varying results. However, most experts agree that 70 to 92 percent of all communication is nonverbal.

Examples of Nonverbal Communication-:

Facial Expressions. The first, and most obvious, club e to nonverbal communication is a person's facial expressions.

Eye Contact. People place a lot of stock in eye contact.

Gestures and Movement.

The tone of Voice. 

Phy's tonal Touch.

Appearance.

Nod in Nonverbal Agreement.

nonverbal communication types

1. Facial expressions-: The human face is extremely expressive, able to convey countless emotions without saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same across cultures.
   
2. Gestures-: Gestures are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. You may wave, point, beckon or use your hands when arguing or speaking animatedly, often expressing yourself with gestures without thinking. However, the meaning of some gestures can be very different across cultures. While the OK sign made with the hand, for example, conveys a positive message in English-speaking countries, it’s considered offensive in countries such as Germany, Russia, and Brazil. So, it’s important to be careful about how you use gestures to avoid misinterpretation.
   
3. Body Language and Posture-: Posture and movement can also convey a great deal of information. Research on body language have grown significantly since the 1970s, but popular media have focused on the over-interpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing, and leg-crossing, especially after publishing 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 than previously believed.
   
4. Eye Contact-: Perhaps the best way to build rapport with a stranger is by maintaining eye contact. Eyes can indicate interest, attention, and involvement, while failing to make eye contact may be interpreted as disinterested, inattentive, or rude. However, this doesn’t mean you have to stare directly into the face of another person—quite the opposite, in fact. There is nothing more aggressive than staring intensely into someone’s eyes. Experts suggest that healthy eye contact consists of looking semi-randomly at the area around the eyes, which includes the eyelids and eyebrows.
   
5. Space-: Have you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because the other person was standing too close and invading your space? We all have a need for physical space, although that need differs depending on the culture, the situation, and the closeness of the relationship. You can use physical space to communicate many different nonverbal messages, including signals of intimacy and affection, aggression or dominance.
   
6. Voice tone-: It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. When you speak, other people “read” your voice in addition to listening to your 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 your tone of voice can indicate sarcasm, anger, affection, or confidence.
   
7. Touch-: Touch is a widely used form of non-verbal communication tool. By touching, one can express a wide range of emotions. However, the accepted modes of touch vary depending on the gender, age, relative status, intimacy and cultural background of the persons. For example, in the context of our culture, when one touches you from the back of the examination hall, your understanding is that he wants to know something.
   
8. Personal Appearance, Objects, and Artifacts-: are types of nonverbal communication we use to adorn our bodies and surroundings to communicate meaning to others. Consider your preferences for hairstyle, clothing, jewelry, and automobiles, as well the way you maintain your body. Your choices express meanings to those around you about what you value and the image you wish to put forth. As with most communication, our choices for personal appearance, objects, and artifacts occur within cultural contexts and are interpreted in light of these contexts. Consider the recent trendiness and popularity of tattoos. While once associated primarily with prison and armed services, tattoos have become mainstream and are used to articulate a variety of personal, political, and cultural messages.
   
9. Humor-: Humor is often overlooked as a teaching tool, and it is too often not encouraged in college classrooms. Laughter releases stress and tension for both instructor and student.
   You should develop the ability to laugh at yourself and encourage students to do the same. It fosters a friendly environment that facilitates learning.
   Obviously, adequate knowledge of the subject matter is crucial to your success; however, it’s not the only crucial element.
   Creating a climate that facilitates learning and retention demands good nonverbal and verbal skills.

   

Conclusion

Nonverbal communication is clearly as important as verbal communication. Basically, if everyone had more knowledge about the importance or simply just the context of nonverbal communication I am sure that the world we live in would be a more understanding and peaceful place to live in. This is the reason why institutions should promote the importance of nonverbal communication to their student to create some sort of awareness among the students and to understand the importance of nonverbal communication.