Non-verbal communication – Part 1
ITRUST that you are well on your way with refining your ideas and your drafts for your internal assessment and that you found last week’s guide to be useful. This week, we will continue our adventure into the world of communication studies by looking at non-verbal communication.
FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
There are two forms of communication: verbal and non-verbal. Quite simply, verbal communication is communication that is done using words, and non-verbal communication refers to how we communicate without the use of words. Let us look at the various categories of non-verbal communication.
1. BODY LANGUAGE AND MOVEMENT
Communication experts all agree that very often verbal and non-verbal messages do not agree with each other, and it is through non-verbal messages that the truth is revealed. Whether or not we are aware of it, each of us spends a lot of time decoding the body language of others. This may include observing the posture, gesture, facial expressions of others. It is important that all of these be considered in relation to the verbal message (which may accompany the communication) and the context in which the communication is taking place. It suits you to be aware of what your body is doing, as it may betray how you really feel about that teacher who is reprimanding you for your inappropriate behaviour, for example. Although you apologise in your sweetest and most convincing voice, that fact that your arms are folded and you are staring past her into the distance may suggest everything but sincerity.
Our bodies also communicate messages to us, as our five senses receive stimuli and send messages to our brains. The smell of fresh pastry may be a hint that your mother is baking your favourite muffin, and water touching your skin as you walk to the bus stop could be a message that it is beginning to rain.
2. SPACE (PROXEMICS)
Your use of space in relation to the persons with whom you are communicating can send messages to others about your relationship with that person. The persons who are closest to us emotionally are usually the persons we allow to be closest to us physically. Where, how and when we touch each other also tells others about the nature of our relationship.
It is important to note that culture and context are also important considerations when decoding persons’ use of space. Latin Americans tend to be very warm and loving, and will hug and kiss more generously than others in other regions.
The space you occupy generally can also help persons to understand your role. The person at the head of a table is usually the most powerful and the person manning the school gate is quite likely the security guard. Be careful to look out for stereotyping, as roles can be switched for a number of reasons!
3. VOCALICS (PARALANGUAGE)
The volume, tone, rate, pitch and quality of your voice can add dimension to your words. Let me be clear that vocalics is not really about the words themselves as much as about how the words are delivered. For the fun of it, try to see how many ways you can say the words ‘Come here’ to communicate different meanings. You can communicate urgency, excitement, sternness, doubt. Can you think of any others?
4. ARTIFACTS
Artifacts refer to objects that send messages about us. These include our jewellery, clothing, body art, clothing accessories, and so on. These must all be viewed in light of the culture and context in which they are being worn. Turning up for a job interview in a button-down shirt, black joggers (pants) and brand new Air Force One sneakers may result in your interview being postponed indefinitely, except, of course, if the job is for a sports assistant at a kiddies’ summer camp. Although finding out that your most uncompromising teacher has a stylish tattoo etched across her lower back may change your opinion of her, tattoos in African and Pacific countries may signal the status, job or group to which a person belongs.
5. CHRONEMICS (TIME)
Our use of time can communicate messages to others about