After reading this chapter you should be able to:

1. Define nonverbal communication.
2. Explain the main characteristics of nonverbal communication.
3. Explain the differences between verbal and nonverbal communication.
4. Describe the eight types of nonverbal communication.
5. Describe the functions of nonverbal communication.
6. ​Identify​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​the​ ​uses​ ​of​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​in​ ​everyday​ ​life.

Recall​ ​a ​time​ ​when​ ​the​ ​things​ ​someone​ ​said​ ​to​ ​you​ ​did​ ​not​ ​match​ ​the​ ​tone​ ​in​ ​their​ ​voice or​ ​the​ ​way​ ​they​ ​were​ ​acting.​ ​Whether​ ​deliberate​ ​or​ ​not,​ ​humans​ ​communicate​ ​nonverbally​ ​and often​ ​deliver​ ​a​ ​clearer​ ​message​ ​using​ ​nonverbal​ ​cues​ ​as​ ​opposed​ ​to​ ​just​ ​words.​ ​Are​ ​they uncomfortable?​ ​In​ ​a​ ​rush?​ ​Excited?​ ​These​ ​messages​ ​can​ ​be​ ​conveyed​ ​without​ ​using​ ​a​ ​single word​ ​and​ ​often​ ​paint​ ​a​ ​more​ ​honest​ ​picture​ ​than​ ​verbal​ ​communication​ ​does.​

Like verbal communication, nonverbal communication is essential in our everyday interactions. Remember that verbal and nonverbal communication are the two primary channels we study in the field of Communication. While nonverbal and verbal communications have many similar functions, nonverbal communication has its own set of functions for helping us communicate with each other. Before we get into the types and functions of nonverbal communication, let’s define nonverbal communication to better understand how it is used in this text.

Like​ ​verbal​ ​communication,​ ​we​ ​use​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​to​ ​share​ ​meaning​ ​with others.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​achieved​ ​by​ ​communicating​ ​through​ ​body​ ​language,​ ​hand​ ​gestures,​ ​facial expressions,​ ​clothing,​ ​etc.​ ​Just​ ​as​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​definitions​ ​for​ ​verbal​ ​communication,​ ​there are​ ​also​ ​many​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​define​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication,​ ​let’s​ ​look​ ​at​ ​a​ ​few.​ ​Burgoon,​ ​Buller,​ ​and Woodall​ ​define​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​how​ ​we​ ​defined​ ​verbal​ ​communication​ ​in Chapter​ ​2.​ ​They​ ​state​ ​that​ ​nonverbal​ ​behaviors​ ​are​ ​“typically​ ​sent​ ​with​ ​intent,​ ​are​ ​used​ ​with regularity​ ​among​ ​members​ ​of​ ​a​ ​social​ ​community,​ ​are​ ​typically​ ​interpreted​ ​as​ ​intentional,​ ​and have​ ​consensually​ ​recognized​ ​interpretations”​ ​(113).​ ​In​ ​our​ ​opinion,​ ​this​ ​sounds​ ​too​ ​much​ ​like verbal​ ​communication​ ​and​ ​disregards​ ​the​ ​importance​ ​of​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​as​ ​a​ ​tool​ ​for interpreting​ ​truth​ ​beyond​ ​words.

George​ ​Mead,​ ​of​ ​the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Chicago,​ ​defined​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​what​ ​he called​ ​“gestures”​ ​and​ ​“significant​ ​symbols,”​ ​while​ ​Ross​ ​Buck​ ​and​ ​Arthur​ ​VanLear,​ ​in​ ​their publication​ ​in​ ​the​ ​​Journal​ ​of​ ​Communication​,​ ​reaffirmed​ ​Mead’s​ ​idea​ ​by​ ​stating​ ​that​ ​“gestures are​ ​not​ ​symbolic​ ​in​ ​that​ ​their​ ​relationship​ ​to​ ​their​ ​referents​ ​is​ ​not​ ​arbitrary”(524),​ ​meaning​ ​the nonverbal​ ​cues​ ​we​ ​express​ ​can​ ​happen​ ​unconsciously​ ​but​ ​still​ ​have​ ​valid​ ​and​ ​valuable​ ​meaning behind​ ​them.​ ​​ ​Think​ ​of​ ​all​ ​the​ ​ways​ ​you​ ​unconsciously​ ​move​ ​your​ ​body​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​day.​ ​For example,​ ​at​ ​school​ ​or​ ​your​ ​job,​ ​you​ ​usually​ ​do​ ​not​ ​pay​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​the​ ​way​ ​you​ ​give​ ​off nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​such​ ​as​ ​hand​ ​gestures​ ​and​ ​facial​ ​expressions.​ ​Even​ ​so,​ ​others​ ​can and do derive​ ​meaning​ ​from​ ​your​ ​nonverbal​ ​behaviors​ ​whether​ ​they​ ​are​ ​intentional​ ​or​ ​not.​ ​An​ ​example of​ ​this​ ​is​ ​how​ ​professors​ ​watch​ ​their​ ​students’​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​in​ ​class​ ​(such​ ​as slouching,​ ​leaning​ ​back​ ​in​ ​the​ ​chair,​ ​or​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​their​ ​cell​ ​phones)​ ​and​ ​make​ ​assumptions about​ ​them​ ​(they​ ​are​ ​bored,​ ​tired,​ ​or​ ​not​ ​paying​ ​attention).​ ​These​ ​assumptions​ ​are​ ​often​ ​based on​ ​acts​ ​that​ ​are,​ ​typically,​ ​done​ ​unintentionally.

While we certainly use nonverbal communication consciously at times to generate and share particular meanings, when examined closely, it should be apparent that this channel of communication is not the same as verbal communication which is “an agreed-upon rule-governed system of symbols.” Rather, nonverbal communication is most often spontaneous, unintentional, and may not follow formalized symbolic rule systems. With this in mind, we define nonverbal communication as any meaning conveyed through sounds, behaviors, and artifacts other than words. To help explain this idea, it is useful to consider some of the differences between verbal and nonverbal communication.

The​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​verbal and​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​can be​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​distinguish​ ​for​ ​some,​ ​but it​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​simple​ ​and​ ​can​ ​be​ ​broken down​ ​into​ ​four​ ​different​ ​aspects.​ ​The first​ ​is​ ​that​ ​verbal​ ​communication​ ​is centered​ ​around​ ​the​ ​construction​ ​of messages​ ​using​ ​words​ ​in​ ​a​ ​single channel,​ ​while​ ​nonverbal communication​ ​uses​ multiple channels, including ​physical​ ​action, sound,​ ​appearance,​ ​and​ ​motion​ ​to compose​ ​a​ ​message,​ ​all simultaneously.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​wish​ ​to demonstrate​ ​this​ ​for​ ​yourself,​ ​try​ ​and​ ​say​ ​every​ ​word​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sentence​ ​”I​ ​love​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​about communication”​ ​at​ ​once.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​impossible,​ ​as​ ​your​ ​mouth​ ​and​ ​vocal​ ​cords​ ​cannot​ ​do​ ​this. Similarly,​ ​you​ ​cannot​ ​write​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​sentence​ ​at​ ​one​ ​time,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​individually​ ​create​ ​each word.​ ​Contrasting​ ​to​ ​this,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​give​ ​off​ ​many​ ​different​ ​nonverbal​ ​messages​ ​at​ ​once.​ ​What expression​ ​do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​on​ ​your​ ​face​ ​right​ ​now?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​visible​ ​tattoos?​ ​When​ ​you entered​ ​your​ ​last​ ​class,​ ​did​ ​you​ ​arrive​ ​late​ ​or​ ​early?​ ​All​ ​of​ ​these​ ​are​ ​nonverbal​ ​messages​ ​that can​ ​convey​ ​meaning.

In Chapter 2 we learned how difficult it can be to decode a sender’s single verbal message due to the arbitrary, abstract, and ambiguous nature of language. But, think how much more difficult it is to decode the even more ambiguous and multiple nonverbal signals we take in like eye contact, facial expressions, body movements, clothing, personal artifacts, and tone of voice all at the same time. Despite this difficulty, Motley found that we learn to decode nonverbal communication as babies. Hall found that women are much better than men at accurately interpreting the many nonverbal cues we send and receive (Gore). How we interpret these nonverbal signals can also be influenced by our gender as the viewer.

A second difference between verbal and nonverbal communication is that verbal communication is distinct (linear) while nonverbal communication is continuous (in constant motion and relative to context). Distinct means that messages have a clear beginning and end, and are expressed in a linear fashion. We begin and end words and sentences in a linear way to make it easier for others to follow and understand. If you pronounce the word “cat” you begin with the letter “C” and proceed to finish with “T.” Continuous means that messages are ongoing and work in relation to other nonverbal and verbal cues. Think about the difference between analog and digital clocks. The analog clock represents nonverbal communication in that we generate meaning by considering the relationship of the different arms to each another (context). Also, the clock’s arms are in continuous motion. We notice the speed of their movement, their position in the circle and to each other, and their relationship with the environment (is it day or night?).

Nonverbal communication is similar in that we evaluate nonverbal cues in relation to one another and consider the context of the situation. Suppose you see your friend in the distance. She approaches, waves, smiles, and says “hello.” To interpret the meaning of this, you focus on the wave, smile, tone of voice, her approaching movement, and the verbal message. You might also consider the time of day, if there is a pressing need to get to class, etc.

Now contrast this to a digital clock, which functions like verbal communication. Unlike an analog clock, a digital clock is not in constant motion. Instead, it replaces one number with another to display time (its message). A digital clock uses one distinct channel (numbers) in a linear fashion. When we use verbal communication, we do so like the digital clock. We say one word at a time, in a linear fashion, to express meaning.

A third difference between verbal and nonverbal communication is that we use verbal communication consciously while we generally use nonverbal communication unconsciously. Conscious communication means that we think about our verbal communication before we communicate. Unconscious communication means that we do not think about every nonverbal message we communicate. If you ever heard the statement as a child, “Think before you speak” you were being told a fundamental principle of verbal communication. Realistically, it’s nearly impossible not to think before we speak. When we speak, we do so consciously and intentionally. In contrast, when something funny happens, you probably do not think, “Okay, I’m going to smile and laugh right now.” Instead, you react unconsciously, displaying your emotions through these nonverbal behaviors. Nonverbal communication can occur as unconscious reactions to situations. We are not claiming that all nonverbal communication is unconscious. At times we certainly make conscious choices to use or withhold nonverbal communication to share meaning. Angry drivers use many conscious nonverbal expressions to communicate to other drivers! In a job interview you are making conscious decisions about your wardrobe, posture, and eye contact.

A fourth difference between verbal and nonverbal communication is that some nonverbal communication is universal (Hall, Chia, and Wang; Tracy & Robins). Verbal communication is exclusive to the users of a particular language dialect, whereas some nonverbal communication is recognized across cultures. Although cultures most certainly have particular meanings and uses for nonverbal communication, there are universal nonverbal behaviors that almost everyone recognizes. For instance, people around the world recognize and use expressions such as smiles, frowns, and the pointing of a finger at an object. Note: Not all nonverbal gestures are universal! For example, if you travel to different regions of the world, find out what is appropriate! For more examples CLICK HERE:

Let us sum up the ways in which nonverbal communication is unique:

• Nonverbal communication uses multiple channels simultaneously.
• Nonverbal communication is continuous.
• Nonverbal communication can be both conscious and unconscious.
• Certain nonverbal communication is universally understood.

Now that you have a definition of nonverbal communication, and can identify the primary differences between verbal and nonverbal communication, let’s examine what counts as nonverbal communication. In this next section, we show you eight types of nonverbal communication we use regularly: kinesics, haptics, appearance, proxemics, environment, chronemics, paralanguage, and silence.

Kinesics is the study of how we use body movement and facial expressions. We interpret a great deal of meaning through body movement, facial expressions, and eye contact. Many people believe they can easily interpret the meanings of body movements and facial expressions in others. The reality is, it is almost impossible to determine an exact meaning for gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. Even so, we rely a great deal on kinesics to interpret and express meaning. We know that kinesics can communicate liking, social status, and even relational responsiveness (Mehrabian). Facial expressions are a primary method of sharing emotions and feelings (Ekman & Friesen; Scherer, Klaus, & Scherer). For example, imagine yourself at a party and you see someone across the room you are attracted to. What sort of nonverbal behaviors do you engage in to let that person know? Likewise, what nonverbal behaviors are you looking for from them to indicate that it’s safe to come over and introduce yourself? We are able to go through exchanges like this using only our nonverbal communication.

Haptics is the study of touch. Touch is the first type of nonverbal communication we experience as humans and is vital to our development and health (Dolin & Booth-Butterfield; Wilson, et al.). Those who don’t have positive touch in their lives are less healthy both mentally and physically than those who experience positive touch. We use touch to share feelings and relational meanings. Hugs, kisses, handshakes, or even playful roughhousing demonstrate relational meanings and indicate relational closeness. In western society, touch is largely reserved for family and romantic relationships. Generally girls and women in same-sex friendships have more liberty to express touch as part of the relationship than men in same-sex friendships. However, despite these unfortunate social taboos, the need for touch is so strong that men are quite sophisticated at finding ways to incorporate this into their friendships in socially acceptable ways. One such example is wrestling among adolescent and young-adult males. Do you ever wonder why you don’t see as many women doing this? Perhaps it’s because wrestling is socially acceptable for men whereas women are more likely to hug, hold hands, and sit touching one another. In contrast, an exchange student from Brazil recognized the differences in touch between cultures when arriving in the United States. She was surprised when someone hesitated to remove an eyelash from her face and apologized for touching her. In her country, no one would hesitate to do this act. She realized how much more physical touch is accepted and even expected in her culture. Cultural norms around touch and gender constructs, and everyone can prevent and limit touching behaviors in ways that are comfortable to them.

Personal Appearance, Objects, and Artifacts are types of nonverbal communication we use on our bodies and surroundings communicate meaning to others. Consider​ ​your preferences​ ​for​ ​hair-style,​ ​clothing,​ ​jewelry,​ ​and​ ​automobiles,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​the​ ​way​ ​you​ ​maintain​ ​your body.​ ​These​ ​choices​ ​express​ ​meanings​ ​to​ ​those​ ​around​ ​you​ ​about​ ​what​ ​you​ ​value​ ​and,​ ​as​ ​well as​ ​your​ ​social​ ​status.​ ​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.

Proxemics is the study of how our use of space influences the ways we relate with others. It also demonstrates our relational standing with those around us (May). Edward Hall developed four categories of space we use in the U.S. to form and maintain relationships. Intimate space consists of space that ranges from touch to eighteen inches. We use intimate space with those whom we are close (family members, close friends, and intimate partners). Intimate space is also the context for physical fighting and violence. Personal space ranges from eighteen inches to four feet and is reserved for most conversations with non-intimate others (friends and acquaintances). Social space extends from four to twelve feet and is used for small group interactions such as sitting around a dinner table with others or a group meeting. Public space extends beyond twelve feet and is most often used in public speaking situations. We use space to regulate our verbal communication and communicate relational and social meanings. A fun exercise to do is to go to a public space and observe people. Based on their use of the above categories of space, try to determine what type of relationship the people are in: Romantic, Family, or Friends.

Our use of our environment are nonverbal acts through our use of spaces we occupy like are homes, rooms, cars, or offices. Think of your home, room, automobile, or office space. What meanings can others perceive about you from these spaces? What meanings are you trying to send by how you keep them? Think about spaces you use frequently and the nonverbal meanings they have for you. Most educational institutions intentionally paint classrooms in dull colors. Why? Dull colors on walls have a calming effect, theoretically keeping students from being distracted by bright colors and excessive stimuli. Contrast the environment of a classroom to that of a fast food restaurant. These establishments have bright colors and hard plastic seats and tables. The bright colors generate an upbeat environment, while the hard plastic seats are just uncomfortable enough to keep patrons from staying too long–remember, its FAST food (Restaurants See Color As Key Ingredient). People and cultures place different emphasis on the use of space as a way to communicate nonverbally.

Case In Point

Feng Shui

Feng Shui, which means wind and water, is the ancient Chinese art of living in harmony with our environment. Feng Shui can be traced as far back as the Banpo dwellings in 4000 BCE. The ideas behind Feng Shui state that how we use our environment and organize our belongings affects the energy flow (chi) of people in that space, and the person/people who created the environment. The inclusion or exclusion, and placement, of various objects in our environments are used to create a positive impact on others. The theory is to use the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth to design a space. Feng Shui is applicable to cities, villages, homes, and public spaces. The Temple of Heaven in Bejing, China is an example of Feng Shui architecture. To keep harmony with the natural world, the Temple houses the Hall of Annual Prayer which is comprised of four inner, 12 middle, and 12 outer pillars representing the four seasons, 12 months, and 12 traditional Chinese hours.

Chronemics is the study of how people use time. Are you someone who is always early or on-time? Or, are you someone who arrives late to most events? Levine believes our use of time communicates a variety of meanings to those around us. Think about the person you know who is most frequently late. How do you describe that person based on their use of time? Now, think about someone else who is always on time. How do you describe that person? Is there a difference? If so, these differences are probably based on their use of time. In the U.S., we place high value on being on time, and respond more positively to people who are punctual. But, in many Arab and Latin American countries, time is used more loosely, and punctuality is not necessarily a goal to achieve. You may have heard the expression, “Indian time” to refer to “the perception of time [that] is circular and flexible” (Harris, Shutiva). This is the belief that activities will commence when everyone is present and ready; not according to an arbitrary schedule based on a clock or calendar. Neither approach is better than the other, but the dissimilar uses of time can create misunderstandings among those from different cultural groups.

Paralanguage is the term we use to describe vocal qualities such as pitch, volume, inflection, rate of speech, and rhythm. While the types of nonverbal communication we’ve discussed so far are non-vocal, some nonverbal communication is actually vocal (noise is produced). How we say words often expresses greater meaning than the actual words themselves. Sarcasm and incongruence are two examples of this. The comedian Stephen Wright bases much of his comedy on his use of paralanguage. He talks in a completely monotone voice throughout his act and frequently makes statements such as, “I’m getting really excited” while using a monotone voice, accompanied by a blank facial expression. The humor lies in the incongruency—his paralanguage and facial expression contradict his verbal message. Watch an example of his humor. Whenever you use sarcasm, your paralanguage is intended to contradict the verbal message you say. As Professors we have found that using sarcasm in the classroom can backfire when students do not pick up our paralinguistic cues and focus primarily on the verbal message. We have learned to use sarcasm sparingly so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Nonverbal Communication and You
Emojis

In the mid 2010s Emojis surged in popularity becoming literal icons for nonverbal communication. We have the ability to send facial and contextual expression to each other and can even hold parts of conversations solely using Emojis. Reflective of our emotional and physical reactions to communications Emojis are a simple and convenient way to express emotion online and in messages between anyone. The context that plain text often lacked can be supplemented with the use of emojis making conversations more lively and closer to physical communication by including the nonverbals like tone and facial expression to an otherwise dry form of communicating. For a little bit of history on the Emoji, watch this short video from VICE:

VICE News. (2016, October 27). The history of the emoji (HBO) [Length 3:26]. YouTube.

Finally, silence serves as a type of nonverbal communication when we do not use words or uterances to convey meanings. Have you ever experienced the “silent treatment” from someone? What meanings did you take from that person’s silence? Silence is powerful because the person using silence may be refusing to engage in communication with you. Likewise, we can use silence to regulate the flow of our conversations. Silence has a variety of meanings and, as with other types of nonverbal communication; context plays an important role for interpreting the meaning of silence. For example, the Day of Silence protest which has taken place every year since 1996 is a day which students use their silence as a tool to get people to stand up for LGBT rights. Here, like in the Women in Black movement, the participants believe that silence sends a louder message than anything they could say. Do you think they are right? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using silence as a political strategy? If you wish to participate or read further, click this link.

You should now recognize the infinite combination of verbal and nonverbal messages we can share. When you think about it, it really is astonishing that we can communicate effectively at all. We engage in a continuous dance of communication where we try to stay in step with one another. With an understanding of the definition of nonverbal communication and the types of nonverbal communication, let’s consider the various functions nonverbal communication serves in helping us communicate. (Ekman; Knapp; Malandro & Barker).

In the last chapter you learned that we use verbal communication to express ideas, emotions, experiences, thoughts, objects, and people. But what functions does nonverbal communication serve as we communicate (Blumer)? Even though it’s not through words, nonverbal communication serves many functions to help us communicate meanings with one another more effectively.

Case in Point

Another​ ​avenue​ ​we​ ​use​ ​nonverbal​ ​communication​ ​is​ ​in​ ​our​ ​entertainment,​ ​with​ ​characters who​ ​are​ ​either​ ​silent​ ​or​ ​anthropomorphized.​ ​In​ ​an​ ​article​ ​by​ ​Plotto.com,​ ​they​ ​demonstrate​ ​10 movie​ ​characters​ ​who​ ​use​ ​nonverbal​ ​cues​ ​as​ ​their​ ​primary​ ​form​ ​of​ ​communication.​ ​This​ ​list includes​ ​WALL-E,​ ​Kenny​ ​from​ ​South​ ​Park, Scrat​ ​from​ ​Ice​ ​Age,​ ​and​ ​Mr.​ ​Bean.​ ​

• We use nonverbal communication to duplicate verbal communication. When we use nonverbal communication to duplicate, we use nonverbal communication that is recognizable to most people within a particular cultural group. Obvious examples include a head-nod or a head-shake to duplicate the verbal messages of “yes” or “no.” If someone asks if you want to go to a movie, you might verbally answer “yes” and at the same time nod your head. This accomplishes the goal of duplicating the verbal message with a nonverbal message. Interestingly, the head nod is considered a “nearly universal indication of accord, agreement, and understanding” because the same muscle in the head nod is the same one a baby uses to lower its head to accept milk from its mother’s breast (Givens). We witnessed a two year old girl who was learning the duplication function of nonverbal communication, and didn’t always get it right. When asked if she wanted something, her “yes” was shaking her head side to side as if she was communicating “no.” However, her “no” was the same head-shake but it was accompanied with the verbal response “no.” So, when she was two, she thought that the duplication was what made her answer “no.”

• We use nonverbal communication to replace verbal communication. If someone asks you a question, instead of a verbal reply “yes” and a head-nod, you may choose to simply nod your head without the accompanying verbal message. When we replace verbal communication with nonverbal communication, we use nonverbal behaviors that are easily recognized by others such as a wave, head-nod, or head-shake. This is why it was so confusing for others to understand the young girl in the example above when she simply shook her head in response to a question. This was cleared up when someone asked her if she wanted something to eat and she shook her head. When she didn’t get food, she began to cry. This was the first clue that the replacing function of communication still needed to be learned. Consider how universal shaking the head side-to-side is as an indicator of disbelief, disapproval, and negation. This nonverbal act is used by human babies to refuse food or drink; rhesus monkeys, baboons, bonnet macaques and gorillas turn their faces sideways in aversion; and children born deaf/blind head shake to refuse objects or disapprove of touch (Givens).

• We use nonverbal cues to complement verbal communication. If a friend tells you that she recently received a promotion and a pay raise, you can show your enthusiasm in a number of verbal and nonverbal ways. If you exclaim, “Wow, that’s great! I’m so happy for you!” while at the same time smiling and hugging your friend, you are using nonverbal communication to complement what you are saying. Unlike duplicating or replacing, nonverbal communication that complements cannot be used alone without the verbal message. If you simply smiled and hugged your friend without saying anything, the interpretation of that nonverbal communication would be more ambiguous than using it to complement your verbal message.

• We use nonverbal communication to accent verbal communication. While nonverbal communication complements verbal communication, we also use it to accent verbal communication by emphasizing certain parts of the verbal message. For instance, you may be upset with a family member and state, “I’m very angry with you.” To accent this statement nonverbally you might say it, “I’m VERY angry with you,” placing your emphasis on the word “very” to demonstrate the magnitude of your anger. In this example, it is your tone of voice (paralanguage) that serves as the nonverbal communication that accents the message. Parents might tell their children to “come here.” If they point to the spot in front of them dramatically, they are accenting the “here” part of the verbal message.

• We use nonverbal communication to regulate verbal communication. Generally, it is pretty easy for us to enter, maintain, and exit our interactions with others nonverbally. Rarely, if ever, would we approach a person and say, “I’m going to start a conversation with you now. Okay, let’s begin.” Instead, we might make eye contact, move closer to the person, or face the person directly — all nonverbal behaviors that indicate our desire to interact. Likewise, we do not generally end conversations by stating, “I’m done talking to you now” unless there is a breakdown in the communication process. We are generally proficient enacting nonverbal communication such as looking at our watch, looking in the direction we wish to go, or being silent to indicate an impending end in the conversation. When there is a breakdown in the nonverbal regulation of conversation, we may say something to the effect, “I really need to get going now.” In fact, we’ve seen one example where someone does not seem to pick up on the nonverbal cues about ending a phone conversation. Because of this inability to pick up on the nonverbal regulation cues, others have literally had to resort to saying, “Okay, I’m hanging up the phone right now” followed by actually hanging up the phone. In these instances, there was a breakdown in the use of nonverbal communication to regulate conversation.

• We use nonverbal communication to contradict verbal communication. Imagine that you visit your boss’s office and she asks you how you’re enjoying a new work assignment. You may feel obligated to respond positively because it is your boss asking the question, even though you may not truly feel this way. However, your nonverbal communication may contradict your verbal message, indicating to your boss that you really do not enjoy the new work assignment. In this example, your nonverbal communication contradicts your verbal message and sends a mixed message to your boss. Research suggests that when verbal and nonverbal messages contradict one another, receivers often place greater value on the nonverbal communication as the more accurate message (Argyle, Alkema & Gilmour). One place this occurs frequently is in greeting sequences. You might say to your friend in passing, “How are you?” She might say, “Fine” but have a sad tone to her voice. In this case, her nonverbal behaviors go against her verbal response. We are more likely to interpret the nonverbal communication in this situation than the verbal response.

• We use nonverbal communication to mislead others. We can also use nonverbal communication to deceive, and often, focus on a person’s nonverbal communication when trying to detect deception. Recall a time when someone asked your opinion of a new haircut. If you did not like it, you may have stated verbally that you liked the haircut and provided nonverbal communication to further mislead the person about how you really felt. Conversely, when we try to determine if someone is misleading us, we generally focus on the nonverbal communication of the other person. One study suggests that when we only use nonverbal communication to detect deception in others, 78% of lies and truths can be detected (Vrij, Edward, Roberts, & Bull). However, other studies indicate that we are really not very effective at determining deceit in other people (Levine, Feeley & McCornack), and that we are only accurate 45 to 70 percent of the time when trying to determine if someone is misleading us (Kalbfleisch; Burgoon, et al.; Horchak, Giger, Pochwatko). When trying to detect deception, it is more effective to examine both verbal and nonverbal communication to see if they are consistent (Vrij, Akehurst, Soukara, & Bull). Even further than this, Park, Levine, McCornack, Morrison, & Ferrara argue that people usually go beyond verbal and nonverbal communication and consider what outsiders say, physical evidence, and the relationship over a longer period of time. Read further in this article if you want to learn more about body language and how to detect lies.

• We use nonverbal communication to indicate relational standing (Mehrabian; Burgoon, Buller, Hale, & deTurck; Le Poire, Duggan, Shepard, & Burgoon; Sallinen-Kuparinen; Floyd & Erbert). Take a few moments today to observe the nonverbal communication of people you see in public areas. What can you determine about their relational standing from their nonverbal communication? For example, romantic partners tend to stand close to one another and touch one another frequently. On the other hand, acquaintances generally maintain greater distances and touch less than romantic partners. Those who hold higher social status often use more space when they interact with others. In the United States, it is generally acceptable for women in platonic relationships to embrace and be physically close while males are often discouraged from doing so. Contrast this to many other nations where it is custom for males to greet each other with a kiss or a hug and hold hands as a symbol of friendship. We make many inferences about relational standing based on the nonverbal communication of those with whom we interact and observe. Imagine seeing a couple talking to each other across a small table. They both have faces that looked upset, red eyes from crying, closed body positions, are leaning into each other, and are whispering emphatically. Upon seeing this, would you think they were having a “Breakup conversation”?

• We use nonverbal communication to demonstrate and maintain cultural norms. We’ve already shown that some nonverbal communication is universal, but the majority of nonverbal communication is culturally specific. For example, in United States culture, people typically place high value on their personal space. In the United States people maintain far greater personal space than those in many other cultures. If you go to New York City, you might observe that any time someone accidentally touches you on the subway he/she might apologize profusely for the violation of personal space. Cultural norms of anxiety and fear surrounding issues of crime and terrorism appear to cause people to be more sensitive to others in public spaces, highlighting the importance of culture and context.

Nonverbal Communication Now

The National Anthem

Many NFL players have been under scrutiny for their nonverbal communication during the National Anthem. Those that have chosen to kneel out of protest (initiated by Colin Kaepernick) have been in the spotlight because some people find this action as offensive. Without speaking about the topic, the behavior of kneeling and not participating in the National Anthem communicates something powerful. Audiences across the nation have varied reactions and some other NFL players have decided to join in on the movement. This nonverbal action is an example of how we can communicate more effectively with actions and nonverbal behavior, as opposed to speeches and talks which are not as effective in contexts like this one. Although it would be easy for NFL players to speak out verbally against injustice that they see in our nation, protesting non verbally in a way that disrupts the norm has been extremely effective in bringing the issues that they want to talk about to the public.

However, in other cultures, frequent touch in crowded public spaces my go unnoticed because space is not used in the same ways as in the U.S. If you have visited countries other than your own, you might have noticed your own attempts to adapt to differences in nonverbal cultural norms. Nonverbal cues such as touch, eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures are culturally specific and reflect and maintain the values and norms of the cultures in which they are used.

• We use nonverbal communication to communicate emotions. While we can certainly tell people how we feel, we more frequently use nonverbal communication to express our emotions. Conversely, we tend to interpret emotions by examining nonverbal communication. For example, a friend may be feeling sad one day and it is probably easy to tell this by her nonverbal communication. Not only may she be less talkative but her shoulders may be slumped and she may not smile. One study suggests that it is important to use and interpret nonverbal communication for emotional expression, and ultimately relational attachment and satisfaction (Schachner, Shaver, & Mikulincer). Research also underscores the fact that people in close relationships have an easier time reading the nonverbal communication of emotion of their relational partners than those who aren’t close. Likewise, those in close relationships can more often detect concealed emotions (Sternglanz & Depaulo).

In this chapter, you have learned that we define nonverbal communication as any meaning shared through sounds, behaviors, and artifacts other than words. Some of the differences between verbal and nonverbal communication include the fact that verbal communication uses one channel while nonverbal communication occurs through multiple channels simultaneously. As a result, verbal communication is distinct while nonverbal communication is continuous. For the most part, nonverbal communication is enacted at an unconscious level while we are almost always conscious of our verbal communication. Finally, some nonverbal communication is considered universal and recognizable by people all over the world, while verbal communication is exclusive to particular languages.

There are many types of nonverbal communication including kinesics, haptics, appearance, objects, artifacts, proxemics, our environment, chronemics, paralanguage, and silence. These types of nonverbal communication help us share meanings in our interactions. Now that you have a basic understanding of verbal and nonverbal communication as a primary focus of study in our field, let’s look at how theory helps us understand our world.

1. Have you ever communicated with someone outside of your culture? How were their nonverbals similar to your own, or different?
2. Have you ever had your nonverbal cues misinterpreted? For example, someone thought you liked them because your proxemics suggested an intimate relationship. How did you correct the misinterpretation?
3. What kind of nonverbal communication do you use every day? What does it accomplish for you?
4. Which do you consider has greater weight when interpreting a message from someone else, verbal or nonverbal communication? Why?
5. What​ ​type​ ​of​ ​nonverbal​ ​cues​ ​lead​ ​you​ ​to​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​two​ ​people​ ​are​ ​in​ ​a​ ​romantic relationship/non​ ​romantic​ ​relationship?
6. Why​ ​is​ ​it​ ​that​ ​typically​ ​women​ ​are​ ​much​ ​better​ ​than​ ​men​ ​at​ ​interpreting​ ​the​ ​many nonverbal​ ​cues​ ​we​ ​send​ ​and​ ​receive?
7. Do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​you​ ​can​ ​get​ ​to​ ​know​ ​someone​ ​accurately​ ​through​ ​mediated​ ​conversation (Facebook,​ ​Snapchat,​ ​Texting)​ ​or​ ​do​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​see​ ​their​ ​nonverbals?

• chronemics
• conscious
• context
• continuous
• distinct
• environment
• haptics
• kinesics
• nonverbal communication
• paralanguage
• personal appearance
• proxemics
• silence
• unconscious

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Authors: Laura K. Hahn, Professor, Humboldt State University and Scott T. Paynton, Professor, Humboldt State University
Last Updated: March 3, 2023
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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