BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Non-verbal Means of Communication

INTRODUCTION
People communicate in different ways. To communicate means to share information,
thoughts, or feelings. Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one
place to another. Communication involves the imparting or interchanging of thoughts,
opinions, or information among people by speech, writing, or signs.

Communication in general, is the process of sending and receiving messages that enables
humans to share knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Although, we usually identify
communication with speech, communication is composed of two dimensions - verbal and
nonverbal means.

NON-VERBAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

When messages or information is exchanged or communicated without using any spoken
or written word is known as nonverbal communication. Non-verbal communication (NVC)
is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving
wordless messages.

Non-verbal communication is a powerful arsenal in the face-to-face communication

encounters, expressed consciously in the presence of others and perceived either
consciously or unconsciously. Much of non-verbal communication is unintentional people
are not even aware that they are sending messages. Non-verbal communication takes place
though gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, physical proximity, touching etc.

Some important definitions of non-verbal communication are as follows:

According to L. C. Bove and others, Non-verbal communication is communication that
takes place through non-verbal cues: through such form of non-verbal communication as
gesture, eye contact, facial expression, clothing and space; and through the non-verbal
vocal communication known as Para-language.

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According to Lesikar and Pettit, Nonverbal communication means all communication that
occurs without words (body movements, space, time, touch, voice patterns, color, layout,
design of surroundings.)

According to Himstreet and Baty, Non-verbal communication includes any communication

occurring without the use of words.

Nonverbal Communication has been defined as communication without words. It includes

apparent behaviors such as facial expressions, eyes, touching, tone of voice, as well as less
obvious messages such as dress, posture and spatial distance between two or more people.

Nonverbal communication may be defined as the communication between the sender and
the receiver when both physically present at a place use the means other than language or
spoken words to convey their feelings and thoughts. It entails communicating by sending
and receiving wordless messages. These messages usually reinforce verbal communication,
but they can also convey thoughts and feelings on their own.

Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice,
gestures displayed through body language (kinesics) and the physical distance between the
communicators (proxemics).

Everything communicates, including material objects, physical space, and time systems.
Although verbal output can be turned off, nonverbal cannot. Even silence speaks.

So, in general non-verbal communication is the exchanged of information or message

between two or more persons through gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, proximity,
touching etc. and without using any spoken or written word. These non-verbal signals can
give clues and additional information and meaning over and above spoken (verbal)
communication.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

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Nonverbal communication entails communicating by sending and receiving wordless messages.
These messages usually reinforce verbal communication, but they can also convey thoughts and
feelings on their own.

1. The face and its expressions: smiling, nodding, raising eyebrows and so, on have
long been very important ways of communicating. Without saying a word, we can
speak volumes with a glance at our interlocutor.
2. Movement of Hands: the first treatise on hand gestures was probably that written
by the physician John Bulwer in the mid seventeenth century. Bulwer demonstrated
that the hands can express so many different things, from prayers to commands all
without the need for words.
3. Dancing: when we dance, we can express so many different emotions. From passion
to religious devotion, dancing either alone, with another person as part of a couple or
in a synchronized group, can communicate so much. Dancing is something that many
of us engage in from childhood and it becomes an important way of socializing and
expressing ourselves at the same time.
4. Body language bodily movement and postures: body language is a language all of
its own. Our posture, and the way that we lean forward or back or cross or uncross
our legs can speak volumes about us. Very often, we are not even aware that we are
communication our thoughts via our body language. That is the reason why, in job
interviews and other situations in which we are under scrutiny, it is a good idea to
pay attention to our body language. For example, leaning forward can be a sign of
positivity, whilst sitting with our arms folded can make us look closed off as if we
have something to hide.
5. Paralinguistic and non-lexical noises: para means beside and linguistic means
language. So, paralinguistic noises are noises that occur alongside language, such as
laughter, sighs and groans. These are very important ways of communicating and
very often they can be viewed as more authentic than words. For example, laughing
at a joke is generally seen to be a more authentic way of appreciating that joke than
simply stating to the person who has told the joke that we think that their joke is
funny.

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 6. Clothing: what we wear can often communicate things. For example, if we dress up
in academic robes, it is clear that we want to communicate to everyone who sees us
that we have attained a certain level of academic achievement. We should never
judge people by what they wear however, some types of official garments (such as
a judges wig, a scholars gown or a soldiers medal) are designed to communicate
something about the wearer.
7. Silence: you may have heard of the phrase, the sound of silence. Sometimes, staying
silent can communicate much more than words can. Silence can be powerful, sad,
happy or it can simply communicate to others that we do not want to engage with
them. Good communicators are able to listen, and to use comfortable silences, to
connect with other people. There is no need to think that communication is all about
words!
8. Secret signs and symbols: from different colored handkerchiefs to knots tied in
intricate patterns, humans all over the world have developed secret symbols that
only those who are in the know can decipher.
9. Telepathy: some people believe that they can communicate their thoughts directly
into another persons mind, without having to speak a single word.
10. Emoticons: this languages is fast becoming ubiquitous. Whether we use instant
messaging services, SMS, or email, emoticons are very useful for expressing our
emotions in a succinct and often humorous way. This is also the most modern type of
non verbal communication on this list.

CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Non-verbal communication is any information that is communicated without using words.
The important characteristics of non-verbal communication are as follows:
1. No use of words: Non-verbal communication is a communication without words
or language like oral or written communication. It uses gestures, facial
expressions, eye contact, physical proximity, touching etc. for communicating
with others.
2. Culturally determined: Non-verbal communication is learnt in childhood,
passed on to you by your parents and others with whom you associate. Through

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 this process of growing up in a particular society, you adopt the taints and
mannerisms of your cultural group.
3. Different meaning: Non-verbal symbols can many meanings. Cross-culture
aspects give various meanings to same expression in respect of non-verbal
communication.
4. Vague and imprecise: Non-verbal communication is quite vague and imprecise.
Since in this communication there is no use of words or language which
expresses clear meaning to the receiver.
5. May conflict with verbal message: Non-verbal communication is so deeply
rooted, so unconscious, that you can express a verbal message and then directly
contradict it with a nonverbal message.
6. Largely unconscious: Non-verbal communication is unconscious in the sense
that it is usually not planned nor rehearsed. It comes almost instantaneously.
7. Shows feelings and attitudes: Facial expressions, gestures, body movements,
the way you use your eyes all communicate your feelings and emotions to
others.
8. Informality: Non verbal communication does not follow any rules, formality or
structure like other communication. Most of the cases people unconsciously and
habitually engaged in non-verbal communication by moving the various parts of
the body.

IMPORTANCE OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

When we communicate, non-verbal cues can be as important, or in some cases even more
important, than what we say. Non-verbal communication can have a great impact on the
listener and the outcome of the communication.

The use or application of non verbal communication is as important as the verbal

communication is in different areas of our life. Different non verbal cues are widely used,
separately or along with the verbal messages. The importance of non verbal
communication can be discussed through its various uses and applications as follow:

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 1. Instant Effect: All non verbal methods have almost instant effect as the receivers
perceive them quickly. For example, it takes less time to see a color or picture and to
hear a horn or bell than to speak out and understand or to read and understand
words and sentences. This quality of being speedy in conveyance and response
makes non verbal methods extremely useful in many situations.
2. For traffic control: For traffic sings and signals, non verbal communication is
absolutely essential because there must be instant response from the drivers or
pedestrians. There is no time or scope to read sentences, it is the red or green signal
that tells the drivers and the pedestrians that when they are safe to cross the road
and vice versa. None other communication except the non verbal one is effective
here.
3. Aid to verbal communication: Non verbal methods are extremely useful as an aid
to verbal communication. Maps, charts and graphs are absolutely necessary for
conveying ideas related to geography, locations, data and most of the sciences.
Beside these, non verbal methods can present a large amount of complex data in a
compact form a single page can contain materials which would several pages to
convey in language.
4. For illiterate people: For the illiterate people the only method of conveying
important information is by non verbal symbols. Bottles and containers of poisons
are market with skull and crossbones as a warning illiterate drivers can manage
with the non verbal traffic signals and signs. Films are used to explain processes to
people who may not follow oral explanations easily.
5. Arousing stronger response: All human beings respond more powerfully to
pictures, colors and plain sounds than to language. A cry of agony arouses a much
stronger response than a tale of woe, a film showing the actual events or
representing a story is more effective than the verbal representation. News on the
TV is more interesting, effective and realistic than on the radio. The audiovisual
media like the cinema and the television which combine all possible methods of
communication are the most powerful media.
6. Pictorial presentation for mass communication: Pictorial presentation is best for
mass communication. In a country like India, with a large number of illiterate and

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 semi-illiterate people, pictorial symbols are more suitable for mass communication.
They are universally accepted and more easily understood. Graphs and charts are
used as pictorial representations of statistical information. Signs and signals are also
used as representation of something.

CONCLUSION

A good understanding of the different types of communication and communication styles

can help you know and deal with people better, clear up misunderstandings and
misconceptions, and contribute to the success of the enterprise.

So, it is found that nonverbal communication is very important for us. We use different non
verbal cues to mean different things on different occasions.
Non-verbal communication is an extremely complex yet integral part of overall
communication skills. However, people are often totally unaware of their non-verbal
behaviour.

Therefore, a basic awareness of non-verbal communication strategies, over and above what
is actually said can help to improve interaction with others. Knowledge of these signs can
be used to encourage people to talk about their concerns and can lead to a greater shared
understanding, which is, after all, the purpose of communication.

REFERENCES

1. https://thebusinesscommunication.com/importance-of-non-verbal-communication/

2. http://creducation.net/resources/nonverbal_communication/what_is_nonverbal_com
munication.html

3. http://www.brighthubpm.com/methods-strategies/79297-comparing-various-forms-
of-communication/

4. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/nonverbal-communication.html

5. https://www.importantindia.com/24304/non-verbal-communication-meaning-types/

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