Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Verbal communication includes both oral and written communication. Non-verbal communication refers to all communications that occurs without the use of words, spoken or written. While verbal communication is organized by language, non-verbal communication is organized by body language such as with body movements (Kinesics), space (Proxemics), and vocal (Paralinguistic) features.

The following sections elaborate on this aspect of communication.

Kinesics:

Kinesics is the study of the body’s physical movements. It is the way the body communicates without words. The study of Kinesics can be carried out through following sections:

a) Personal Appearance:

Personal Appearance plays an important role. People see before they hear. Just like we adapt our language to the audience, we should also dress appropriately. Appearances include clothes, hair, accessories, cosmetics, and so on. To be clean and well groomed, conforming to the need of the occasion is of utmost importance.

b) Posture:

Posture generally refers to the way we hold ourselves when we stand, sit, or walk. One’s posture changes according to the situation.Being comfortably upright, squarely facing an audience, and evenly distributing one’s weight are aspects of posture that communicate professionalism, confidence, attention to detail, and organization.

c) Gesture:

Gesture is the movement made by hands, head, or face. A well-timed gesture not only drives a point home but also enhances the value of what is being said. They should be quite natural and spontaneous. Gestures can roughly be divided into the following types:

Ø  Enumerative: numbers

Ø  Descriptive: size of the objects

Ø  Symbolic: abstract concepts

Ø  Locative: location of an object

Ø  Emphatic: emphasis

d) Facial Expression:

The face is the most expressive part of our body. A smile stands for friendliness, a frown for discontent, raised eyebrows for disbelief, tightened jaw muscles for antagonism, etc. 

e) Eye Contact:

Eyes are considered to be the windows of the soul. We look at the eyes of a speaker to find out the truthfulness of his/her words, intelligence, attitudes, and feelings. Eye contact is a direct and powerful form of non-verbal communication.

Proxemics:

Proxemics is the study of physical space in interpersonal relations. The way people use space says a lot about them. In a professional setting, space is used to signal power and status. For instance, the head of a company has a larger office than junior employees.  Edward T. Hall, divides space into four distinct zones. They are

1) Intimate:

This zone starts with personal touch and extends just to one and a half feet. Members of the family, lovers, spouses, relatives, and parents fall under this zone. This zone does not need active conversation. One can whisper or make unintelligible sounds but still be able to communicate. 

2) Personal:

This zone stretches from one and a half feet to four feet. Close friends, colleagues, peers, etc. fall in this zone. Instead of whispering sounds or utter silence, there can be normal conversation in this zone. 

3) Social:

Social events take place in the radius of 4 to 12 feet. In this zone, relationships are more formal and official. People are more cautious in their movements. 

4) Public:

This zone starts from 12 feet and may extend to 25 feet or to the range of eye sight and hearing. Events that take place in this zone are formal. Here the audience views what is happening as an impartial observer. The audience is free to do whatever it feels like. 

Chronemics:

Chronemics is the study of how human beings communicate through their use of time. 

People have their own time language. To the person who wakes up at 08:00am, 06:30am may be early, to another, 08:00am may be late to wake up every day. In the professional world, time is a valuable resource. By valuing someone else’s time, we communicate our professionalism or seriousness both subtly and explicitly.

Reference:

Raman, Meenakshi, Sharma, Sangeetha. Technical Communication: Principles And Practice. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2011.